The President of the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores (ALRAA), Luís Garcia, said Thursday that the designation of Ponta Delgada as Portugal’s Capital of Culture for 2026 represents “a moment of national affirmation for Azorean culture,” underscoring the project’s importance in elevating the Azores’ cultural identity within the broader national landscape.

Garcia was speaking at the official opening ceremony of Ponta Delgada 2026 – Portuguese Capital of Culture, held Thursday morning at the Coliseu Micaelense. He called on the initiative to serve as “an opportunity to engage in dialogue with those who create culture, to listen to their needs and perspectives, and to consolidate cultural policies that are fairer, more consistent, and more enduring.”

Acknowledging that “culture is not made of events alone—it is made of people,” Garcia praised the “often unseen” work of cultural practitioners, artists, associations, technicians, and community members who help “sustain the cultural life of our territories.” That collective effort, he said, carries an added responsibility: “to ensure that culture remains alive, accessible, critical, and free.”

Reflecting on major figures of Azorean culture such as Antero de Quental, Natália Correia, and Vitorino Nemésio, as well as artistic traditions that span generations—from philharmonic bands to folklore—Garcia emphasized that “culture is the foundation upon which Azorean Autonomy was built.” For that reason, he noted, the celebration this year of the 50th anniversary of Autonomy carries “even deeper meaning,” as both milestones stem from the same impulse: “the affirmation of a people’s identity.”

According to Garcia, this emblematic year—marked by the 50th anniversary of Autonomy and Ponta Delgada’s designation as Capital of Culture—also prompted the decision to celebrate Azores Day on May 25 in the city, a choice that “reinforces Ponta Delgada’s symbolism as the cultural epicenter of the archipelago.”

From Press Release

Translated into English as a community outreach program by the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures Department (MCLL), in collaboration with Bruma Publication and ADMA (Azores-Diaspora Media Alliance) at California State University, Fresno. PBBI thanks Luso Financial for sponsoring NOVIDADES.