The Regional Secretariat for Parliamentary Affairs and Communities, through the Regional Directorate for Communities, together with SATA/Azores Airlines, has launched the “I Love Azores” contest—an initiative designed to strengthen cultural and emotional bonds between young people of Azorean descent living in North America and the Autonomous Region of the Azores.

The contest is part of the celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the Autonomous Region of the Azores and the 85th anniversary of SATA, both to be commemorated in 2026. It is presented as a joint project aimed at promoting Azorean identity and bringing diaspora communities closer to their land of origin.

Open to participants aged 18 to 40 with family ties to the Azores, the contest challenges applicants to submit an original text, written in English, with a maximum length of one A4 page, reflecting on their relationship with the Azores. Submissions must include the references “Autonomous Region of the Azores,” “Azorean Communities,” and “SATA.”

Applications will be accepted from February 1 to April 30, 2026, and must be submitted online via a dedicated form. Each participant may submit only one entry and must indicate the airline route for which they are applying.

One prize will be awarded, consisting of a round-trip flight (taxes not included) operated by SATA Azores Airlines on one of the following routes: Boston–Azores, New York–Azores, Toronto–Azores, or Montreal–Azores. The prize is personal, non-transferable, and valid for one year.

Submissions will be evaluated by a jury chaired by the acclaimed American writer of Azorean descent Katherine Vaz, and composed of the Regional Director for Communities, José Andrade, and Graça Silva, Director of Sales and Marketing at SATA. Evaluation criteria include originality and creativity, linguistic clarity, and relevance to the theme.

Katherine Vaz, a descendant of a Terceira Island family, was born in the United States and lives in New York. She is one of the most prominent Luso-American writers today. Her second novel, Mariana, was published in six languages and selected by the Library of Congress as one of the 30 Best International Books of 1998. Among other honors, she has been named Luso-American Woman of the Year and was recognized in 2022 by PALCUS as one of the most influential women of Portuguese descent of all time.

The results of the “I Love Azores” contest will be announced on **May 25, 2026—Azores Day—**through the official websites and social media pages of the two organizing entities.

Through this joint initiative, the Government of the Azores and SATA/Azores Airlines reaffirm their commitment to promoting Azorean culture, strengthening ties with emigrant communities, and fostering a shared sense of belonging to the Autonomous Region of the Azores.

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.