Siman di Kultura 2026, Curaçao’s 22nd Cultural Week, runs through October 4

Willemstad, décor de la Siman di Kultura 2026 : façades colorées vues d'un pont au coucher du soleil

Siman di Kultura 2026, Curaçao’s Culture Week, runs from September 27 to October 4, 2026, for its 22nd edition. The Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport (ESKD) has placed it under the theme “Di Kòrsou pa Mundu,” or “From Curaçao to the World.” It honors singer Izaline Calister and baseball executive Urny Florán. The week opened on Sunday, September 27, in Otrobanda, a neighborhood of Willemstad.

Siman di Kultura 2026, a Sunday in Otrobanda

According to the official program from the ESKD Ministry, Siman di Kultura 2026 opened in Curaçao on Sunday, September 27, with a cultural mass at 8 a.m. at the Basílika di Santa Ana. A ceremony followed at Molenplein from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. In the evening, from 4:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., the Otrobanda neighborhood hosted music, dance, visual arts, storytelling, and local cuisine, organized by the Fundashon Kaya Kaya. Its Kaya Kaya Festival is described by the Curaçao Chronicle as one of the island’s most renowned cultural events.

At Molenplein, Grupo Den Dam, Oriri, and Axl & Orchestra were on the lineup, with Izaline Calister as a special guest. At St. Martinus, free workshops, lectures, and poetry readings were organized around an interactive podcast with Ruthsel Soliana and Percy Pinedo. On St. Martinusstraat, Hershel Rosario’s Kombo Krioyo performed at “Djadumingu na Otrobanda” (literally, “Sunday in Otrobanda”), which was held in conjunction with World Tourism Day this year. At Brionplein, ten dance groups were scheduled to perform at the Festival di Bailenan Folklóriko organized by the SKOBA association.

Femmes en jupes colorées dansant en file avec des paniers, un percussionniste assis à droite, à Willemstad
Participants en costumes bleus ornés de poissons colorés défilant dans une rue de Curaçao

Izaline Calister and Urny Florán: Two Faces of Curaçao

Izaline Calister sings in Papiamentu, the language of Curaçao, and blends jazz with Afro-Caribbean rhythms, including tambú, a musical genre that, according to local media, originated during the era of slavery. Her first solo album, Soño di un muhé, was released in 2000. She was awarded an Edison Award in 2009. Her show Tula en Juliet connects Tula, the leader of the 1795 slave revolt, to her own family history. The ministry commends her promotion of Papiamentu. Richès Karayib has previously covered Izaline Calister’s career.

Portrait d'Izaline Calister, chanteuse de Curaçao, souriante, les cheveux tressés

Urny Florán, for his part, is being honored for his commitment to youth baseball and to international competitions involving Curaçao’s teams. In 2026, the island won its second Little League World Series title with an 11-2 victory over Nevada. None of the sources consulted link this title to Urny Florán’s career.

Portrait d'Urny Florán, dirigeant de baseball de Curaçao, debout en chemise rayée, un verre à la main

Twenty-two editions, one idea

The ESKD Ministry organizes the week every fall, with a theme and, depending on the year, a special dedication. In 2024, the 20th edition had the theme “Kultura ta nos, bib’é,” “Culture is ours, let’s live it.” In 2025, Siman di Kultura was dedicated to Grupo Serenada and the island’s musical heritage. In 2023, it focused on Tula. According to Caribisch Netwerk, nowhere else in the Kingdom of the Netherlands is one’s own culture celebrated for an entire week.

Danseurs en costumes verts et dorés ornés de grandes fleurs rouges, jaunes et orange lors d'un défilé à Curaçao
Défilé à Otrobanda derrière une banderole célébrant 50 ans du carnaval de Curaçao, devant un bâtiment bleu

Six movie nights in Papiamentu

During Siman di Kultura 2026, the Krioyo Film Festival, Caribbean Cinemas, Sambil, and One&Only will screen a film in Papiamentu every evening at 6:30 p.m., from September 28 to October 3. The screenings will take place at Caribbean Cinemas in Sambil, Willemstad. On Monday, September 28, Boka Sarantonio (drama) kicked off the series. A TV movie of the same title, directed in 1985 by Pacheco Domacassé, former director of Kas di Kultura, exists, but the program does not specify whether it is the same work.

This Tuesday, September 29, Brua (short film) is on the program. Next up are Hachi su number a hunga (comedy) on the 30th, Mondi ku ne (drama) on October 1, and Dibina (comedy-drama) on the 2nd. On October 3, Kofi Gratis and Roba Alma will precede the documentary Enrico. This film series is not sponsored by the ESKD Ministry, whose official page makes no mention of it.

Vue aérienne de Willemstad, à Curaçao, avec ses bâtiments colorés, la mer turquoise et un paquebot

Siman di Kultura 2026: What’s Still to Come

As of September 29, 2026, the official pages do not provide details about the rest of Siman di Kultura 2026, aside from the opening ceremony and film screenings. “Djadumingu na Otrobanda” is scheduled to return on the last Sunday of every month, which will be October 25, 2026, the day the third Krioyo Film Festival opens. Will Curaçaoan culture remain in the streets of Otrobanda once the week ends on October 4?

Façades jaune, verte et orange du quai de Willemstad, à Curaçao, sous un ciel bleu
Gros plan sur des chapeaux de défilé colorés ornés de galons dorés, vus de dos
Participants en costumes blancs et dorés sur un char lors d'un défilé à Otrobanda, à Willemstad

Frequently Asked Questions About Siman di Kultura 2026

Siman di Kultura 2026 will take place from Sunday, September 27, to Sunday, October 4, 2026, in Curaçao. This is the 22nd edition, organized by the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport (ESKD).

The theme is “Di Kòrsou pa Mundu,” which means “From Curaçao to the World” in English. The ESKD Ministry is honoring singer Izaline Calister and baseball executive Urny Florán.

According to the official program, the opening ceremony on September 27, 2026, took place in Curaçao, featuring a cultural mass at the Basílika di Santa Ana, a ceremony at Molenplein, and a parade in Otrobanda, Willemstad, from 4:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

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