Islands of Tomorrow is a project developed within the framework of Ponta Delgada 2026 - Portuguese Capital of Culture that proposes a sensitive and continuous journey across the nine islands of the Azores.

Throughout 2026, at the Santo André Center of the Carlos Machado Museum, a series of sequential exhibitions will be presented, each one dedicated to a different island of the archipelago.

These exhibitions bring together images, objects, sounds and narratives that reveal the uniqueness of each territory.

Corvo
The first installation introduces Corvo through its everyday life, landscape and strong sense of community, paving the way for the collective construction of Islands of Tomorrow.

Flores
On Flores, the rugged terrain shapes the rhythms of daily life, activities and ways of inhabiting the island. The relationship with the sea is deeply rooted in the community’s collective memory, while its strong attachment to the land is reflected in its ability to adapt to natural conditions and balance geographical isolation with openness to the outside world.

Santa Maria
In Santa Maria, visitors are invited to discover the southernmost and easternmost island of the Azores archipelago. Renowned for its diverse landscapes and the oldest geological heritage in the Region, Santa Maria stands out for its imposing cliffs and distinctive white-sand beaches, such as Praia Formosa. Through its natural and cultural heritage, the exhibition reveals the uniqueness of an island whose identity is shaped by the close relationship between landscape, history and community.

Graciosa
Graciosa emerges as an island defined by the harmony between landscape, heritage and culture. Known for its gentle terrain and beautiful scenery, the island stands out for its geological heritage, with Caldeira and Furna do Enxofre occupying a prominent place. The rugged coastline, green fields and iconic windmills with red domed caps create a distinctive landscape that reflects the enduring relationship between the community and nature. The exhibition offers a journey through the island’s natural, historical and cultural richness.

Faial
Shaped by the power of volcanism and its deep connection to the sea, Faial reveals a territory of striking landscapes, where nature, history and community meet and transform one another. Through images, objects and memories of everyday life, visitors are invited to explore the island. A place of encounters, journeys and connections between continents, Faial stands as a territory whose local identity has been shaped by its enduring relationship with the ocean and the wider world.

Terceira
On Terceira, history and landscape intersect, shaping ways of life and patterns of settlement. The island’s relationship with the sea and its strategic role in the Atlantic have left a lasting mark on its collective memory, reflecting a community whose traditions, cultural expressions and openness to the outside world continue to define its identity.

Pico
The grandeur of its volcanic landscape and the presence of Mount Pico, the highest point in Portugal, are defining features of this island. Its vineyard landscape, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its deep connection to the sea, particularly through its whaling tradition, bear witness to the relationship between the community and its territory. The exhibition invites visitors to discover the island’s natural, historical and cultural richness.

São Jorge
Between the central mountain range and the numerous fajãs that characterise the island’s landscape, São Jorge presents a territory where geography and nature shape ways of life and the relationship with the surrounding environment. Its connection to the sea and its ability to adapt to natural conditions are central to the identity of a community that preserves its traditions and maintains a close relationship with its territory, while remaining open to the outside world.

São Miguel
Of volcanic origin, São Miguel is distinguished by its lakes, green landscapes and the presence of the sea, all of which influence the rhythms of daily life and ways of inhabiting the island. The relationship with the land and the use of natural resources, reflected in activities such as tea production and pineapple cultivation, bear witness to the community’s ability to adapt and to the development of an identity deeply connected to the landscape.

One island at a time – Dates of the Upcoming Exhibitions:
Corvo Island – February 5, 2026
Flores Island – March 5, 2026
Santa Maria Island – April 9, 2026
Graciosa Island – May 14, 2026
Faial Island – June 18, 2026
Terceira Island – July 16, 2026
Pico Island – September 3, 2026
São Jorge Island – October 8, 2026
São Miguel Island – November 5, 2026