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. The first installation is dedicated to Corvo, an island revealed through everyday life, landscape, and its strong sense of community, opening the way here for the collective construction of the Islands of Tomorrow.
The exhibition dedicated to Flores Island presents a territory where rugged terrain shapes daily rhythms, activities, and ways of living. The relationship with the sea is deeply embedded in the collective memory of the community, whose strong connection to place has been built through adaptation to natural conditions and the balance between geographic isolation and openness to the outside world.
The exhibition dedicated to Santa Maria invites visitors to discover the southernmost and easternmost island of the Azores archipelago. Renowned for the diversity of its landscapes and for possessing the oldest geological heritage in the Region, Santa Maria is distinguished by its dramatic cliffs and its characteristic white-sand beaches, such as Praia Formosa. Through its natural and cultural values, the exhibition reveals the uniqueness of a territory whose identity has been shaped by the close relationship between landscape, history, and community.
The exhibition dedicated to Graciosa takes visitors on a journey through a territory marked by the harmonious interaction of landscape, heritage, and culture. Known for its gentle topography and scenic beauty, the island stands out for its remarkable geological heritage, with the Caldeira and Furna do Enxofre among its most iconic landmarks. Its indented coastline, lush green fields, and distinctive red-domed windmills create a unique setting that reflects the enduring relationship between the community and the natural environment. The exhibition offers an exploration of the natural, historical, and cultural richness of this Azorean island.
The exhibition dedicated to Faial reveals an island shaped by the power of volcanism and its deep connection to the sea. Through images, objects, and memories of everyday life, visitors are invited to explore a territory of striking landscapes where nature, history, and community meet and continuously shape one another. A place of encounters, voyages, and connections between continents, Faial stands as a space where local identity has been forged through an enduring relationship with both the ocean and the wider world.
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
