As Russia’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine enters its fifth year in February 2026, sustaining public attention, moral clarity and solidarity is becoming increasingly challenging. The Focus on Ukraine program series responds to this situation by offering perspectives beyond daily news coverage, placing human experience, cultural expression and responsibility at the centre through films, exhibitions, literary events and expert discussions. Taking place in Budapest between 24 February and 6 March 2026, the event is organised for the second time and is the result of a large-scale collaboration between thirteen European cultural institutes and embassies.

𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐞 

𝟐𝟎. 𝟏. – 𝟐𝟔. 𝟐. | 𝐄𝐱𝐡𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 | 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐞
𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐥 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝: 𝐄𝐱𝐡𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐔𝐤𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐈𝐥𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐍𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐚 𝐒𝐥𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐬𝐨𝐯𝐚
 Csirimojó Bookshop and Cultural Space

The exhibition presents illustrations by Ukrainian artist Nastia Sleptsova, known for earthy tones, calm atmospheres, and nature-inspired motifs exploring the bond between humans and the natural world. The show also highlights her illustrations for the children’s book Gréta, recently reprinted in Hungarian. Alongside biographical context, the exhibition connects Sleptsova’s nostalgic visual style with themes of environmental awareness, music, friendship, and collective responsibility.

𝟐𝟑. 𝟏. - 𝟔.𝟑. | 𝐄𝐱𝐡𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 | 𝐀𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐮𝐦
𝐄𝐥𝐬𝐞𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 – 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐔𝐤𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝
 Austrian Cultural Forum

The traveling exhibition elsewhereland presents contemporary Ukrainian art amid displacement, loss, and resilience. Featuring ten artists, many living in European exile, it explores migration, trauma, memory, and identity. The title evokes an “other place”—physically, emotionally, and culturally—offering a moving glimpse of creativity, courage, and hope in the face of war.

𝟏𝟑. 𝟐. | 𝟏𝟕:𝟎𝟎 | 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫 | 𝐀𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐮𝐦
𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐲 𝐇𝐞𝐝𝐰𝐢𝐠 𝐒𝐚𝐱𝐞𝐧𝐡𝐮𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐡𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐞𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝
 Austrian Cultural Forum

Curator Hedwig Saxenhuber — co-founder of springerin magazine and a key figure of the Kyiv Biennial — will lead a guided tour in English. The exhibition "elsewhereland" showcases reflections by Ukrainian artists who emigrated due to Russian aggression and who are currently living in exile in Austria and Germany, focusing on questions of trauma, mobility, and the search for identity.

𝟏𝟖. 𝟐. | 𝟏𝟖:𝟎𝟎 | 𝐏𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐥 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 | 𝐀𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐮𝐦
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐔𝐤𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝
 Austrian Cultural Forum

In the frame of the exhibition „elsewhereland” Austrian, Ukrainian and Hungarian historians and experts in the field of media literacy, disinformation and propaganda discuss about the impact propaganda can have in serving as a vehicle for authoritarian regimes.

𝟐𝟒. 𝟐. | 𝟏𝟖:𝟎𝟎 | 𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐦 𝐒𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 | 𝐇𝐔 + 𝐄𝐍 | 𝐄𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐔𝐤𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞
𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐢𝐯𝐤𝐚
Toldi cinema

The documentary by Pulitzer and Academy Award–winning Ukrainian director Mstyslav Chernov follows a frontline military unit advancing through a ruined village during a liberation operation. The filmmaker behind 20 Days in Mariupol portrays the physical and moral realities of modern warfare with uncompromising precision. The screening is organized by the Ukrainian Embassy and its partners. Mariupol – depicts the physical and moral reality of modern warfare with relentless precision.

𝟐𝟓. 𝟐. | 𝟏𝟖:𝟎𝟎 | 𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐦 𝐒𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 | 𝐇𝐔 + 𝐄𝐍 | 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐞
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐝
 French Institute

Overlaying images of a devastated Ukraine with telephone conversations between Russian soldiers and their families intercepted by Kyiv, the film exposes a striking contrast between the “ordinary” Russian view of the war and the dehumanisation caused by the conflict. Hypnotic and almost musical in structure, it has been screened at numerous international festivals. The film is a co-production of the Franco-German channel ARTE, created as part of the Generation Ukraine selection. The screening will be preceded by a talk from an expert who will provide insight into the film.

𝟐𝟓. 𝟐. | 𝟐𝟎:𝟎𝟎 | 𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐦 𝐒𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 | 𝐇𝐔 + 𝐄𝐍 | 𝐂𝐳𝐞𝐜𝐡 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞
𝐑𝐎𝐎𝐓𝐄𝐃
 Kino Cafe

Tickets are free and can be picked up at the box office of Kino Café Cinema from February 18th.
Rooted is the first film by the Post Bellum Ukraine team. Filmed in 2024 in Lviv, Odesa, and Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi, it brings intimate testimonies of Ukraine’s national and historic communities. Through the personal stories of a Crimean Tatar, a Bulgarian, a Jew, and a Hungarian, the film recalls painful memories of Soviet rule, moments of hope after independence, and reflections on identity, war, and a shared future. The film is followed by a debate with the producer and foreign experts.

𝟐𝟔. 𝟐. | 𝟏𝟖:𝟎𝟎 | 𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐦 𝐒𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 | 𝐇𝐔 + 𝐄𝐍 | 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐨𝐫𝐚 + 𝐄𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐄𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐚
𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐬 𝐉𝐨𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐔𝐤𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞 + 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐖𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞?
 Kino Cafe

Tickets are free and can be picked up at the box office of Kino Café Cinema from February 18th.
Two documentaries offer an intimate look at Ukraine before and after full-scale war. Christmas Joy to Ukraine follows a Finnish aid convoy to eastern Ukraine in 2019, revealing the quiet presence of conflict long before 2022. What Would You Take? captures twelve refugees forced to flee with only the essentials and one cherished object. Together, the films form a moving portrait of resilience, loss, and the human cost of war.

𝟐𝟔. 𝟐. - 𝟏𝟔. 𝟑. | 𝟏𝟖:𝟎𝟎 | 𝐄𝐱𝐡𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 | 𝐄𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐔𝐤𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞
𝐔𝐤𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 – 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐁𝐨𝐝𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐥
 Europa Pont

The Ukrainian Embassy photo exhibition presents Serhii Melnychenko’s War Tattoos project. Through the projection of images of war onto human bodies, the series captures the emotional burden of unprovoked Russian aggression, creating virtual “tattoos” that remain with the subjects. The exhibition reflects a nation’s collective pain and conveys the enduring reality experienced by Ukrainians.

𝟐𝟕. 𝟐. | 𝟏𝟕:𝟎𝟎 | 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫 | 𝐀𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐮𝐦
𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐲 𝐕𝐢𝐤𝐭𝐨́𝐫𝐢𝐚 𝐏𝐨𝐩𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐡𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐞𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝
 Austrian Cultural Forum

The tour is led by art historian Viktória Popovics, curator at the Ludwig Museum. She plays a key role in the work of the museum's acquisition committee, thanks to which the museum's collection was expanded in 2018 and 2022 with some fifteen works by more than ten Ukrainian artists. The elsewhereland exhibition presents the reflections of Ukrainian artists who emigrated due to Russian aggression and who are currently living in exile in Austria and Germany, focusing on questions of trauma, mobility, and the search for identity.

𝟐𝟕. 𝟐. | 𝟏𝟖:𝟎𝟎 | 𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐦 𝐒𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 | 𝐇𝐔 + 𝐄𝐍 | 𝐄𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐝𝐨𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬
𝐄𝐝𝐝𝐲'𝐬 𝐖𝐚𝐫 + 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞
 Kino Cafe

Tickets are free and can be picked up at the box office of Kino Café Cinema from February 18th.
Eddy’s War follows renowned Dutch war photographer Eddy van Wessel as he spends four seasons along the Ukrainian frontlines, searching for an image that could give meaning to years of trauma and loss. In Lifeline, the war is seen through the eyes of Tetiana, a railway worker turned rescuer overnight, evacuating civilians by train. Two short films, two perspectives, one war lived through human courage, doubt, and resilience.

𝟐𝟕. 𝟐.- 𝟐𝟕. 𝟑. | 𝟏𝟗:𝟎𝟎 | 𝐄𝐱𝐡𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 | 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐞
𝐃𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 - 𝐄𝐱𝐡𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐔𝐤𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬
Brody House

Contemporary conceptual photography in Ukraine engages with identity, memory, and transformation beyond documentary traditions. While Russia’s full-scale invasion forms an unavoidable context, Ukrainian artists cannot be reduced to visual witnesses of war alone. The works of three emerging photographers emphasize everyday resilience, metaphor, and remembrance, highlighting artistic autonomy and the persistence of human experience amid uncertainty.

𝟐. 𝟑.| 𝟏𝟖:𝟎𝟎 | 𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐦 𝐒𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 | 𝐇𝐔 + 𝐄𝐍 | 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐥
𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 + 𝐖𝐚𝐫
 Kino Cafe

Tickets are free and can be picked up at the box office of Kino Café Cinema from February 18th.
Pulitzer Prize–winning photographer Lynsey Addario has spent her life documenting the brutal reality of war — from the Middle East and Afghanistan to Ukraine. Filmmakers Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin follow her on the front lines and into her private world, where every assignment means danger, distance, and sacrifice. Love+War is an intimate portrait of courage, passion, and the painful tension between devotion to journalism and the bonds of family.

𝟒. 𝟑. | 𝟏𝟕:𝟑𝟎 | 𝐏𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐥 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧
𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐔𝐤𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞 - 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞: 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐄𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐚 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐭 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
 Central European University, Auditorium A

The event brings together European and Ukrainian policymakers, researchers, journalists, and civil society experts to explore pathways toward a just and sustainable peace. Discussions focus on security guarantees, accountability, and international unity, while highlighting the role of Russian disinformation. The debates emphasize the importance of the information space in shaping security.

𝟔. 𝟑. | 𝟏𝟖: 𝟎𝟎 | 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐭 | 𝐀𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐮𝐦
𝐃𝐮𝐨 𝐄𝐝𝐥𝐛𝐚𝐮𝐞𝐫 𝐊𝐮𝐳𝐨
 Austrian Cultural Forum

Finissage of the exhibition “elsewhereland” with a concert by Duo Edlbauer Kuzo. Founded in 2020, Andrea Edlbauer (saxophone) and Oksana Kuzo (piano) unite diverse backgrounds through classical music, blending tradition and contemporary works. Their programme features pieces by Theodor Burkali and Valentin Silvestrov, breathing new life into music and celebrating connection, resilience, and creativity.

𝟏𝟐. 𝟑. | 𝟏𝟖:𝟎𝟎 | 𝐏𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐥 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 | 𝐆𝐨𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞-𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭
𝐒𝐞𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 – 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞
 Goethe-Institut

The program explores how culture can foster mutual understanding and examines the shared historical and cultural foundations connecting Hungary and Ukraine. The discussion features German writer and journalist Lutz Klevemann, author of Lviv – Europe’s Forgotten Centre, and literary translator Viktória Lebovics, a researcher of Ukrainian literature.

𝟐𝟓. 𝟑. | 𝟏𝟏:𝟎𝟎 | 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩 | 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐞
𝐈𝐥𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐱𝐡𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐤𝐚 𝐀𝐫𝐭 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨
 Csirimojó Bookshop and Cultural Space

Agrafka Art Studio invites audiences to an illustration workshop and exhibition led by Romana Romanyshyn and Andriy Lesiv. The event explores how illustration can speak about sensitive topics through bold visual language. The programme includes an exhibition and a discussion of The War That Changed Rondo and I Hear Like This.

𝟐𝟖. 𝟑. | 𝟏𝟏:𝟎𝟎 | 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩 | 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐞
𝐀 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬 - 𝐃𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐚 𝐏𝐞𝐝𝐚𝐠𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩
 Polish Institute

As part of Focus on Ukraine, Ptah Theatre presents an interactive drama pedagogy workshop for children aged 8–12, inspired by the book I Hear Like This by Romana Romanyshyn and Andriy Lesiv. Through movement, sound, and playful exercises, children explore perception, emotions, and imagination. The workshop encourages creative expression, cooperation, and curiosity in a safe and engaging environment.

 𝐑𝐞́𝐬𝐳𝐭𝐯𝐞𝐯𝐨̋ 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞́𝐳𝐦𝐞́𝐧𝐲𝐞𝐤 / 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐬- British Council- Cseh Centrum
- Észt Köztársaság Nagykövetsége
- FinnAgora – Finn Kulturális Intézet
- Flamand Képviselet
- Francia Intézet
- Goethe Intézet
- Holland Királyság Nagykövetsége
- Lengyel Intézet
- Litván Köztársaság Nagykövetsége
- Osztrák Kulturális Fórum
- Román Kulturális Intézet – Budapest
- Ukrajna Nagykövetsége