Global anti-war movement to be recreated at Festival for peace 2026

PSNews - From a land that once endured some of the greatest suffering during the war, Quang Tri today is rising to become a meeting point for connection, reconciliation, and the promotion of a global message of peace.

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From a former battlefield to a cultural space

On June 25 in Hanoi, the People’s Committee of Quang Tri Province, in coordination with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, held a press conference to introduce the "Festival for Peace 2026."

The "Festival for Peace" is designed as an event with no closing ceremony, underscoring the profound message that peace knows no end.

This series of national and international cultural, sports and tourism events aims to honor the values of peace, pay tribute to heroic martyrs, and affirm the inner strength and aspirations for growth of Quang Tri’s heroic "land of fire".

At the press conference, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Manh Cuong recalled the message delivered by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres during the Peace Bell Ringing Ceremony in September 2025: "Peace is the greatest strength for building a better future."

While the inaugural "Festival for Peace 2024" laid the foundation for a cultural diplomacy initiative inspired by Quang Tri's wartime legacy, this year's edition aims to further solidify the province's identity as "Quang Tri – A Destination for Peace."

Deputy Minister Cuong emphasized that this upgrade also serves to further leverage the role of cultural diplomacy, expand international cooperation, and share the values of peace with friends around the world.

According to Hoang Xuan Tan, Vice Chairman of the Quang Tri Provincial People's Committee and Head of the Festival Organizing Committee, the festival will run from April to December under the theme "From Memory to the Future – Quang Tri for Peace." It will feature a wide range of commemorative, cultural, artistic, sports, tourism, investment promotion, trade facilitation, and community activities. Designed to be solemn, contemporary, and deeply humanistic, these events aim to convey messages of peace, friendship, and sustainable development.

A symphony of peace composed for Quang Tri

Also speaking at the press conference, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ta Quang Dong affirmed that the ministry will continue to work closely with Quang Tri Province to ensure the success of the festival's activities.

The collaboration will focus on delivering high-quality artistic performances, diverse programming, and effective communication campaigns. The ultimate goal is to gradually build the "Festival for Peace" into a distinctive cultural brand with broad influence both in Vietnam and internationally.

Delegates from left to right: Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ta Quang Dong; Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Manh Cuong; Mr. Hoang Xuan Tan, Vice Chairman of the Quang Tri Provincial People's Committee and Head of the Organizing Committee of the Festival for Peace; MoFA's Spokeswoman Pham Thu Hang.

Delegates from left to right: Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ta Quang Dong; Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Manh Cuong; Mr. Hoang Xuan Tan, Vice Chairman of the Quang Tri Provincial People's Committee and Head of the Organizing Committee of the Festival for Peace; MoFA's Spokeswoman Pham Thu Hang.

According to the organizing committee, the highlight of this year's festival will be the opening ceremony on the evening of July 4 at the Hien Luong–Ben Hai Special National Relic Site.

Artistic Director Dang Le Minh Tri revealed that the opening program has been conceived as a symphony of peace composed especially for Quang Tri.

Specifically, the ceremony will unfold through three artistic chapters:

  • "The Flow of Memory," recreating the losses, sacrifices, and resilience of a land that was once a dividing line;
  • "The Light of Peace," celebrating reconciliation, healing, and the aspiration for national unity; and
  • "The World in Harmony," conveying a vision of a shared future for humanity based on peace and cooperation.

Most notably, for the first time on a performance stage in Quang Tri, the global anti-war movement will be recreated through music, visual imagery, and live performances, conveying a message of peace that transcends borders, cultures, and differences.​

The Festival for Peace is a concrete step in implementing Vietnam's strategic vision for cultural development and leveraging the country's soft power. It supports the national goal of positioning Vietnam as an attractive destination for major regional and international cultural and artistic events.

The 2026 festival sends a profound message that memory is not merely a reminder of the past, but also the spiritual foundation to nurture peace, foster tolerance, and build a sustainable future.

Therefore, the festival is more than a cultural event; it represents Vietnam's practical contribution and response to the international community's shared efforts to promote dialogue, strengthen mutual understanding, and build a peaceful, stable future for generations to come.

By Kim Khanh

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