CAF Festival in Panama Highlights Latin American and Caribbean Cultural Development
The CAF Festival 'Voices for Our Region: Culture that Moves the World' took place on January 27, 2026, at the Panama Convention Center. Organized by CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, the event aimed to position regional culture as a strategic pillar for economic, social, and sustainable development. The program featured discussions, sectoral forums, and co-creation spaces, with key participants including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Rigoberta Menchú Tum, CAF Secretary General Alejandra Claros, and curator Keyna Eleison. Sessions addressed topics such as indigenous contemporary arts, cultural markets, digital platforms, and Afro-diasporic creativity, emphasizing culture's role in social cohesion, memory, and regional integration.
Key facts
- The CAF Festival occurred on January 27, 2026, in Panama City.
- CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean organized the event to promote culture as a development tool.
- Notable participants included Rigoberta Menchú Tum, Alejandra Claros, and Keyna Eleison.
- Discussions covered indigenous arts, cultural markets, digital platforms, and Afro-diasporic practices.
- The festival aimed to strengthen regional networks and highlight culture's social and economic impact.
Entities
Artists
- Rigoberta Menchú Tum
- Keyna Eleison
- Emiliano Valdés
- Ch’umilkaj
- Sara Curruchich
- Ramo (Roger Ramos)
- Abel Aronátegui
- Julia Cohen Ribeiro
- Moraima Simarra
- Catherine Dunga
Institutions
- CAF – Banco de Desarrollo de América Latina y el Caribe
- Panama Convention Center
- Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Panamá
- Bienal de las Amazonías
- Pinta Group
- Fundación Cartier para el Arte Contemporáneo
Locations
- Panama City, Panama
- Latin America
- Caribbean