Latin America and Caribbean Autumn (LAC Autumn)

Germany's Longest Latin America-Caribbean Festival

Since 2014, the EU-LAC Foundation, based in Hamburg, has organized a unique festival every autumn: the Latin America and Caribbean Autumn, or LAC Autumn for short. It is the longest and most diverse LAC festival in Germany — typically running for two months, from September to November.

Decentralized Format

Unlike traditional festivals, there is no central festival grounds. Instead, LAC Autumn is decentrally organized: each event is independently hosted by an association, institution, embassy, consulate, or private individual at a chosen venue. The EU-LAC Foundation coordinates the overall program and awards the festival label.

80+ Events per Season

A typical year's program includes over 80 individual events:

• Concerts — from Cuban Son to Mexican Mariachi, Argentinian Tango, and Brazilian Forró
• Film Screenings — film series from Latin America and the Caribbean
• Exhibitions — photography, visual arts, sculpture
• Culinary Events — cooking classes, tastings, pop-up restaurants
• Dance Workshops — Salsa, Tango, Bachata, Cumbia
• Readings and Discussions — Latin American and Caribbean literature
• Traditional festivals like the Mexican Día de Muertos

Venues

The locations cover Hamburg's cultural landscape extensively:

• Hamburg City Hall — usually the opening ceremony in the grand hall
• Hamburg museums and cultural institutions
• Consulates of Argentina, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Cuba, and other LAC states
• Bars and clubs in Sternschanze, St. Pauli, St. Georg
• Instituto Cervantes
• GIGA — German Institute for Global and Area Studies

13th Edition 2026

The 2026 edition will be the 13th iteration since 2014. In 2026, the festival will again rely on its proven decentralized structure. Participating institutions will be announced in the summer of 2026, with the full program typically released in August/September.

Who is Behind the Festival

The EU-LAC Foundation is an intergovernmental organization founded in 2010 and based in Hamburg. It acts as an intermediary between the European Union and the Latin America and Caribbean region. The LAC Autumn festival is one of its most high-profile formats — an effort to make the relationships between Europe and LAC visible and culturally tangible.

Latin America and the Caribbean in Hamburg

Through its port, Hamburg has been connected to Latin America for centuries. Coffee from Brazil and Colombia, cocoa from Ecuador and the Dominican Republic, bananas from Costa Rica — all have passed through the Hanseatic city. The Latin American community in Hamburg is small but active: associations, bars, and private initiatives contribute to the festival. Visitors to LAC Autumn get to know not only the region but also its reflection in Hamburg.