Carmel wins international award for sister cities program

The City of Carmel’s sister cities program has been named the recipient of the prestigious 2026 Sister Cities International (SCI) Innovation in Arts and Culture Award for cities with populations of 100,001 to 300,000.

This international honor recognizes Carmel Sister Cities’ outstanding dedication to advancing the goals and mission of Sister Cities International, with a distinct focus on the power of citizen diplomacy, cultural exchange, and international friendship.

Ethan McAndrews, author of the Carmel-Kawachinagano Cookbook, accepted the award on behalf of the city on Friday, July 24, at the 70th Anniversary Gala and Annual Awards Ceremony during the Sister Cities International Homecoming in Washington, D.C. During the ceremony, Carmel’s sister city partnership with Seiffen, Germany, was also named among the first round of recipients for the Goethe-Institut “Sister Cities – Connecting Places” grant that is administered jointly with SCI, to support their proposed “The Kugel Tour” game project.

This year’s recognition carries historic significance as Sister Cities International celebrates its 70th anniversary, coinciding with the United States’ commemoration of its 250th semiquincentennial anniversary. Together, these milestones underscore the critical role that people-to-people connections play in shaping a more harmonious and collaborative global community.

“We are incredibly proud of Carmel Sister Cities for receiving this well-deserved global recognition,” Mayor Sue Finkam said. “This award highlights our community’s commitment to building bridges across borders. Through the arts, music and shared cultural heritage, our sister city partnerships connect us to the world and help to foster genuine understanding.”

Carmel’s sister city relationships – which include active partnerships with Cortona (Italy), Jelgava (Latvia), Kawachinagano (Japan), Rueil-Malmaison (France), Seiffen (Germany), and Visakhapatnam (India) – have long leveraged the arts to unite residents. From youth art exchanges and musical performances to collaborative community exhibits and festivals, Carmel has consistently emphasized creative expression to make international diplomacy accessible to the entire community.

“This award belongs to our dedicated board, volunteers and community partners who work tirelessly to bring the world to Carmel and share Carmel with the world,” said Andris Berzins, Carmel’s Sister Cities consultant. “In a year of such monumental anniversaries for our nation and Sister Cities International, this honor inspires us to deepen our efforts to cultivate global friendships right here at home.”

Highlights

Beyond fostering strong international connections, Carmel’s sister city relationships play a crucial role in enhancing local community engagement, economic development, and educational outreach through innovative arts and cultural programming:

• Newly Renovated Kawachinagano Japanese Garden and Japanese festival: Following its complete redesign by world-renowned Japanese Garden designer Hoichi Kurisu, the garden at Carmel City Hall now includes more Japanese design elements, including winding paths, lantern and crane sculptures, benches, boulder groupings and thoughtfully arranged trees surrounding the pond. In 2025, Carmel hosted its inaugural Cherry Blossom Festival – now celebrated as Japan Springfest – welcoming an official delegation from Kawachinagano and offering martial arts demonstrations, traditional tea ceremonies and live performances.
• Highlighting the arts and student educational outreach: In partnership with the Carmel Arts Council, Sister Cities hosted a global student virtual art exhibit celebrating young talent, with students from Jelgava and Kawachinagano earning top awards for their work.
• Festival spotlights and visiting international artists: The Carmel International Arts Festival showcased visiting artists from both Jelgava, Latvia and Kawachinagano, Japan, alongside vibrant Sister Cities and international booths featuring live cultural dance performances.
• Year-round cultural and community programming: Sister Cities’ impact spans every season in Carmel including partnering with the Carmel Clay Public Library on international children’s storytelling, aligning with local Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day observances to highlight unity and shared mission and supporting community favorites like Diwali and the Carmel Christkindlmarkt.
• International Winter Festival: Bringing global holiday traditions to life, the annual festival features Christmas trees uniquely decorated by representatives of each sister country alongside community caroling events that bring neighbors together.

Together, these initiatives ensure that international diplomacy is a vibrant, everyday experience for all residents and visitors of Carmel.

To learn more about Carmel’s sister cities program, upcoming cultural events or how to get involved, please visit the Carmel Sister Cities webpage.