The official delegation was led by Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Taras Kachka, with First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska among the distinguished guests of the event.
The highlight of the ceremony was the premiere of the Ode of Gratitude—a musical piece specially created for Ukraine’s National Day in collaboration with the creative agency Bickerstaff.734. The composition was performed live by musician Maryana Klochko. The premiere was accompanied by a video expressing gratitude to the international community for its support of Ukraine. The official part of the event concluded with a live performance by the Ukrainian band ONUKA.
Cultural diplomacy as a platform for dialogue
Following the official ceremony, the delegations visited the national pavilion of Japan and the Ukrainian pavilion, which was established at the initiative of the Government of Ukraine under the leadership of Yuliia Svyrydenko and Tetiana Berezhna.
At the Ukrainian pavilion, guests were introduced to a special installation titled Imported Goods, created as a gesture of gratitude to Ukraine’s friends. The artwork features five new “items” that continue the theme of appreciation, highlighting how the efforts of individuals can become powerful instruments of support. The artifacts are dedicated to specific cultural figures and activists from Japan, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Canada who have consistently demonstrated solidarity with the Ukrainian people.
«EXPO 2025 is a space where we can speak about the war, but we do not allow it to define our identity. Our Ode of Gratitude is a way of saying ‘thank you’ to those who did not leave us alone. And in our pavilion, we are storytellers shaping the society of the future. We are sincerely grateful to our partners and to the Government of Japan for giving Ukraine the opportunity to voice this message loudly—from the heart of Osaka to a world that now, more than ever, needs unity and mutual support,» stated Tetiana Berezhna, Acting Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications.
Country Pavilions: Art and Dialogue
As part of Ukraine’s National Day programme, the Czech pavilion hosted a panel discussion titled Ukraine Unbreakable Classrooms, organized by the civil society organization Osvitoria. The event focused on the resilience of education during wartime and the importance of international support for Ukraine’s educational system.
The discussion was accompanied by excerpts from the documentary Timeline directed by Kateryna Gornostai, which highlights the experiences of Ukrainian students and teachers during the war. The event concluded with a performance by the Ukrainian band KAZKA.
In the Romanian pavilion, an immersive exhibition titled Home Beyond the Dawn opened under the curatorship of Nataliia Matsenko. The exhibition brings together works by over 30 contemporary Ukrainian artists, exploring the transformation of the concept of home in the context of war. Through video, photography, animation, sound, and digital reconstructions, the display weaves a multi-layered, emotionally charged narrative of loss, resilience, and hope.
The Belgian pavilion hosted a series of panel discussions focused on art and its role in today’s realities. The event brought together Ukrainian female artists who shared their personal experiences and emphasized the importance of culture as a tool for reflection, resistance, and international dialogue.
This series of partner-led events reaffirmed the international community’s steadfast solidarity with Ukraine and the unity of leading nations in defending democratic values.
Ukraine’s National Day at EXPO 2025 captured the attention of representatives from dozens of countries, becoming one of the most well-attended and widely recognized events of the exhibition.