The Grand Auditorium of the Maia Forum hosted, on january, 30, the Official Opening Ceremony of Maia – European Volunteering Capital 2026. In a moment of great symbolic and inspirational significance, the city reaffirmed its commitment to solidarity and active citizenship before an audience composed of numerous high-level national and international representatives.

Hosted by Catarina Furtado, the session marked the beginning of a year in which Maia will be the epicenter of volunteering in Europe, having secured the title over the candidatures of Ballina (Ireland) and Rzeszów (Poland).

During the flag-handover moment, the Director of the European Volunteering Centre, Gabriella Cívico, stated: “We are very happy that, during this challenging year—when the European Union will be holding important discussions on the next Multiannual Financial Framework—Maia is the worthy holder of the title of European Capital of Volunteering.”

Throughout the ceremony, the attending entities highlighted Maia’s role as an example of social cohesion:

José Pedro Aguiar-Branco, President of the Assembly of the Republic: “This is an important achievement. It means that work carried out in our country (…) has been recognized at an international level. Being European Capital of Volunteering is more than a title of recognition; it is a vote of confidence that Maia has known how to honor.”

Maria Luís Albuquerque, European Commissioner: “No society can be built in a truly solid way unless we all contribute (…). It is truly inspiring to see how this spirit is so strongly present in Maia.”

António Silva Tiago, Mayor of Maia: “Maia assumes this title with humility, but also with the ambition of placing people at the center of public policies—not as passive recipients, but as co-responsible protagonists of their shared future.”

The event featured broad institutional representation, including the Secretary of State for Social Action and Inclusion, Clara Marques Mendes; Members of the European Parliament Paulo Cunha and Sérgio Humberto; the Head of the European Commission Representation in Portugal, Sofia Moreira de Sousa; Julie Park from the United Nations Volunteers Programme; as well as Cardinal Dom Américo Aguiar and Dom Manuel Linda, Bishop of Porto.

The cultural dimension was one of the pillars of the evening. The Maia Classical Orchestra, under the direction of Maestro Tiago Moreira da Silva, opened the session with works by F. Mendelssohn and the Anthem of Europe (Beethoven/Karajan). Fado singer Sara Correia delivered an engaging and memorable artistic performance.

The closing was crowned with the Anthem of the European Capital of Volunteering, “Free to Serve,” performed by the Municipal Children’s Choir of the Little Singers of Maia, conducted by Ana Lídia Rouxinol, with lyrics by Mizé Rouxinol and music by Victor Sampaio Dias.

Through COMPROMISSUM – Maia’s Volunteering Centre, the municipality will implement throughout this year a strategic plan focused on empowering citizens and creating networks of social impact, serving as a model for other European territories and projecting volunteering as a fundamental pillar of the future.

Emília Santos, Vice-President of Maia City Council and Chair of the Organizing Committee, states: “Maia today has profound reasons to be proud. Being recognized as European Capital of Volunteering 2026 is more than a title: it is the affirmation of an identity built daily by people who make solidarity a way of life. It is the recognition of a community that firmly and resolutely believes that no one should be left behind. (…) Throughout 2026, we want to continue celebrating volunteering, but also project it into the future—strengthening networks, inspiring new generations, and showing Europe that solidarity, when lived authentically, has the power to transform entire territories and communities.”