The Asia-Europe Cultural Festival (AECFest) is a multidisciplinary arts festival that celebrates the artistic diversity of Asia and Europe and promotes dialogue and exchange amongst artists from the two regions. Presented by the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF), the festival travels each year to a different country of Asia and Europe offering a diverse range of contemporary art forms and practices, including performing arts, music, exhibitions, film and roundtable discussions 

Since 2018, the festival has served as a testament to the rich tapestry of cultural exchanges between Asia and Europe, fostering artistic collaborations and igniting connections between the two continents known for their diversity and creativity. The festival is dedicated to showcasing works that embody deep collaborations between artists across 51 countries of Asia and Europe. The featured projects emphasise cross-cultural partnerships, celebrating creativity that transcends borders and fosters mutual understanding between Asian and European arts communities. 

ASEF regularly reviews the festival format by putting into practice different models and approaches, thanks to partnerships with independent and public arts organisations in Asia and Europe. Through these collaborations, we have been implementing the ‘festival in the festival’ model, which has significantly increased our audience reach and the overall festival impact. 

Over the last six years, the Festival has transformed from purely showcasing to also supporting the production of new collaborations. Since 2023, the festival has been directly supporting artists through a new arts residency programme. Besides providing opportunities for capacity building and knowledge exchange, the residencies have been a mechanism for artists to travel and co-create artistic performances that are showcased at the festival.   

The Asia-Europe Cultural Festival plays an important role as a platform for cultural diplomacy, raising awareness about different cultures, enabling international exchanges and providing forums for dialogue between Asian and European arts communities.