Caption: Events DC Embassy Breakfast participants at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. (Photo courtesy of Events DC)
Despite snow and hazardous road conditions across the region, more than 160 participants arrived representing over 50 embassies, Passport DC partners, and numerous civic organizations. Senior diplomats, cultural partners, and Washington, D.C. officials gathered at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center for the annual Events DC Embassy Breakfast, a strategic working forum convened to brief embassies on Washington D.C.’s 2026 international cultural calendar and to advance cooperation across culinary, artistic, tourism, and sports programming.
Events DC, which oversees the Convention Center and several major Washington venues, presented a comprehensive calendar of upcoming activities designed to align embassy partners. Programs discussed included Passport DC, the Embassy Chef Challenge, the National Cherry Blossom Festival, and the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.
Events DC President and Chief Executive Officer Angie M. Gates welcomed guests through a recorded address, reaffirming the organization’s commitment to continued collaboration with the diplomatic community. More than ninety embassies had registered in advance of the annual gathering. Among those present were Ambassador Dwisuryo Indroyono Soesilo of Indonesia and Ambassador Nestor E. Mendez of Belize, along with the spouse of Ambassador Nazar Al-Khirullah of Iraq.
Partners in attendance included the European Union, Fiesta Asia, Dupont Circle BID, Planet Word, the DC Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Hart Inc., Linder Global, The District Cup, and Global Couture USA, creating a cross-sector exchange linking diplomacy, culture, and business.
Following the opening address, Dania M. Jolley, Deputy Chief of Staff and Cultural Affairs at Events DC, offered a broader perspective, noting, “Washington, D.C. is more than the nation’s capital it is a gateway to the world.” She explained that Passport DC transforms neighborhoods each May through programs such as Flower Mart, Fiesta Asia, the Around the World Embassy Tour, and EU Open House.
Jolley emphasized that embassies, in association with Events DC, create a platform for authentic cultural exchange through art, music, cuisine, and traditions, while the Embassy Chef Challenge provides chefs an opportunity to present their national heritage through food.
“Passport DC showcases our mission, celebrating Washington D.C.’s diversity and vibrancy,” she said. “Residents, tourists, and guests have the opportunity to enjoy unique and diverse cultural experiences. Your partnership is essential in making these moments possible, and we greatly appreciate your support. Thank you for coming to learn more about how we can grow our collaborations. Enjoy your breakfast.”
An Events DC presentation video reinforced this spirit of two-way exchange, concluding with the message: “Culture happens here.”
From the cultural vision, the program transitioned to civic leadership with remarks from Kimberly A. Bassett, Secretary of the District of Columbia. Nicole Greene, Senior Director at Events DC, followed by thanking embassy representatives and partners who traveled through difficult winter conditions to participate in the planning session.
Greene outlined National Cherry Blossom Festival activities and upcoming Passport DC engagements, including the Passport DC Preview at the National Cherry Blossom Festival, scheduled for either March 22 or April 5, 2026, from noon to 6:00 p.m. along West Basin Drive SW. Eight embassies will participate, each receiving a 30-minute performance slot. Registration closes February 11, with the final date determined by peak bloom projections.
Stacey Knoppel, Vice President of Sales at Events DC, then spoke about opportunities for embassies to activate programming across Events DC venues. Building on festival programming, Jesse Devlin-Whitworth, Director of Production Creative Services, reviewed Embassy Chef Challenge outcomes and plans for 2026.
Thirty-five embassies participated in the 2025 competition, featuring performances from Bolivia, Ukraine, Cameroon, Syria, Trinidad and Tobago, China, and Peru. The event welcomed 952 guests and 35 chefs, generated 304,904 social media impressions across 44 posts, recorded 28,147 engagements, and involved six influencers. Media coverage included 113 online articles and 23 broadcast segments, reaching an estimated 4,753,285 viewers, while website activity registered 131,950,641 UVPM.
The 2026 Embassy Chef Challenge was announced for June at International Square, Washington, D.C., from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., with capacity for 40 embassies and eight five-minute cultural performances. Registration closes May 20.
Attention then shifted to international sport and waterfront programming as Lawrence Hamm, Vice President of Business Development for Sports and Entertainment at Events DC, introduced the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, scheduled for June 18–20, 2026 at The Wharf. Six embassies may perform during the activation, with presentations ranging from 10 to 20 minutes.
The race features 10 yachts traveling 40,000 nautical miles across five oceans, with stopovers hosted by Australia, China, Panama, the Philippines, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Uruguay. Crews represent 45 countries. Organizers noted that the Washington stopover in 2024 welcomed more than 2,000 visitors aboard the yachts over three days.
Cheryl Crowell, Senior Manager of Cultural Affairs at Events DC, then presented Passport DC planning for May 1–31, 2026. Programs include International Cultural Awareness Month, Flower Mart, the Around the World Embassy Tour, EU Open House, Fiesta Asia, Savor the Flavors, and additional international cultural programs. The 2026 Around the World Embassy Tour will take place Saturday, May 2, with more than 70 embassies expected to participate. Registration closes April 3.
Participating embassies will offer food tastings, cooking demonstrations, art exhibitions, music, dance, fashion presentations, and information on tourism, sports, and technology.
With program details complete, Jan Du Plain, Embassy Liaison for Events DC and a well-known diplomatic figure, coordinated the Roll Call of Embassies, inviting representatives to stand and wave as each nation was announced. Five embassies then offered brief reflections on their Passport DC and Embassy Chef Challenge experiences, representing Latin America, Asia, the European Union, the Middle East, and Africa.
Ambassador Nestor E. Mendez spoke for Latin America, describing how he personally welcomes visitors throughout Passport DC. Wang Xuejung represented China for Asia, recounting the embassy’s early-morning reception tradition and Chef Challenge success. Jennifer Clancy Chalmer of Germany traced the origins of EU Open House in 2007 and its connection to the launch of Passport DC the following year, while Miriam Smallman of Belgium reflected on how the first embassy open house evolved into today’s coordinated programming. Heba Khashogji and Tarik Allagany spoke for Saudi Arabia, describing immersive culinary and cultural presentations, and Mozambique’s Deputy Chief of Mission Lucia Cherinda addressed the gathering on behalf of Africa.
Embassies present despite the weather included Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, The Gambia, Ghana, Greece, Indonesia, Iraq, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Mexico, Moldova, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Togo, and Tunisia.
There was a very informative Q&A that followed, concluding with a group photograph and a live violin performance by Rafael Javadov.
With Passport DC, the Embassy Chef Challenge, the National Cherry Blossom Festival, the Clipper Yacht Race, and dozens of embassy-featured activities scheduled throughout 2026, Events DC and its diplomatic partners are positioned to move forward with a full 2026 calendar with win-win cooperation, cultural exchange, and continuing international friendship.
