On Tuesday, April 21, 2026, Tahiti Tourisme and Te Fare Tauhiti Nui — Maison de la Culture presented the programme for Matari’i i raro 2026 to the press. These cultural celebrations mark the transition into the introspective season of the Polynesian calendar.
This year’s theme, Fa’a’ī — to fill, reflects the essence of this period: filling the mind, body and spirit with knowledge, experience and wisdom.
A rich programme from May 19 to 23
From May 19 to 23, 2026, the public is invited to an immersive cultural experience across three iconic locations:
- Te Fare Tauhiti Nui — Maison de la Culture: cultural mediation workshops, literary evening Poetry in French Polynesia.
- Esplanade basse de To’atā: craft exhibition, demonstrations (pae’ore, revareva, white ni’au, tīfaifai), traditional know-how workshops, acoustic mini-concert by Teiho Tetoofa.
- Pā’ōfa’i Gardens: official Matari’i i raro ceremony on May 20, screening of the interactive film The Legend of Pipiri mā on May 23.
A conference cycle from April 28 to May 22
Four free, public conferences will be held at Te Fare Iamanaha — Museum of Tahiti and Her Islands:
- April 28 — Edgar Tetahiotupa: Te vai — Te ora — Te o’a / Water — Life
- May 7 — Tamatoa Bambridge: Rāhui in French Polynesia
- May 13 — Christine Briant: The cycle of seasons and celestial bodies
- May 22 — Johann Hiroui Bouit: Polynesian space and time — sharing rituals and ceremonies around Matari’i
Full programme
The complete press kit (10 pages, PDF) is available to journalists, along with the replay of the conference on Facebook.