Brasília's 'Utopias em Construção' exhibition opens in August to celebrate the city’s heritage

The exhibition “Utopias em Construção: Brasília nas dobras do tempo” will open at the Museu Nacional da República in Brasília on 6 August and remain on display until 4 October 2026. Organized by the news outlet Metrópoles in partnership with the Arquivo Público do Distrito Federal, the show presents historic documents, photographs, architectural projects, artworks and immersive installations.

Curators and historians say the exhibition seeks to strengthen the cultural identity of Brasília’s residents, especially younger generations who never witnessed the city’s inauguration on 21 April 1960. Historian Elias Manoel da Silva and archivist Hélio Júnior note that the display turns the city’s founding myth into a lived experience, highlighting the contributions of migrants, workers, students and artists to the capital’s development.

By offering tangible access to archival material and interactive experiences, the exhibition aims to foster a sense of belonging and portray Brasília as a dynamic, evolving organism rather than a static monument.