An international academic initiative promoted by Universidade do Estado da Bahia (UNEB) and the University of Cambridge, in collaboration with CLAREC, dedicated to the renewal of Paulo Freire’s legacy, popular education, dialogue with social movements, and collaborative forms of knowledge production aimed at social transformation.
The initiative brings together the Curriculum, Pedagogy and Professional Learning (CPPL) group at the Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge, and the Programa de Pós-Graduação em Educação de Jovens e Adultos (PPGEJA) and the Educação de Jovens e Adultos, Patrimônio e Saberes Locais group at the Universidade do Estado da Bahia (UNEB).
Each edition of the Dialogue brings Paulo Freire’s thought into conversation with contemporary questions concerning education, democracy, social movements, and processes of social transformation.
Two editions. One continuing initiative.
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What you need to know
An annual international initiative
The Annual Paulo Freire Dialogue is an annual international initiative dedicated to the renewal of Paulo Freire’s legacy.
The United Kingdom and Brazil
In 2026, activities will take place in Cambridge and London in the United Kingdom, and in Salvador, Brazil.
Cross-sector dialogue
Brings together universities, social movements, communities, educators, students and organisations.
A diverse programme
Combines public dialogues with academic, cultural and community-based activities.
Collaborative development
Values encounters among different experiences, territories and forms of knowledge production.
Information in motion
New activities and information will be progressively shared on this page and through the channels of CLAREC and the Cambridge University Brazilian Society (CUBS).
A history that continues
The Annual Paulo Freire Dialogue continues a trajectory built collectively by CLAREC, universities, educators, students, and social movements.
1 to 12 November 2021
I Freire Conference and the Bust of Paulo Freire
The I Freire Conference brought together activities dedicated to Paulo Freire’s thought between 1 and 12 November 2021. Within the framework of the initiative, the Landless Workers’ Movement (MST) donated a bust of Paulo Freire to the Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge.
View conference record
17 to 21 October 2022
II Freire Conference
Built in partnership with Universidade Emancipa and partner organisations, the II Freire Conference expanded upon the previous experience, articulating in-person and online activities between Cambridge and Brazil, and strengthening dialogue between popular education, the university, and various social experiences.
View the II Freire Conference
19 October 2022
Community Takeover
An experience linked to the II Freire Conference that highlighted community forms of participation and collective knowledge production.
Read about the experience
2023
Event of the Year
The II Freire Conference was recognised as Event of the Year by the Cambridge Students’ Awards 2023, highlighting its contribution to the university community and to dialogue around Paulo Freire’s legacy.
Read news
January 2024
Paulo Freire – Global Educator
The special issue “Paulo Freire – Global Educator”, published in the journal Globalisation, Societies and Education, gathered reflections on the international dimension of Paulo Freire’s thought and legacy.
View publication
October and November 2026
The Annual Paulo Freire Dialogue
In 2026, the initiative adopts a new binational configuration, articulating the UK Edition, in Cambridge and London, and the Brazil Edition, in Salvador, as a continuation of an international trajectory of dialogue, popular education, and collaborative knowledge production.
Explore the programmePaulo Freire and the challenges of our time
Paulo Freire is a foundational reference in critical educational thought and popular education internationally. His work understands education as a historical and political practice, grounded in dialogue, participation, critical reading of the world, and collective action in relation to the concrete conditions of social life.
His intellectual and political trajectory was shaped by experiences of literacy and adult education in Brazil’s Northeast and, subsequently, by his work in exile and in different contexts across Latin America, Africa, Europe and other regions. The international circulation of his ideas has made his work an important reference for debates and practices concerned with the democratisation of education, social justice, anti-racism, the struggles of social movements, cultural emancipation, and forms of knowledge production committed to transforming reality.
At the Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge, and at the Universidade do Estado da Bahia (UNEB), Paulo Freire’s thought has also informed, in recent years, experiences of dialogue, research and popular education, bringing the university into closer conversation with movements, educators and other collective actors involved in different processes of struggle and social transformation.
Explore the artist’s work →
Read about the MST initiative →
Cambridge · London · 12–17 October 2026
UK Edition 2026
From 12 to 17 October 2026, the UK Edition of the Annual Paulo Freire Dialogue brings together public, academic, cultural and community activities across Cambridge and London, with opportunities to join in person and online.
Participation Guide | Guia de Participação
Everything for the week in one place
Dates, venues, maps, online access, interpretation and registration for every activity. In English and Portuguese.
Monday 12 October · 4:00–6:00 pm
Opening Event
The Annual Paulo Freire Dialogue
In person + onlineEN ↔ PTLibras
The Opening Event launches the 2026 UK Edition and the new collaboration underpinning the Annual Paulo Freire Dialogue. Lutgardes Costa Freire and Rosana Cebalho Fernandes join a public dialogue on Paulo Freire’s political and pedagogical legacy, popular education, democracy, land, international solidarity and contemporary struggles for social transformation.
Where
MAB Auditorium, Mary Allan Building
Faculty of Education, 184 Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 8PQ
Zoom Webinar: the link is sent to registrants one day before.
Tuesday 13 October · 11:00 am–12:30 pm
Esperançar Across Borders: Paulo Freire, Solidarity-Based Internationalisation and Universities in Network
In person + onlineEN ↔ PTLibras
A roundtable exploring alternatives to competitive models of university internationalisation, focusing on solidarity, reciprocity, cooperation, international academic networks and the public and social role of universities.
Where
Room DMB GS5, Donald McIntyre Building
Faculty of Education, 184 Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 8PQ
Zoom Webinar: the link is sent to registrants one day before.
Wednesday 14 October · 9:00–11:00 am
The Structure Within: Internalised Oppression and the Possibilities of Transformation
In personEN ↔ PT
A participatory conversation exploring internalised oppression and how structures of oppression can become part of how we understand ourselves and reproduce unequal relations, in dialogue with Paulo Freire’s thinking on oppression, conscientização, dialogue and praxis.
Where
Sociology Seminar Room, Department of Sociology
Free School Lane, Cambridge CB2 3RQ
Wednesday 14 October · 5:00–6:30 pm
Access to Rural and Urban Land, Education and Political Participation
In personEN ↔ PT
A public dialogue on the relationships between land, territory, education and political participation, bringing rural and urban experiences from Brazil into conversation with access to rights, collective organisation and knowledge production.
Where
Room S1, Centre of Latin American Studies
Alison Richard Building, 7 West Road, Cambridge CB3 9DT
Wednesday 14 October · 7:30–10:00 pm
Maracatu in the Context of Paulo Freire
In personEN ↔ PT
An evening bringing together popular education, Afro-Brazilian culture, community and collective organisation, connecting the history of Maracatu Nação Aurora Africana with the contemporary experience of Maracatu Baque Trovão. Includes a maracatu demonstration and participatory workshop. Free of charge.
Where
Joint Services & Veterans Club
Barnwell Drive, Cambridge CB5 8RD
Thursday 15 October · 4:00–6:00 pm
Encountering Pedagogies: Lesson Study, Oracy, and Freirean Thinking in Dialogue
In personEN ↔ PT
An in-person dialogue bringing Pete Dudley’s work on Research Lesson Study and Oracy education into conversation with Paulo Freire’s thinking on dialogue, praxis and educational freedom, alongside perspectives and experiences from Brazil.
Where
Hughes Hall
Wollaston Road, Cambridge CB1 2EW
Friday 16 October · 2:00–5:00 pm
Paulo Freire Bust Inauguration & Annual Lecture
In person + onlineEN ↔ PT
2:00 pm · Inauguration of the Paulo Freire bust donated by CLAREC to
Loughborough University London.
3:00–5:00 pm · Paulo Freire Annual Lecture 2026 with Katucha Bento,
University of Edinburgh.
Where
Loughborough University London
The Broadcast Centre, Here East, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Lesney Avenue, London E20 3BS
Zoom Webinar: the link is sent to registrants one day before.
Saturday 17 October · 4:00–7:00 pm
Café com Paulo Freire
Politics, Solidarity and Internationalism
In personEN ↔ PT
The UK Edition closes in London with a public political dialogue connecting Paulo Freire’s political legacy with contemporary struggles around anti-imperialism, popular sovereignty, land, resistance, international solidarity and social movements in Latin America.
Where
The Bureau of Silly Ideas · Silly Club · Arch 555
18 Valentia Place, London SW9 8PJ (Brixton Station)
Before you take part
Places are limited and advance registration is recommended. Every venue has a reception with a list of participants, so please arrive early. For activities with online participation, the Zoom Webinar link is sent to registered participants one day before. All times are UK time, 4 hours ahead of Brasília.
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Brazil Edition 2026
From 9 to 11 November 2026, the Annual Paulo Freire Dialogue comes to Salvador. The Brazil Edition will bring together universities, communities, social movements, collectives, popular education centres, and national and international guests.
Academic Activities
Roundtables, public lectures and working groups connecting postgraduate research with community challenges.
Open Call
The Brazil Edition includes an open call for experiences in popular education. Full information and submission guidelines are available on the Portuguese-language page.
Territory-Based Activities
Practical experiences in local knowledge centres in Salvador, engaging with Bahia’s cultural heritage and social struggles.
Brazil Edition information
For the latest programme information, open call and participation details, visit the Brazil Edition page in Portuguese.
Artwork by Ivan Jerônimo, 2021.
About the artwork and Ivan Jerônimo
About Ivan Jerônimo
Ivan Jerônimo is a Brazilian artist and designer born in Santa Catarina. He coordinates the UX Design area at the CERTI Foundation and holds a degree in Journalism from the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC). His artistic practice encompasses observational drawing, illustration, and calligraphy, articulating both traditional and contemporary approaches.
Discover Ivan Jerônimo’s work
Origin of the portrait
The portrait of Paulo Freire was created by Ivan Jerônimo in 2021, derived from a recording of a lecture given by the educator. The artwork originated from a commission for Escola Básica Santo Antônio in Rodeio, Santa Catarina, and subsequently became part of the visual identity of the conferences held in Cambridge.
Historical visual identity
The artwork served as the official visual identity for the I Freire Conference (2021) and the II Freire Conference (2022), held at the University of Cambridge.
Symbol of continuity in 2026
The organising committee chose to retain the portrait as the core visual identifier for the 2026 Annual Paulo Freire Dialogue, ensuring a visual and symbolic link with the history of previous conferences.
Basis of the graphic system
The chromatic palette present within the artwork itself—particularly the tones of blue, pink, magenta, earth tones, reds, and lighter highlights—is preserved and systematised as part of the visual identity. Its colours, textures, brushstrokes, and gestural qualities guide the construction of an expressive graphic language, seeking to preserve the materiality and aesthetics of the original work while incorporating principles of accessibility, contrast, and legibility across its various applications.
Follow the Annual Paulo Freire Dialogue
The 2026 programme will continue to be updated over the coming weeks. Stay tuned for new guests, activities, participation details, and updates on the UK and Brazil editions.
Contact
For information regarding the Annual Paulo Freire Dialogue, please get in touch with the organising committee:
clarec.cam.edu@gmail.comQuem faz o Diálogo Anual Paulo Freire acontecer
O Diálogo Anual Paulo Freire é construído por uma rede de instituições, grupos acadêmicos e parceiros que contribuem para sua organização, realização e continuidade.
Organised by
Financial Support
Partners and Supporters
