Portuguese American Journal

Portuguese American Journal

Featured Stories
1976-2026 | Azores celebrate 50 Years of Constitutional Autonomy Book | Bag of Kisses | By Melanie Pereira April 25th |  “Dia da Liberdade” celebrated nationwide and across the diaspora Community | Justice Department moves to revoke citizenship for naturalized immigrants Honor | Writer João Pedro Vala recipient of the PEN/O. Henry Award
 

1976-2026 | Azores celebrate 50 Years of Constitutional Autonomy – Azores 

The Autonomous Region of the Azores is preparing for a historic year of celebrations in 2026 to mark the 50th anniversary of its Constitutional Autonomy. This milestone underscores five decades of self-governance, regional identity, and transatlantic connection.  The commemorations will culminate on September 8, 2026, marking the formal implementation of autonomy under the Constitution of […]

Book | Bag of Kisses | By Melanie Pereira – Editor’s Note

For a little girl whose daddy is a fisherman in the #1 fishing port in the world, goodbyes are never easy. But before he leaves for sea, her parents share a special secret―a magical bag of kisses that keeps their love close, no matter how far the waves carry him. As the days pass and […]

April 25th |  “Dia da Liberdade” celebrated nationwide and across the diaspora – Portugal

The Portuguese nation commemorates today the 52nd anniversary of the Carnation Revolution transition to democracy, with a nationwide program of official ceremonies, public demonstrations, and cultural events. The celebrations expanded abroad, connecting the country to its global diaspora, particularly in the United States. At the center of the national commemorations will be the traditional formal […]

Community | Justice Department moves to revoke citizenship for naturalized immigrants – Washington, D.C.

The U.S. Department of Justice is moving to accelerate efforts to revoke the citizenship of certain naturalized Americans, targeting cases where individuals are suspected of having obtained citizenship through fraud or misrepresentation. Citizenship is considered one of the most secure legal statuses in the United States. Therefore, the overall impact of such measures is likely […]

Honor | Writer João Pedro Vala recipient of the PEN/O. Henry Award – New York, NY

Portuguese writer João Pedro Vala has been awarded a prestigious PEN/O. Henry Award for his short story “Inês,” a recognition widely regarded as one of the highest honors in English-language short fiction. The first Portuguese author to receive that distinction, his short story ‘Inês’ was selected for inclusion in the PEN/O. Henry Prize Stories anthology. […]

Community | Competition ‘I Love Azores’ open to young Azorean descendants – Azores

30 January 2026

The Regional Secretariat for Parliamentary Affairs and Communities, through the Regional Directorate for Communities, and SATA/Azores Airlines are launching, in partnership, the “I Love Azores” competition—an initiative designed to strengthen cultural and emotional ties between young Azorean descendants living in North America and the Autonomous Region of the Azores. The competition is part of the […]

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Posted in Azores, Community, Featured, Heritage, Organizations, Travel, World

Storm Kristin | Central country region devastated by widespread damage – Portugal

29 January 2026

One of the most powerful winter storms to hit Portugal in recent years, storm Kristin, caused severe destruction across central regions of the country, resulting in multiple fatalities, widespread power outages, and extensive damage to infrastructure.  Thousands of emergency incidents were reported nationwide. According to official sources, the storm caused at least five to six […]

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Posted in Featured, Portugal, Uncategorized, World

In Memoriam | Filmmaker João Canijo, 68, leaves a remarkable legacy – Portugal 

29 January 2026

Portuguese cinema is mourning the death of filmmaker João Canijo (1957-2026),  one of the most influential and uncompromising voices in contemporary Portuguese film. Throughout his career, he collaborated closely with actors and writers to develop a unique narrative universe centered on family dynamics, social tensions, and the complexities of power and identity. Renowned for his […]

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Posted in Arts&Culture, Featured, Film, Heritage, People, Portugal, World

UPDATE | Presidential election heads to runoff as diaspora voters decry voting barriers – Portugal

19 January 2026

Portugal’s presidential election, held on January 18, concluded without a decisive winner, sending the country to a runoff election on February 8, 2026, following one of the most polarized presidential contests since the return of democracy.  According to the official provisional results, the socialist left-center candidate, António José Seguro, led the first round with 31.1% […]

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Posted in Azores, Featured, Madeira, Organizations, People, Politics, Portugal, Uncategorized, World

Elections’26 | One of the most presidential contests in decades – Portugal

16 January 2026

Portugal will hold its next presidential election on  Sunday, January 18, 2026, with a possible runoff scheduled for February 8, 2026, if no candidate secures a majority. In what analysts describe as one of the most unpredictable presidential contests in decades, the presidential election is expected to be closely watched both domestically and internationally as […]

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Posted in Azores, Featured, Madeira, Politics, Portugal, World

Book | Luso-Orientalism(s) On Imagined Projections And Ruins | By Maria do Carmo Piçarra – Editor’s Note

15 January 2026

This book aims to explore the multiple ways in which Portuguese colonialism in former “Portuguese Asia” has been imagined. It focuses primarily on how Estado Novo (1933–1974), the longest-running European dictatorship, “imagined” these territories and peoples. Images played a pivotal role in the exercise of colonial power, propagating established ideas and portraying a colonial reality […]

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Posted in Arts&Culture, Books, Featured, Heritage, Politics, Portugal, World