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Montpellier, France was twinned with Louisville in 1954. Universities in the two cities were the first to develop programs. There are two opportunities for college students to study at l'Universite de Montpellier or University of Louisville.
Louisville and Quito, Ecuador became Sister Cities in 1962. Quito teachers have been invited to intern in Louisville in three week increments. Additionally, the cities are working on a technical exchange for the Library of Quito.
Mainz, Germany was twinned with Louisville in 1994. The two cities have had art exchanges and college student exchanges as well.
Tamale, Ghana has been Louisville's Sister City since 1979. Louisville offers college students the opportunity of teaching or studying in Ghana. Louisville is involved in several humanitarian projects in Tamale.
La Plata, Argentina and Louisville have been Sister Cities since 1994. In the past, the two Sister Cities have been involved in sister-school relationships with E-pals and digital classrooms.
Perm, Russia has been Louisville's Sister City since 1994. University of Louisville provides the opportunity for students of Perm to study for their master's degrees in chemistry, biology, business, physics, and computer technology.
Jiujiang, PR China and Louisville were twinned in 2004. Cultural events centered around the relationship are common in the Louisville area. Also, local universities have given scholarships for students of Jiujiang to study for up to four years in Kentucky.
Leeds, England's relationship with Louisville began in 2006. Sister-school relationships are currently being discussed. Two universities are also working to being exchanges.
Adapazari, Turkey was twinned with Louisville in 2012. Louisville has been active in hosting Turkish cultural events to better understand the their Sister City.
Cheerleader Exchange with Montpellier, France 2025
Cheerleader Exchange with Montpellier, France 2025
A group of cheerleaders and their coaches from Louisville's longest standing sister city, Montpellier, France, came to Louisville during the week of Halloween. They participated in an exchange with another local cheer team in Louisville, while simultaneously experiencing American life. Below are a list of activities that they took part in during their multi-day stay:
* Louisville Slugger Museum Tour
* Hillcrest during Halloween
* The Jack O’Lantern Spectacular
* A joint practice with All About Kids
* A tour of Manual High School
* Attended the Manual High School pep rally prior to the Male rivalry game
* Attended the Male-Manual High School rivalry football game
* Received an official Metro Council proclamation from Councilman Ben Reno-Weber
More 2025 Programs:
Jiangxi 40-Year Anniversary Delegation and Reception
Louisville Sister Cities hosted an event for 30 people in the WAC Lobby to commemorate the 40-year anniversary of relations between the state of Kentucky and the Jiangxi Province, which includes our Sister City, Jiujiang, China. A delegation from Jiangxi attended the event and multiple other events in Louisville during their stay to enhance and strengthen ties between the two cities.
Sister Cities Youth Debate Challenge:
This past November, a tournament at Fairdale High School allowed schools to qualify for participation in the international debate competition in Chengdu, China. The challenge pits U.S. and China sister cities against one another in a winner-take-all debate competition. Louisville's Chinese sister city is Jiujiang, China.
Trinity High School and Atherton High School were Louisville’s representatives in the competition. Trinity made it to the quarterfinals while Atherton won the entirety of the competition! Blog posts from both teams are upcoming.
Link to official competition photos courtesy of: Chengdu Foreign Affairs Office.
History of Sister Cities of Louisville
History of Sister Cities of Louisville
In 1954, the city of Louisville established its first Sister City relationship with Montpellier (France) with a partnership between the University of Montpellier and the University of Louisville. Two years later, in establishing a People-To-People Program President Dwight D. Eisenhower placed “faith in the great promise of people-to-people and sister city affiliations in helping build the solid structure of world peace.”
After establishing a few more sister cities relationships, Sister Cities of Louisville was established in 1978 to aid Louisville’s sister city program, still run through the Office of the Mayor. In 1981, the formally moved all Sister City programs to Sister Cities of Louisville, and in 2020 Sister Cities of Louisville was included under World Affairs Council of Kentucky and Southern Indiana’s array of programming.
Contact Person: Will Wigginton
Email: will.wigginton@worldkentucky.org
Contact Person: Xiao Zhao
Email: xy.zhao@worldkentucky.org
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