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Sacramento-Morelia Sister Cities

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Capital to Capital: A Sister City Partnership

On September 16, 2025, the Sacramento City Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2025-0259, formally declaring its intent to establish a sister city relationship with Morelia, Michoacán, México. The move followed discussions with officials from the City of Morelia to promote the relationship between the two cites, enabling both capital cities to pursue direct exchanges, tourism, and economic opportunities.

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Goals of the Partnership

Education

This partnership opens doors for eduction exchange programs, language learning programs, scholarships, and research collaborations that invest in the next generation of both communities and honor the shared heritage between Sacramento and Michoacán.

Culture

Morelia is a city rich in festivals, art, music, and tradition. Sacramento is one of America's most diverse cities, with deep Michoacán roots. The cultural exchange will attempt to connect the representation of the traditional native cultures of both cities. These agreement will bring both of these cultures together through exchanges of art, culture, and community, strengthening pride, identity, and people-to-people connections on both sides of the border.

Economy

Sacramento is the capital of the fifth-largest economy, while Morelia, Capital of Michoacán continues to grow its commercial and industrial base. Sacramento serves as a bridge, connecting entrepreneurs and business leaders across both markets. A new flight direct from Sacramento Aiport to Morelia will continue to open avenues for business ties.

Tourism

The Sister City agreement strengthens the link between these two capital cities. This collaborative effort will continue to drive tourism across both cities, encouraging residents of Sacramento to explore Morelia's rich culinary traditions. By promoting each city as a premier destination for the other, this partnership creates a lasting exchange of visitors, culture, and economic opportunity that benefits both communities for generations to come.

The Agreement

The agreement was signed by Officials of Morelia on February 6, 2026, when a Sacramento delegation traveled to Morelia. Morelia Mayor Alfonso Martínez Alcázar highlighting its importance for strengthening institutional cooperation and benefiting the Morelian migrant community in Sacramento.

A delegation from Morelia is planned to finalize the partnership in Sacramneto. The partnership will advance the exchange of education, arts and culture, economy, and tourism.

Culturally, the relationship opens the door for artist exchanges that honor the Michoacán heritage of Sacramento's Latino community. Michoacán is the state from which many Sacramentans share family ties, making this an important diplomatic agreement.

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Sacramento's Sister Cities:

Manila, Philippines (Est. 1961)

Matsuyama, Japan (Est. 1981)

Jinan, China (Est. 1984)

Hamilton, New Zealand (Est. 1988)

Liestal, Switzerland (Est. 1989)

Chișinău, Moldova (Est. 1989)

Yongsan-gu (Seoul), South Korea (Est. 1997)

San Juan de Oriente, Nicaragua (Est. 2006)

Pasay City, Philippines (Est. 2006)

Bethlehem, Palestine (Est. 2009)

Ashkelon, Israel (Est. 2012)

Mexicali, Mexico (Est. 2013)

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