Eve of Nation is a yearly event at the University of Oklahoma that is hosted by IAC. This year, it was hosted April 10th, 2026 at the McCasland Field House. This year the theme was Kairos.

They had a lot of new countries represented this year, such as Russia, Madagascar, and Slovakia that I do not recall being in previous years. We had guest performances alongside the student organizations. My favorite performance this year was the Dhamaka Dance Team which is a part of the Iranian Student Association. I believe they deserved number one, but that was taken by Afrobeatz, which represented the East African Alliance. They are usually my favorite (and they win every year), but this year I felt like they were topped.

The Venezuelan Student Association was amazing, and the girl singer performed splendidly.

I enjoyed the messages that were given out during the performances. One of the stories about Afghanistan was a very eye opening one, in my opinion. It was about how all women are not the same, especially in such a strict regime. Another one was titled “Freedom Comes Tomorrow”, and it inspired many young girls to become change makers in their community.

Overall, the event was filled with culture from all over the world that came together on one stage. It is the largest international event at the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma in general. It is a place that fosters global connections and celebrates the heritage of most of the countries represented in the student body at the University of Oklahoma. This is why I went to this event for all four years of my time, and I will genuinely miss it when I am no longer here.

Best,

Destiny Monroe