Press releases

Belarus Events Calendar: January 2019

Art of Chocolate exhibition

The Art of Chocolate exhibition is on the world tour and has already attracted over a million visitors. The project promises viewers a full immersion into the sweet world of chocolate thanks to a special concept: watch, touch, play, feel, shoot, smell.

When: 25 October – 8 January
Where: National History Museum, Minsk

Park of Magic Lights

An exhibition of lighting installations is open 24/7 in the evening time: Here you can enjoy the magic show of lights. More than 30 compositions, among which there is a dynamic tunnel, a 10-meter “waterfall”, “The Eiffel Tower”, “a volcano”, create a cozy atmosphere of magic Christmas evenings. You can continue an evening stroll by visiting the Father Frost's residence and the mirror maze.

When: 1 January – 31 March
Where: Dreamland Park, Minsk

Panna Dollya International Expo

This exposition combines original paintings by Piotr Frolov (Russia), Anna Silivonchik and Vasily Peshkun with Marina Kapilova’s personal project Birds’ Theater. The main character of the exposition is a doll called Panna Dollya (the original name is – Life Is Good) created by Belarusian designer Tatyana Polyakova. Visitors will certainly appreciate a diversity of techniques and materials (from textiles to rare porcelain) used to create this unique collection of over 400 works (they are indeed unique, because they were made in a single copy). A separate exposition is dedicated to fashion history. The exhibition will open in the National Center of Contemporary Arts.

When: 1 January – 3 February
Where: National Center of Contemporary Arts on Nezavisimosti Avenue, Minsk

Salvador Dali & Pablo Picasso Exhibition

The exposition featuring over 125 original works by the world’s greatest artists Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso will open in the LIBRA exhibition hall. In addition to the unique collection, the curators promise an educational program with lectures from art experts and master classes where visitors will be able to try to paint one of the works of these outstanding artists.

When: 1 January – 18 February
Where: LIBRA exhibition hall, Minsk

Christmastime in Museum

The Belarusian Folk Art Museum invites everyone to see the traditional Belarusian Christmas rite Kalyady and learn how to make Christmas gifts, sing folk songs, dance and play authentic Belarusian games.

When: 1–19 January
Where: Belarusian Folk Art Museum, Raubichi, Minsk Oblast

New Year's Balls For Children in Mir Castle

Welcoming girls and boys for the New Year’s Ball in the Mir Castle will be Mikhal Kazimierz Rybonka and Franciszka Ursula Radziwill. The Portrait Hall will host a magical show with an enchanted knight, a housekeeper and the Black Princess. The festive program in the castle will include lessons of court etiquette, ballroom dancing, ancient games and, of course, gifts.

When: 2, 4–6 January
Where: Mir Castle, Korelichi District

Christmas Days in Radziwills’ Castle

Well-known stories from the past will “come alive” in Nesvizh Castle. Visitors will meet with the owner of the castle, Duke Karol Stanislaw Radziwill nicknamed Panie Kochanku, his sister Teofila and composer Jan Dawid Holland, and take part in a theatrical meeting with King of Rzeczpospolita Stanislaw August Poniatowski.

When: 2–7, 12-13 January  
Where: Nesvizh Castle, Minsk Oblast

Warmth of Eternal Frosts in Belarusian State Circus

The Diamond Circus of Yakutia will come to Minsk for the first time to show its new project The Warmth of Eternal Frosts, a spectacular show full of unique traditions of the Northern peoples. The show will feature reindeers, polar foxes, and Eskimo dogs.

When: 2-13 January
Where: Belarusian State Circus, Minsk

Christmas Audience with Pan Voit in Nesvizh Town Hall

Nesvizh invites visitors to spend winter holidays in the historical atmosphere. Participants in the interactive program will be able to travel back in time and immerse into the atmosphere of past centuries, visit the Town Hall ball (incidentally, the oldest in Belarus!), meet with Voit and get gifts from him.

When: 5-6 January, 12 January
Where: Nesvizh Town Hall, Nesvizh, Minsk

Christmas Jazz in Gomel

A jazz evening concert of the Gomel Concert Orchestra under the baton of Maksim Rassokha invites the audiences to listen to the Tales from the Vienna Woods, see the enchanting Blue Moon and even wander around the winter city. The program will feature pieces by foreign composers: Garland, Lewis, Hefty, Finegan, Rogers, Gillespie, Miller, Belarusian Glebov and Belzatsky and the king of the Soviet jazz Eddi Rozner.

When: 12 January
Where: Gomel Regional Drama Theater, Gomel 

Christmas Masquerade Ball in Mir Castle

Mysterious masks and elegant silhouettes, flowing movements, exquisite costumes and live music ... All these are indispensable attributes of a magnificent masquerade ball which is held annually in one of the architectural gems of Belarus: Mir Castle is included on UNESCO's World Heritage List.

When: 12 January
Where: Mir Castle, Korelichi District, Grodno Oblast

Big New Year Ball in Bolshoi Theater

The Bolshoi Theater invites those who seek romanticism and love classical dance to enjoy a night show on 13 January. Visitors to the Big New Year Ball will have a chance to enjoy live music, styled photo zones, competitions, entertainment, a gala concert and mini performances.

When: 13 January
Where: Bolshoi Theater of Belarus, Minsk

New Year MIX II in Upper Town

New Year MIX II features outstanding soloists of Cappella Sonorus, namely one of Belarus’ best saxophonists Nikita Petrov, striking coloratura soprano Yulia Mukha and internationally acclaimed pianist Natalia Korotina. The second part of the project will offer popular classical music, jazz and flamboyant Latino music.

When: 13 January
Where: Upper Town concert hall, Minsk

Koniki Folk Carnival

The Koniki rite, the cultural heritage of the Belarusian Polesie, was revived in the mid-1980s. It is performed only in David-Gorodok. Its major character is Horse, not Goat. In the “Generous Eve”, this Horse with a rider, musicians and other people dressed up as Christmas characters make their rounds and knock on the door of the homes where light is on…

When: 13 January
Where: David-Gorodok, Stolin District, Brest Oblast

Dreams About France Expo in Minsk

Twenty-three Belarusian painters will showcase their Dreams about France in Minsk. The exposition celebrating this beautiful European country will feature different works of art: painting, graphics, photography, ceramics, chinaware, and textile. The exhibition will offer a wide education program, including excursions, workshops and themed meetings.

When: 18 January – 10 February
Where: Vysokoye Mesto art gallery, Minsk

2019 European Figure Skating Championships in Minsk

Over 100 best European figure skaters will gather in Minsk for the first time to compete for the medals of the 2019 European Figure Skating Championships. It will be a great feast for figure skating fans and one of the most important rehearsals ahead of the 2022 Beijing Olympics for athletes. Russia, France and Spain are among the favorites of the forthcoming competitions.

When: 21–27 January
Where: Minsk Arena, Minsk

Northern Dogs Festival

One of the best family-friendly winter festivals, Northern Dogs 2019, will feature mushers from Belarus, Russia, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, and Ukraine. The program will include cross-country skiing competitions, winter orienteering, a ropes course, ice hockey and broomball.

When: 28 January
Where: Ekspeditsiya Picnic Hotel, the village of Oktyabr, Minsk Oblast

Oleg Menshikov and Dream Orchestra. Brass in Minsk

Dream Orchestra. Brass is a new project of Oleg Menshikov, an outstanding actor, producer and People’s Artist of Russia. The play harmoniously combines chapters from his memoirs and the orchestra music. The musicians dance, perform drum battles and engage with the audience.

When: 28 January
Where: Palace of the Republic, Minsk