Press releases

Belarus Events Calendar: JULY 2024

Kinovek: Festival to Mark 100th Anniversary of Belarusian Cinematography

Belarus will celebrate the anniversary of the national cinematography with the national festival Kinovek, which will be held across the country. Throughout the year the festival will present 33 best films from the Belarusfilm studio, which tell the story of the national cinematography development. The festival will feature films of different genres - historical and social films, war and adventure films, and also famous children's films The Adventures of Pinocchio, My Name is Harlequino, War Under the Roofs, Nesterka. The festival opened with a screening of the restored silent film Forest Story (1926) directed by Yuri Tarich and based on Mikhas Charot’s The Swineherd.

When: 28 February – 11 December
Where: Cinema houses of Minsk, oblast and regional centers of Belarus

‘Worth Its Weight in Gold’ exhibition at the Mikhail Savitsky Art Gallery

The exhibition called as "Worth Its Weight in Gold" invites you to trace the history of sovereign Belarus through commemorative coins: valuable samples produced since 1996 in gold, silver and copper-nickel alloy. The exposition displays the commemorative coins of Belarus’ National Bank celebrating the country’s history and culture, sport, environmental protection and Belarus in the world community. Here you can see a variety of shapes (round, rectangular and oval coins), themes, execution technologies, including holography, oxidation, inserts of precious and non-precious stones, color digital printing. Traditional tools for coin cutting are also on view.

When: April 17 – July 7
Where: Mikhail Savitsky Art Gallery, 15 Svobody Square, Minsk

Nationwide film campaign to mark 80th anniversary of the liberation of Belarus

In honor of the 80^th anniversary of the liberation of Belarus from the Nazi invaders, the best Belarusian and Soviet films about the Great Patriotic War made in different years will be shown in cinema houses across the country. The playbill of the commemorative campaign includes Belarusian feature films, 16 documentaries, the best Soviet films by Mosfilm and other film studios. It is expected that the patriotic campaign will hold more than 2,800 film screenings both in cinema houses and other cultural institutions.

When: February 24 to September 2024
Where: cinema houses of Minsk, regional and district centers of Belarus

New program in Belarusian State Circus

In the summer season of carefree holidays and vacations, Belarusian State Circus invites to enjoy a new program called Circoleto. The famous Tiger Show by the famous circus dynasty – Honored Artists of Russia Karina and Artur Bagdasarov deserves special attention. This show features Ussuri and Bengal tigers. The audience will also see acrobats, a parrot show, trained cats and dogs, horse riders, aerialists, jugglers, clowns and much more!

When: 25 May – 4 August
Where: Belarusian State Circus, 32 Nezavisimosti Avenue, Minsk

ARS MAGNA ORGANI 2024 chamber music festival

The ARS MAGNA ORGANI 2024 festival of organ and chamber music titled “The Great Art of the Organ” will play 56 free concerts in the new season. For this purpose, four historical organs will be used - in Pinsk, Medvedichy, Ruzhany and Novogrudok, as well as one electric organ in Ivanovo. Pinsk will offer the most extensive program with 23 solo organ concerts and 6 concerts of chamber orchestras and ensembles. Music will be performed in the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary where the second most historically significant organ in Belarus will be played. Performing skills will be shown by 27 musicians from Belarus, Russia, Austria and Hungary, 3 chamber groups, and participants in master classes that will be held as part of the festival.

When: 8 June – 13 October
Where: Pinsk, Medvedichi, Ruzhany, Ivanovo, Novogrudok

‘Yehuda Pen, Jacob Kruger. Art Schools of Belarus’ in the Belarusian National Art Museum

2024 marks the 170th anniversary of the birth of Yehuda Pen, who showed the way to the world of art for the world-famous avant-garde artist of the 20th century Marc Chagall, and the 155th anniversary of the birth of Jacob Kruger. They were artists and teachers, founders of professional art education in Belarus, founders of private schools of drawing and painting in Vitebsk and Minsk. The exposition features fine art, graphics, sculptural works by both  teachers and their talented students: Marc Chagall, Ossip Zadkine, Zair Azgur, Solomon Yudovin, Lazar Ran and other artists representing various trends and trends in the world fine art.

When: 5 June – 18  August
Where: National Art Museum of Belarus, 20 Lenin Street, Minsk
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Summer tourist season 2024 in Minsk: Excursions in Upper Town

The 2024 summer tourist season in Minsk opened with a marathon of tours on foot around the old town. Every Saturday (13.00 and 15.30) groups (up to 15 people) depart from the Minsk Town Hall. Walking along the narrow streets, guests get acquainted with the sights, learn more about the history of majestic temples (the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, Archcathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary), former complexes of Basilian and Bernardine monasteries, the Town Hall as a symbol of city self-government, Gostiny Dvor, and the place of an ancient castle of the 12th century. Exploring the heritage of the historical center, an excursion will take you along Nemiga Street and Rakovskaya Street to Yubileinaya Square and into the Minsk of the 19th century as the walk proceeds into Rakov Suburb. The tour will end with a visit to the cellars of the former Uniate Church of the Holy Spirit.

When: 8 June – 14 September
Where: Minsk Town Hall, 2a Svobody Square, Minsk

3 July – Independence Day of the Republic of Belarus (Republic Day)

The main state holiday – Independence Day – marks the significant events in the history of the country and the fate of millions of Belarusians. On 3 July 1944, Soviet troops liberated Minsk from the Nazi invaders during Operation Bagration, the largest strategic offensive operation of World War II. A little more than a month later, the entire territory of the republic was cleared of the enemy. This means that this year Belarus celebrates the 80th anniversary of liberation and is preparing for the upcoming 80th anniversary of the Victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War. In the run-up to the Independence Day, by decree of the head of state, nine settlements of Belarus were awarded the pennant ‘For valor and perseverance during the Great Patriotic War’.

In honor of the anniversary date and the main holiday of the country, a military parade and a theatrical procession will be held in Minsk. Residents and guests of the capital will see 36 ceremonial regiments (5,000 military personnel), about 250 pieces of hardware, including more than 30 new models. They will be shown as part of 26 ceremonial regiments of a mechanized column. 10 legendary T-34 tanks will lead the parade. Iskander-M operational-tactical systems will be featured in the parade of the troops of the Minsk garrison for the first time.

When: 3 July
Where: Minsk, Minsk Hero City monument; cities of the country, museums, tourist complexes

Budslau Fest 2024

Every year in early July, thousands of pilgrims from Belarus and other countries rush to Budslau to venerate one of the main Catholic shrines – the Icon of the Mother of God of Budslau, which is housed in the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Created in the 16th century, the Hodegetria – the image of the Virgin with the Christ Child in her arms – was presented by Pope Clement VIII in 1598 to Minsk Governor Jan Pac during his pilgrimage to the Vatican. The icon is famous for its numerous miracles, and Budslau is known as the place of the appearance of the Blessed Virgin Mary to believers, which, according to legend, took place on 2 July 1588... In 2018, the Budslau Fest was added to the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

When: 5-6  July
Where: Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Red Square, 8, Budslau, Myadel District, Minsk Oblast

Jazz in the city of N: Summer festival in Nesvizh

The second summer festival "Jazz in the city of N" will be held in the legendary residence of the Radziwill magnates. Over the course of two July evenings, the Finberg National Academic Concert Orchestra of Belarus and the soloists of the orchestra under the baton of artistic director conductor Maksim Rassokha will delight fans with world-famous pieces. The orchestra will perform jazz classics and popular pop melodies  "In the rhythms of jazz", and the concert program "Jazz for All Times" featuring pieces by Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington, Luis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie, Frank Sinatra…

When: 5-6 July, 20.00
Where: Nesvizh Castle, 2 Zamkovaya Street, Nesvizh, Minsk Oblast

Alexandria Gathers Friends festival

The 15th edition of the festival will be held in the agricultural town of Alexandria on the banks of the Dnieper River on the day of the famous folk rite Kupala. The area of the festival will be expanded by one hectare. Visitors will be able to buy items of traditional arts and crafts at the Kupala Wreath of the Commonwealth fair and watch multi-genre concerts and performances taking place in the center of the settlement. The 2024 festival program also includes traditional entertainments, round dances, quests, the final round of the Lord of the Village family competition, master classes, competitions, and children's interactive shows. The festival in Alexandria will wrap up with the Star-Studded Show featuring Belarusian and Russian pop singers. The concert will be crowned by fireworks.

When: 6 July
Where: Alexandria, Shklov District, Mogilev Oblast
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International Chagall Days in Vitebsk

The International Chagall Days in Vitebsk will be timed to the 137th anniversary of Marc Chagall, the famous painter and graphic artist, representative of the 20th century avant-garde movement and a native of Vitebsk. The Marc Chagall Museum in Vitebsk will put up an exposition featuring the artist’s works and will tell visitors about the study of Marc Chagall’s legacy, the works of Chagall researchers from various countries, and about his descendants. Visitors will be able to take part in the interactive performance “Visiting Mark and Bella”, enjoy a musical and theatrical show, and also watch young talents from the International Children and Youth Summer Art School.

When: 6-7 July
Where: Marc Chagall Museum, 11 Pokrovskaya Street, Vitebsk

Cinderella ballet premiere at the Bolshoi Theater of Belarus

For 300 years Charles Perrault’s Cinderella has been inspiring composers, choreographers, and directors from all over the world to create masterpieces based on this beautiful fairytale. The story of a hardworking girl who was able to find true love against all odds also captivated the Russian genius Sergei Prokofiev. In November 1945 the Cinderella ballet premiered on the stage of the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow. The first domestic production of the ballet was staged by Rostislav Zakharov and premiered in Minsk in 1965. Forty-four years later, in 2009, choreographer Yuri Puzakov presented his adaptation of the legendary fairytale. The new premiere of the ballet on the Bolshoi Theater stage in Minsk was choreographed by the family duo – People's Artist of Belarus Konstantin Kuznetsov and Honored Artist of Belarus Yulia Dyatko.

When: 6-7 July
Where: Bolshoi Theater of Belarus, 1 Paris Commune Square, Minsk

International Festival of Arts Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk

Belarus’ biggest festival – Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk – will bring together artists from 33 countries under its long-standing motto “Through Art to Peace and Understanding”. The highlights of the festival will be children's and adult song contests featuring contestants from 15 and 16 countries, respectively. Belarus will be represented by Valery Chuchman from Nesvizh (adult song contest) and Zlata Yaroshevich from the village of Stary Dvor in Vitebsk Oblast (children’s song contest). The underlying themes of the 2024 festival will be the Year of Quality, the 80th anniversary of Belarus’ liberation from the Nazi invaders, as well as a number of anniversaries – the 110th anniversary of the Vitebsk-born composer Mark Fradkin and the 50th anniversary of the honored ensemble of the Republic of Belarus Syabry.

The program of the festival includes theatrical performances, fine art and folk art, film screenings and meetings with figures of world culture. The international dance project DREAM DANCE FEST will kick off in the Vitebsk Concert Hall before the official opening of the festival. The play “Life Everywhere” by famous Russian choreographer and director Yegor Druzhinin will be screened in the concert hall. Here Oleg Gazmanov will give his anniversary concert “55 years on stage!”.

The main stage of the festival – the Summer Amphitheater – will host the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as concerts ROCK PANORAMA, “The Union State Invites...”, a comedy show, retro song party, CHANSON TV - All Stars concert.

The Vitebsk Oblast Philharmonic will host a number of concerts, including Jazz Symphony for Organ and Percussions by Vyacheslav Zolotovsky and Dmitry Safonov, as well as Mariam Merabova’s concert. The Yakub Kolas National Academic Drama Theater will show a number of theatrical performances.

When: 9-15 July
Where: Summer Amphitheater (13a Frunze Avenue), concert venues and streets of Vitebsk
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“The Magic World of Operetta” in Mir Castle

Fans of classics will be captivated by “The Magic World of Operetta”: the outdoor concert will be held in the courtyard of Mir Castle. Soloists and the symphony orchestra of the Belarusian State Academic Musical Theater will participate in it. The operetta is described as “a frivolous sister of opera”, but its charm and attractiveness lies in this spirit, bright colors and reckless fun where the obstacles are surmountable and a happy ending brings lovers together. The magically attractive music full of intoxicating love of life from such operetta masters as Jacques Offenbach, Charles Lecocq, Franz Lehar, Emmerich Kalman, Johann Strauss will leave no one indifferent...

When: 13 July, 21:00
Where: Mir Castle, the town of Mir, Korelichi District, Grodno Oblast.

The international festival of historic reenactment Legendary Epochs 2024

The Legendary Epochs festival has gone international and has become a hallmark of Grodno Oblast. This year about 300 historic reenactment fans from Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Azerbaijan will take part in it. For just one day you can immerse yourself in the atmosphere of several historical epochs – the arrival of the Vikings, medieval chivalry, the confrontation with Napoleon’s army, the battles of the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945... Mass battles and one-on-one duels, jousting tournaments and tactical maneuvers will unfold at the main festival site. An open-air movie screening will be organized for the guests the evening before while enthusiasts will be able to go on a tour of the site full of combat and freight vehicles of the Red Army and Wehrmacht, study samples of weapons, visit a partisan dugout, as well as a bivouac and sing songs of the war years around the campfire with re-enactors of Great Patriotic War battles.

When: 13 July
Where: the town of Zelva, Grodno Oblast

The international festival VIVA BRASLAV 2024

One of the largest open air festivals in Belarus Viva Braslav invites you to visit Braslav lands, which are called “a blue necklace” of the country due to its amazing beauty. During the 11th season the sport program of the festival is expected to include beach activities: competitions in workout, streetball and volleyball. The organizers are preparing a lot of entertainment, including agility amusement rides, bumper ball, trampolines, children’s playgrounds, a dart shooting range, battles, yoga classes, cooking duels as well as the captivating contest Miss Viva Braslav. The music part will also be quite large and promises to be incendiary! Aryue, Jakone & A.V.G., KAKA, Kristina Si, NILETTO, NKEEEI, UNIQE, ARTEM SHILOVETS, XOLIDAYBOY, Klava Koka, Lyosha Svik, MaxSim, Oleg Miami will perform on the VIVA BRASLAV stage.

When: 26-28 July
Where: The central beach, Braslav

The 13th international music and sport festival Big Bard Music & Fishing Festival

The multicultural format of the Big Bard Music & Fishing Festival 2024 will be expanded. The concert “Your nobility, Mrs. Luck...” dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the birth of the guitar poetry classic Bulat Okudzhava will feature the most famous works of this author. Another song project is also named after Bulat Okudzhava’s song: “Hope’s Little Orchestra”. The educational project Guitar Poetry Academy will be opened at a separate location of the music and sport festival where master classes in guitar accompaniment, music arrangement, singing, poetry, and acting skills will be held. The guests will also enjoy traditional events: fishing competitions, a fish soup cooking competition, a beach volleyball tournament and the most beautiful festival project Bard Music & Fishing Queen. The interactive sites “Health fair”, “City of craftsmen”, “Merry rides” and other ones will be arranged in the festival glade.

When: 26-28 July
Where: the village of Chechevichi, Bykhov District, Mogilev Oblast.
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Vulitsa Ezha: summer season 2024 in Minsk

The summer festival Vulitsa Ezha will present three city picnics this season. The food court will be the traditional center of attraction where more than 40 establishments will present their menus. Guests will be able to sample more than 200 original dishes (Czech, Spanish, Georgian, Chinese, Chinese, Mexican and other cuisines). Bright locations of the festival include the cooking school Gefest where top chefs conduct master classes with media guests, an outdoor street cinema, Local Food Market with craft food from local producers, the Pea Market with handmade products from artisans, a family zone with entertainment.

When: 22-23 June, 27-28 July, 31 August - 1 September, 12:00-22:00.
Where: The Central Botanical Garden of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, 2v Surganova Street, Minsk.

The ethno festival “As guests of the Radzimichs”

Since 2014 the ethno festival “As guests of the Radzimichs” has been held at the Zamkovishche site in the agrotown of Radomlya, which is considered to be the ancient center of the Radzimich tribe. Nowadays there is an open-air museum where you can see traditional dwellings – half dugouts, a temple of Slavic gods, a gate for producing live fire, an outdoor kiln for firing ceramic goods. Guests of the ethno festival will be able to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the primitive site of the Radimichs, get familiar with the life of a 9th century tribe, its songs, round dances as well as a live fire extraction ritual and a number of revived rituals “Turytsy”, “Funeral Rite” (reconstruction of an incomplete cremation rite).

When: 27 July
Where: the agrotown of Radomlya, Chaussy District, Mogilev Oblast