Press releases

Belarus Events Calendar: OCTOBER 2019

Architectural Autumn 2019

The Architectural Autumn festival started in Belarus at the same time as the school year and for the first time will last three months not three days. This season, the program includes the eighth International Biennale of Young Architects Leonardo, the national competition for the best project and construction, and a competition of diploma projects of graduates of higher and secondary magnet schools. An architectural drawing competition among university students will debut at the festival this year. The House of Architects, the main venue of the 2019 festival, will host thematic conferences, exhibitions and presentations of architects and designers, workshops…

When: 1 September – 30 November
Where: House of Architects, Minsk

Oman: The Jewel of the East. Crafts Heritage

The exhibition “Oman: the Jewel of the East. Crafts Heritage” from the collection of the National Museum of the Sultanate of Oman opened in the National Art Museum of Belarus ahead of the 80th anniversary of the Belarusian main museum. The exhibition features over a hundred items which demonstrate the works of local craftsmen. The exhibition displays traditional tableware for serving food and famous Omani coffee and other items necessary for the ancient ritual of welcoming guests, as well as carpets from camel wool and other items woven by local artisans.

When: 19 September – 19 January
Where: National Art Museum, Minsk
More

Not Only Banksy. Street Art from Private Collections

In addition to the work of the mysterious and world-famous graffiti artist Banksy, the exhibition will feature a painting by Dmitry Vrubel, the author of the famous composition on a fragment of the Berlin Wall “My God, Help Me to Survive This Deadly Love”. Another draw will be an unusual motorcycle with a V-shaped engine by Yuri Shif, whose works have won dozens of awards at international competitions. The exhibition will also display works by Roma Kazus, Piotr Nol and Roman Burdanov from Russia, Lizaveta Kesauri from Poznan, Obsssnnl and Katrin Vinogradov from London, and also Dmitry Buldakov and Denis Kovalchuk from Brest, Minsk artist Kristina Scatenok, and Alex BigHomie from Pinsk.

When: 24 September – 21 November
Where: Lira exhibition hall, Minsk

The 9th international forum of theater art TEART

The 9th international forum of theater art TEART will be held under the motto “Concentrate” and will comprise bold directing decisions, provocative ideas, burning issues, vivid performances, and new emotions. The biggest theater forum of Belarus will consist of an international program, a showcase Belarus Open, and an educational program School of TEART. The festival will feature the eight best Belarusian plays of the recent years, including Song of Songs from Yuri Divakov, Hunting for Yourself by the National Theater of Belarusian Drama, and an interpretation of Voltaire’s Candide, or the Optimism from Igor Kazakov. The program will also present projects of the Theater of Social Research which views the theater as a social statement and a mechanism of social change.

When: 20 September – 8 October
Where: Minsk theaters

Manhattan Short Film Festival

Belarusian film lovers are invited to enjoy the best selection of short films from around the world. Films of ten finalists of the 22nd Annual MANHATTAN SHORT Film Festival will screen in over 400 cities spanning 6 continents from 26 September till 6 October. The scale of the festival is impressive: the shortlist features entries from the United Kingdom, Germany, the United States, Finland, Canada, France and Iran. Each viewer can get a card and judge the works choosing the best film and the best actor.

When: 26 September – 6 October
Where: Palace of the Republic (small hall), Minsk

Yuri Bashmet International Music Festival in Minsk

The Yuri Bashmet International Music Festival is always full of surprises. Last year Rostislav Krimer, the art director of the festival, staged a concert in the metro at night. This time, the festival promises an impressive range of outstanding artists. The overture of the 14th edition of the Yuri Bashmet International Music Festival in Minsk will be the performance of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra of London. On 27 September the world’s best musicians will perform the masterpieces of Ludwig van Beethoven, Franz Liszt, and Johannes Brahms at the stage of the Palace of the Republic. On 2 October, the Big Hall of the Belarusian State Philharmonic Society will host the East-West Chamber Orchestra under the baton of Rostislav Krimer.  The orchestra comprises prize holders of the most prestigious world competitions and concertmasters of the world’s best orchestras. Turkey’s prominent pianist and composer Fazil Say will be an invited guest. Apart from renowned classical music performers and Grammy Award holders, the festival will feature interesting premieres and crossover projects.

When: 27 September – 12 October
Where: Palace of the Republic, Belarusian State Philharmonic Society, Minsk
More

Sword of King 2019 Festival

Visitors to the Sword of King history re-enactment festival will plunge into the atmosphere of the Belarusian Middle Ages. The festival will take place in Novogrudok, in the territory of Eastern Europe’s only castle with seven towers, one of the first castles built in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The program caters to every taste: there will be buhurts and tournaments of horsemen, halberdiers and archers, a fair of arts and crafts, a knights’ camp, horse riding trips, a concert of medieval music and folk-pop music, performances by street theaters and dance companies. The festival will wrap up with the re-enactment of the wedding of Jahajla and Sophia of Halshany that took place in Novogrudok in 1422.

When: 5 October
Where: Novogrudok Castle, Novogrudok

Belarus in UEFA Euro 2020 Qualifying

In October Belarus’ football team will take on Estonia and the Netherlands om home soil (Group C) in an attempt to qualify for the UEFA Euro 2020 finals. The matches will take place on the Dinamo Stadium. The first qualifying match was held on the Borisov Arena in June. Back then Belarus lost to Germany 0:2.

When:
10 October: Belarus-Estonia
13 October: Belarus- Netherlands

Japanese Autumn 2019 in Belarus

A Japanese culture festival will bring together fans of the Land of the Rising Sun for the seventh time. The festival’s organizers offer an opportunity to get familiar with the latest Japanese movies, study several combat moves during master classes on aikido and bujinkan, study the basics of playing shakuhachi flute, practice ink wash painting (sumi-e), learn the wisdom of etegami (letters with pictures), study the art of paper folding (origami) and secrets of flower arranging (ikebana). This year’s program will also include the karate tournament SANKER CUP 2019 and the riichi mahjong tournament Minsk Midori Open, a national open spochan championship…

When: 11 October – 23 November
Where: Borisov, Vitebsk, Minsk, Mogilev

Belarusian Fashion Week SS'2020

The largest event in Belarus’ fashion industry will open the season with a presentation of Spring-Summer 2019 collections. The country’s key catwalk will be used to share of the vision of the world trends from the leading Belarusian brands Lakbi, Alena Goretskaya, Svetlana Todorskaya, Historia Naturalis, T.Efremova, Юнона, Vesnaletto, Natalia Korzh, Boitsik, Davidova, Condra Deluxe, S.Veles, Devita, Candy Lady, TON-IN-TON, EMSE, NELVA, NIV NIV…The program will be expanded with a presentation of collections from young fashion designers Off Schedule BFW and participants of the contest New Names BFW, Kids’ Fashion Days BFW, and certainly lectures and master classes from famous experts, fashion designers, and stylists from various countries.

When: 14–20 October
Where: The national expo center BelExpo, Minsk

Autographs and Images. Maya Plisetskaya. Dedication in Minsk

A gala concert of world ballet stars dedicated to the great Russian ballet dancer, choreographer, actress and style icon of the 20th century Maya Plisetskaya will take place in the Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theater of Belarus for the first time. The night will take place within the framework of the annual project Autographs and Images by People’s Artist of Russia Andris Liepa. It is kind of an anthology of the art of the 20th century’s leading dancers. The internationally recognized prima ballerina was always interested in new trends, bold approaches, and young talents. This is why the dedication concert will feature both young talented ballet dancers and the artists Maya Plisetskaya herself has praised.

When: 18 October
Where: The Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theater, Minsk

Belgazprombank’s Salon d’Automne in Minsk

This year, the largest art exhibition in Belarus Salon d’Automne will feature 150 young artists who have been chosen by a professional jury from over 400 applicants from all over Belarus. The exhibition has been held since 2015 and is similar to the legendary Paris salons at the Champs Elysees. It took this large-scale art project of Belgazprombank only several years to become a well-known platform demonstrating the latest trends in modern Belarusian art. Thanks to its educational program which includes lectures, meetings with artists, master classes, interactive excursions, quests, and classes for children, the project has become extremely popular. Last year the exhibition in the Palace of Arts in Minsk drew over 13,500 people, and it can do even better.

When: 18 October – 3 November
Where: Art-Belarus Gallery, Palace of Arts, Minsk

2019 Minsk Arena Ice Star

Minsk will host the Minsk Arena Ice Star figure skating competition for the 8th time, preserving the tradition to hold international ice skating competitions in the Belarusian capital. This year, Minsk Arena will welcome the best athletes from Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Spain, Sweden, Italy, Finland, and other countries. By the way, this competition is part of the Challenger Series, which means that participation in it helps skaters gain points ahead of qualifying events for the European and world championships. The competition will wrap up with a show featuring medalists of the competition and famous skaters – Olympic champions Alexei Yagudin, Tatiana Totmianina, and Maxim Marinin.

When: 18-20 October
Where: Minsk Arena

International Festival of Animated Films Animayevka 2019

During its 22-year history, Animayevka in Mogilev has become a true celebration of animation for both children and grown-ups. In 2019, the festival will feature 62 films from 29 countries. All in all, the jury received 353 applications from 49 countries. This year’s festival has expanded its geography: for the first time the jury watched animated films from Montenegro, Indonesia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and even Australia. The shortlist includes six Belarusian animated films. Although experts say they have not discovered something extraordinary, most of the works show the main tendencies of the development of modern animation.

When: 24-27 October
Where: Mogilev

Germany Weeks in Belarus

This year the German Embassy will organize the Germany Weeks in Belarus for the 16th time. Twelve Belarusian cities will join the festival to feature events related to the German culture, language and society. The Germany Weeks in the Belarusian capital will kick off with a concert with Baroque-epoch music works at the Belarusian State Philharmonic Hall. The program will also feature the screening of the latest short films, documentaries and also feature films in German with Russian subtitles, readings with the participation of well-known German writers, exhibitions, workshops, lectures, and creative activities at libraries.
 
When: 24–31 October
Where: Belarusian cities
More

Anna Netrebko and Yusif Eyvazov at Bolshoi Theater of Belarus

One of the world’s most popular opera duos – Anna Netrebko and Yusif Eyvazov – will perform at the Bolshoi Theater of Belarus for the first time. Critics say that joint concerts by the unique opera singer, who was named among 100 most influential people in the world according to Time Magazine, and globally renowned tenor Yusif Eyvazov are of particular appealingness and energy.

When: 25 October
Where: Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theater, Minsk

Samhain 2019 Festival at the Botanic Garden

The Celtic culture festival will take place in the Botanic Garden in Minsk for the third time. The Samhain holiday is considered to be the day of transition from autumn to winter, when the flora and fauna "fall asleep" during the cold season in order to gain strength and wake up again in spring. The festival will feature British and Scandinavian board games, archery, crossbow and medieval siege weapons competitions, beer barrel throwing, Druid fortune-telling, quests, a market of craftsmen and food courts.

When: 26 October
Where: Botanic Garden, Minsk

The Rasmus in Minsk

The Finnish rock band The Rasmus will come to Minsk to mark the 15th anniversary of its album Dead Letters, the most successful one out of its nine albums. The album Dead Letters will be reissued on CD and LP. Fans will also have a chance to get an autograph on the new edition.

When: 31 October
Where: Prime Hall, Minsk