We have selected for you the most interesting activities and events in Kyiv, where you should go.
Festivals, fairs, and carnivals add vibrancy and excitement to any city's life. While you can attend various events and concerts in Kyiv on your own, mass festivals offer a unique and immersive experience.
Throughout the year, Kyiv hosts numerous exciting events, including citywide and nationwide celebrations, as well as various themed festivals like music, gastronomy, and film festivals. These festivals often feature workshops, theatrical performances, delectable treats, and live music performances. To help you navigate these events, here's a list of some of the most popular festivals and highlights to attend in Kyiv.
The Most Popular Festivals in Kyiv
Let's start with festivals that don't rely on public holidays or weekends. Kyiv hosts dozens of interesting events each year. Some are one-time occasions, while others become beloved traditions for both locals and visitors.
Music Festivals
Music festivals are among the most popular forms of entertainment. Ukraine boasts many talented musicians with dedicated fan bases. In addition to local performers, music festivals in Kiev often feature renowned international bands as headliners. It's a delightful experience to witness famous bands performing in our city at an affordable price.
Atlas Weekend
Atlas Weekend is currently the largest music festival in Ukraine, drawing both a considerable number of attendees and high-quality musical acts. The festival lineup includes a diverse range of performers, from established Ukrainian artists like Boombox, Spleen, and ONUKA to international acts such as The Prodigy, Chemical Brothers, Placebo, Skillet, and Lacuna Coil.
Atlas Weekend, held in Kyiv, has been an annual event since 2015, typically lasting 5-6 days. The festival offers more than just music, with various entertainment options and well-organized facilities, including food courts and camping areas. The organizers have plans to extend the festival to a full week in the future.
Location: National Expocentre of Ukraine (VDNKh)
Event Dates: Early July
Price: Tickets for all days cost 1800 UAH, but you can also purchase tickets for individual days.
White Nights
"White Nights" is another music festival in Kyiv, but this one is dedicated to electronic music. Over the course of two days, approximately 50 Ukrainian and international artists take the stage. In addition to the music, the festival offers various attractions, including makeup tents, tattoo parlors, fortune-tellers, and dozens of food courts for festivalgoers to enjoy.
The BeLive festival in Kyiv offers a diverse entertainment experience. Alongside an extensive music lineup, the festival features an open Stand-Up comedy stage and an Art-zone. BeLive festivities span four days, ensuring a memorable experience for attendees.
Location: NSC Olimpiyskiy
Event Dates: June
Price: Approximately 100 UAH
Jazz in Kyiv
First held in 2008, Jazz in Kyiv has become an annual gathering for jazz and blues enthusiasts. The festival attracts dozens of jazz and blues musicians from Ukraine and around the world. Over three days, visitors immerse themselves in the captivating world of jazz music.
Location: International Center for Culture and Arts (October Palace)
Event Dates: Mid to late October
Price: Approximately 100 UAH
Hedonism Festival
The Hedonism Festival in Kyiv offers a cozy and relaxed atmosphere with calming and atmospheric music. It provides a small yet delightful music festival experience for attendees.
Location: South Coast, Trukhanov Island
Event Dates: Summer (dates vary)
Price: Approximately 150 UAH
Kyiv also hosts various other music festivals, including the Chamber Music Session, Ostrov Festival (electronic music), Rock Festival, Jewish Music Festival, Classical Music Festival, Street Music Day, and other exciting events that offer great entertainment options.
Street Food Festival
The Street Food Festival in Kyiv is a must-visit for those who want to savor the most delicious and unique dishes from various cuisines around the world. You might even have the chance to dine at the same table as a Ukrainian celebrity! In addition to the mouthwatering gastronomic delights, this festival in Kyiv offers a variety of other intriguing attractions.
Location: Art-factory "Platform" (near Darynka)
Event Dates: September
Price: 200 UAH for adults and 50 UAH for children
BAROMETER International Bar Show
The BAROMETER International Bar Show in Kyiv brings together bar and food establishment representatives from the capital, Ukraine, and beyond. This event is a lively and educational platform for sharing experiences, hosting masterclasses, and celebrating success stories. Delicious drinks, snacks, and socializing are all part of the Barometer Kyiv Festival experience.
Location: Parkoviy ECC
Event Dates: September
Price: 250 UAH
The Kyiv Beer Festival
The Kyiv Beer Festival is a dream come true for beer enthusiasts. With approximately 60 breweries and over 100 varieties of beer, this festival in Kiev is a haven for beer lovers.
Location: Art-factory "Platform"
Event Dates: September (dates vary)
Price: Approximately 100 UAH
Kyiv hosts a variety of other gastronomic festivals, catering to the tastes of food enthusiasts, including those devoted to street food, craft beer, and mixology.
Food&Wine Festival - Kyiv Food&Wine Festival
The Kyiv Food&Wine Festival has been a part of Kiev's culinary scene since 2008. This festival aims to nurture the wine culture in Ukraine and promote local wine producers. Each year, the event introduces a new theme, featuring engaging lectures and wine tastings paired with delectable dishes.
Location: The National Expocentre of Ukraine (VDNKh)
Event Dates: June (dates vary)
Price: Approximately 100 UAH
Kyiv Coffee Festival
The Kyiv Coffee Festival is a gathering place for coffee bar owners, baristas, and coffee aficionados. The festival program includes lectures, masterclasses, and coffee tastings, making it an exciting event for coffee lovers in Kiev.
Location: Art-factory "Platform"
Event Dates: April (dates vary)
Price: Approximately 100 UAH
Cinema, Theater, and Entertainment
Life is not just about sustenance; it's also about entertainment.
Youth Film Festival
The Youth Film Festival in Kyiv, established in 1970, is dedicated to promoting young cinema talent and encouraging young actors and directors. It attracts many Ukrainian and international film celebrities. This festival showcases a variety of foreign films, including French, German, American, and other short films.
Location: Sessions take place in different cinemas and venues in Kyiv (please check the program)
Event Dates: Traditionally held in October, but dates may vary (e.g., May 28 - June 03 in 2018)
Price: Tickets range from 50-100 UAH per session
Kyiv offers a diverse range of entertainment options, from film festivals and coffee gatherings to wine and food celebrations, ensuring there's something for everyone to enjoy.
Docudays UA
The International Film Festival in Kyiv, known as Docudays UA, has been dedicated to documentary cinema since 2003, with a central focus on human rights. After the festival in Kyiv concludes, the organizers take the best films on a tour to various regions of Ukraine. The program in Kiev showcases documentaries from Ukraine, the UK, Germany, and other countries.
Location: Various cinemas in Kyiv (please refer to the program)
Event Dates: Last week of March
Price: Session tickets typically range from 40-60 UAH
VideoJara
VideoJara is Kyiv festival celebrating video blogging and YouTube culture. If you're passionate about this theme, don't miss this two-day event. VideoJara in Kyiv provides an opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and meet video bloggers from Ukraine, Lithuania, Belarus, the UK, and more, all in a relaxed atmosphere.
Location: Art Factory "Platform"
Event Dates: June
Price: Tickets vary, ranging from 200 to 1500 UAH
From Other Cultures
Kyiv multicultural identity is reflected in various cultural festivals that offer unique and enjoyable experiences.
Holi
Holi is an Indian spring festival known for its vibrant colors and joyful celebrations. The Holi festival in Kiev is a peaceful and friendly event, offering participants the chance to experience body art, engage in handcraft workshops, learn Indian folk dances, and savor traditional cuisine. The festival concludes with a mass color throw using dry, natural dyes.
Location: Ice Stadium
Event Dates: Early June
Price: Admission typically costs 100 UAH, with additional fees for Holi colors depending on the quantity purchased (can range up to 900 UAH)
Kyiv's festival scene is diverse, featuring a wide array of themes and cultural celebrations, ensuring that there's something enjoyable for everyone to attend and experience.
Tbilisoba
The Tbilisoba festival, originally dedicated to the harvest and the city of Tbilisi in Georgia, has found its place in Kyiv as a celebration of Georgian folk culture. Participants in Kyiv Tbilisoba can immerse themselves in Georgian traditions, enjoying folk dances, songs, costumes, food, and wine to experience the essence of Georgian culture.
Location: Andriyivsky Descent
Event Dates: October
Price: Admission is typically free
And Other Interesting Festivals
Kiev boasts a diverse range of festivals catering to the diverse interests of its citizens. From the International Advertising Festival and Anime Fest to the Balloon Festival, Fire Festival, Ice Cream Festival, Flower Day, Chrysanthemum Festival, Nerf Fest, Kyiv Lights Festival, Sand Sculpture Festival, and Retro Car Festival, there's always something exciting happening in the city. Keep an eye on event posters, as every week brings new and interesting activities to attend in Kiev.
Tattoo Festival
The Tattoo Collection Festival in Kyiv is a noteworthy themed event. At this festival, visitors can marvel at the work of the best tattoo artists, attend masterclasses, participate in contests, and even get a new tattoo. The Tattoo Festival in Kyiv caters to a highly specialized audience, ensuring a warm and friendly atmosphere among like-minded individuals.
Location: VDNG (Exhibition of Achievements of National Economy)
Event Dates: May
Prices: Tickets typically range from 170-340 UAH
Calendar Holidays
In addition to the festivals mentioned above, Ukraine celebrates various calendar holidays that are encouraged and often sponsored by local governments. In Kyiv, these holidays typically involve free public celebrations, fostering a sense of community among residents. Below, we'll highlight some of the most interesting calendar events in the capital that are worth attending.
Kyiv Day
Kyiv Day is celebrated annually on the last Sunday of May. This festive occasion spans several days and encompasses a wide array of cultural and celebratory events in Kyiv. Throughout the city's squares and parks, you'll find fairs, workshops, performances by local bands, and more. The festivities also feature a bicycle race, a running event, and a sailing regatta. The evening is headlined by some of Ukraine's best musical groups, and occasionally, there are foreign guest performers. The celebration concludes with a traditional fireworks display.
Date of the event: The last Sunday of May
New Year's Eve and Christmas
In Ukraine, New Year's Eve and Christmas festivities officially start on December 24 and continue until January 7, following the inclusion of Catholic Christmas as an official holiday in 2017. In reality, the festive season begins in mid-December and carries on past the old New Year. Kyiv becomes adorned with Christmas trees in squares, parks, shopping centers, cinemas, and other public spaces, and various contests and activities take place.
Visitors to Kyiv during this period can enjoy a stroll in the city center, where free cultural events abound, including a large New Year's fair, musical performances, and theatrical productions. Families can partake in ice skating, sledding, skiing, tubing, and New Year's quests (often for a fee). The winter zoo is also a delightful destination for families during the New Year's season in Kiev.
The main Christmas tree on Sofievskaya Square is an ideal location to celebrate New Year's in 2019, promising an atmosphere of unity, friendship, and splendid fireworks.
May Holidays
Traditionally, May 1 to May 9 are designated as "May holidays" in Ukraine. Although May 2 is no longer an official holiday, the Ukrainian people maintain their traditions and celebrate throughout the week. Many Kyiv residents take the opportunity to escape to nearby vacation spots during these holidays. Numerous recreation centers with various amenities and entertainment centers are popular destinations.
Throughout the first days of May, Kyiv hosts various festive and cultural events, including free exhibitions dedicated to crafts, painting, and a variety of fairs. Classical music concerts, the Tulip Festival, and retro car exhibitions are also interesting attractions to explore during May Day in Kyiv.
May 8-9 are dedicated to the solemn remembrance of the victory in World War II. Kyiv observes these events with thematic lectures, excursions, a parade of military equipment, and the laying of flowers at the Eternal Flame.
Religious Holidays
Baptism is an Orthodox holiday celebrated on January 19. In Kyiv, it is a tradition for people to immerse themselves in ice-holes in the Dnieper River on this day, followed by the enjoyment of hot food and beverages. Musicians perform, and a fairground adds to the festive atmosphere. There are several places in Kiev where you can partake in this ritual, so choose the one closest to your home.
Maslenitsa is primarily associated with pancakes, but it also involves burning effigies and bidding farewell to winter. In Kyiv, cultural events abound during this holiday, including fairs, costumed processions, and performances. Maslenitsa is celebrated for an entire week before the start of Lent. Since the date of Easter, which determines the timing of Lent, varies each year, Maslenitsa occurs at different times, usually in February.
Ivan Kupala, like Maslenitsa, is rooted in pagan traditions that have been incorporated into Orthodoxy, resulting in a blend of rituals. This holiday involves activities like leaping over bonfires, sending wreaths down the river, and searching for the mythical fern flower. Festive celebrations in Kiev's beaches commence on the evening of July 6 and continue until the following morning. There are also paid "programs" such as the ethno-festival "Night on Ivan Kupala" or intriguing fortune-telling sessions.
There are two more religious holidays in Ukraine that tourists should consider attending:
Easter, which usually falls in April. People prepare dyeshenka and pysanky (decorated eggs), bake or buy Easter kulichi (cakes), and attend their local church in the morning for holy water. The entire day is filled with the traditional greeting, "Christ has risen." In Kyiv, you can explore cultural and festive events like the kulichi fair or Pisanky (decorated eggs) exhibitions.
Trinity is celebrated 50 days after Easter. This day often features free events in Kyiv, such as processions, theatrical performances, fairs, and competitions dedicated to Cossacks and Ukrainian folk traditions.
Kyiv always hosts a plethora of interesting events, offering something for everyone. Check the city's event listings any day, and you're sure to find something captivating. There's never a dull moment!
