Belarus Events Calendar
JANUARY 2026
Exhibition "Nabivanka: Tradition and Modernity" in Polotsk
“Nabivanka” or relief block printing is a fabric decoration technique using a block of wood with a relief pattern that became widespread in the 16th - 17th centuries in Vitebsk, Mogilev, Polotsk, Orsha, and Bobruisk. These Belarusian cities housed the largest workshops at that time. Nabivanka was used to decorate home textiles (tablecloths, towels, sheets) and fabrics for costume elements like sundresses, shirts, and aprons. Visitors to the exhibition will experience the craft tradition on two levels: the historical level, showcasing the emergence and development of nabivanka in the 19th century - early 20th century in Belarus, and the modern level, reflecting the revival and reinterpretation of this ancient craft in the works of contemporary artisans.
When: 19 September 2025 –31 January 2026
Where: Museum of Traditional Manual Weaving of the Poozerye, 1 Voikova Street, Polotsk
'The Twilight of the Middle Ages' interactive exhibition project in Minsk
Visitors to the Minsk archaeological museum "Upper Town" will embark on an interactive journey into the mysterious and gloomy Middle Ages (12th - 16th centuries), often referred to as the Dark Ages in human history. It's no wonder: just five centuries ago, every European city had a scaffold in the market square and gallows at the city gate. The exhibition on justice features interrogation methods and instruments of torture used during the Inquisition and the witch hunts: shame masks, the rack, the pillory, the Spanish boot, the garrote, the witch's bridle... Artifacts created for the project using historical techniques are accompanied by engravings, drawings, and paintings depicting them in use, along with historical commentary.
When: 19 September 2025-18 January 2026
Where: Upper Town Archaeological Museum, 6 Kirill and Methodius Street, Minsk
Armor exhibition at Nesvizh Palace
Throughout the year, visitors to Nesvizh Palace can immerse themselves in the world of ceremonial and hunting weapons. Outstanding examples of officers' dress weapons (daggers, rapiers, shashkas, sabers), coat swords and departmental swords, Masonic ritual swords, and exotic weapons from various countries… These valuable artifacts have been collected and provided by private collector Anatoly Grishuk.
As the owner noted, his interest in the history of weapons first emerged when he found a 1932-model uhlan saber that had belonged to his father. His grandfather served in the Imperial Army and was on the security detail of Nicholas II when the monarch visited our region for military maneuvers in 1892. The exhibition also explores the culture of hunting, where weapons are not only objects of art but also symbols of power and instruments for demonstrating mastery over nature.
A real draw of the exhibition is an installation of a rider on a horse clad in the shining armor of a Winged Hussar of the Grand Duchy of Litva (Lithuania). Guests will also have the opportunity to try on medieval armor, experience its weight, and take photos alongside a figure of Nicholas Radziwill nicknamed the Orphan.
When: 31 October 2025 – 31 October 2026
Where: National Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve Nesvizh, 2 Zamkovaya Street, Nesvizh, Minsk Oblast
Forgotten Art of Correspondence exhibition in Grodno
For the first time, visitors to the Grodno Historical and Archaeological Museum will have the opportunity to glimpse into the letters of historical figures from Belarus from the 16th to the 20th centuries. The exhibition features the official correspondence of King Stephen Báthory, the private correspondence of Kossovo Palace owner Wandalin Puslovsky (also spelled as Puslowski) and his daughter Marta Krasinska, historian and local lore expert Alexander Yelsky and Eliza Orzeszkowa, a writer from Grodno. A special section is dedicated to letters from the Great Patriotic War period and correspondence of Belarusian writers Yakub Kolas, Vasil Bykov, Mikhas Vasilek, and Aleksei Karpyuk. The exhibition is complemented by various writing instruments, including inkwells, ink bottles, fountain pens, pen boxes, pencils, a paper tray, and paperweights…
When: From November 20
Where: Grodno Historical and Archaeological Museum, 20 Zamkovaya Street, Grodno
The Nutcracker in Minsk
Each winter, The Nutcracker, one of the symbols of Christmas and the New Year, returns to the stage and screens in Belarus. In November, the Belarusian Bolshoi Theater premiered a new version of Pyotr Tchaikovsky's most magical ballet. This stunningly beautiful creative interpretation was presented to the public by the choreographer and librettist, Igor Kolb. To enjoy the classical version produced by the People's Artist of Belarus, Ekaterina Fadeeva, one can visit the Belarusian State Academic Music Theater. Additionally, on 10 and 11 January, a chamber version of The Nutcracker based on Marius Petipa's libretto will be performed by the young students of Marina Vezhnovets Ballet School.
To explore diverse productions of The Nutcracker from around the world, audiences can attend cinema screenings through the TheaterHD project. On 21 December, connoisseurs can look forward to the premiere of Yuri Posokhov's ballet, streamed live from the Stanislavski and Nemirovich-Danchenko Moscow Music Theater (at 12.00, Skyline Cinema). On 24 December, viewers will enjoy the cozy Christmas story from the Dresden Opera (at 19.00, Palazzo Shopping Mall). As 2025 draws to a close, on 30 and 31 December, the legendary ballet in Yuri Grigorovich's production from the Bolshoi Theater of Russia will be screened at the Pobeda cinema.
When, where:
28 November 2025 – 29 March 2026 – Bolshoi Theater of Belarus, 1 Parizhskaya Kommuna Square, Minsk
25-27 December 2025; 11 January and 1 February 2026 – Belarusian State Academic Music Theater, 44 Myasnikova Street, Minsk
10, 11 January 2026 – MAZ community center, 117a Partizansky Avenue, Minsk
‘The Nativity of Christ’: Batleika shows in Grodno
Artists of the batleika puppet theater will present Christmas stories featuring Mary and Joseph, the infant Jesus, the Magi, and the evil King Herod. Interestingly, this puppet theater at the Grodno Historical and Archaeological Museum was established in the early 2000s through the efforts and creative imagination of the museum staff themselves. Today, the theater's repertoire includes three productions: The Fire at Vitaut Castle, The Story of Saint Hubert (considered the patron saint of Grodno), and The Nativity of Christ. The scripts and performances are all created and carried out by the museum staff.
When: 5 December 2025 – 7 January 2026 (every Thursday)
Where: Grodno Historical and Archaeological Museum, 20 Zamkovaya Street, Grodno
First Immersive New Year's Exhibition ‘House of Christmas’ in Minsk
“The House of Christmas” is an interactive space for children and adults, spanning 2,300 square meters with numerous uniquely landscaped zones and stations. Guests will visit the village of Wonderland with its colorful cottages, surprise-filled streets, and fairy-tale residents, then find themselves at the mysterious Wonder Station, where trains depart exclusively for the Land of Wonders. Visitors can write a wish on the largest letter to Grandfather Frost, catch and launch a gift boomerang for themselves and others, call an elf at Grandfather Frost's factory, observe comets through a magical telescope, receive a message from a magical wardrobe, play hide-and-seek with cheerful elves, or conquer the “climbing rock.”
When: December 9, 2025 – January 18, 2026
Where: 15/1 Masherova Street, Minsk
Themed Tour: Christmas Tale in Sula
The “Great Duchy of Sula” Medieval History Park invites you to celebrate the winter holidays in a fun and educational way with an engaging animated tour featuring fairy-tale characters. Visitors will immerse themselves in the unique traditions of Belarus and meet national folklore characters. They will participate in Kalyady caroling and fortune-telling for the future, face challenges from mystical creatures, and meet St. Nicholas, the patron saint of children, students, travelers, sailors, merchants, and warriors. After the tour, adults can visit the distillery to sample traditional Belarusian beverages, while children are invited to a puppet theater (batleika) performance.
When: 10 December 2025 – 11 January 2026
Where: Sula Village, Stolbtsy District, Minsk Oblast
New Year Calendar at the National Art Museum: Exhibitions, Concerts, Interactive Programs
In anticipation of the favorite holidays, the country's premier art museum has created its own New Year calendar, filled with vocal and instrumental concerts, exhibitions, musical and interactive programs, group quests, and creative workshops, including those as part of inclusive projects. Over the course of nearly a month, children and adults will have the opportunity to learn about the unique traditions of Belarusian Christmas (Kaliady), create handmade Christmas ornaments and New Year decorations using stained glass techniques, learn authentic crafts like vytsinanka and handmade paper casting, follow the Christmas Paths, discover the color of winter, restore “Magic to the Museum”, and embark on a “Journey into a Fairy Tale on Waves of Sound”.
When: 13 December 2025 – 18 January 2026
Where: National Art Museum of Belarus, 20 Lenin Street, Minsk
Meeting Place – New Year!: A new show at Belarusian Circus
Just in time for the winter holidays and our most beloved celebrations, the Belarusian Circus is proud to present a brand-new show. The audience will be plunged into a magical atmosphere at the show Meeting Place – New Year!, whose storyline remains under wraps.
The circus show will feature a dazzling array of performers, including aerial gymnasts, trampoline acrobats, jugglers, equestrian riders, clowns, and trained ponies and dogs. And of course, there will be plenty of surprises!
When: 13 December 2025 – 11 January 2026
Where: Belarusian Circus, 32 Nezavisimosti Avenue, Minsk
White Elephant Quest at Mir Castle
For a century now, Mir Castle has been the keeper of the legend of the White Elephant, a story that visitors are invited to uncover at one of Belarus' most beautiful landmarks, a UNESCO World Heritage site. To successfully overcome the challenges created by the castle’s keeper, participants will need to demonstrate logic, wit, and a knowledge of Belarusian history. The quest is designed for groups of 15 to 50 people, as well as individual teams of one to five players.
When: 20 December 2025; 24 January and 14 February 2026
Where: Mir Castle, 2 Krasnoarmeyskaya Steet, Mir, Korelichi District, Grodno Oblast
The Magic of the New Year: National Christmas Tree at Palace of the Republic
The Magic of the New Year will be a memorable gift for the participants of the Our Children charity campaign who will come to the celebration in the Belarusian capital from all over the country (last year, the campaign united over a million Belarusians and 2,370 children). The New Year’s fairy tale unfolds in a town of artisans, home to families of potters, weavers, bakers, and blacksmiths. According to the plot, the main character, a lazy boy named Vasilyok, who wants to neither study nor work, gets swept up in a whirlwind of magical adventures. With the help of Father Frost, the Snow Maiden, and Mother Winter, he discovers that true magic is born from hard work, knowledge, and love for one’s homeland. The story is filled with new songs, dynamic dances, and interactive games inspired by folk traditions and crafts, featuring hundreds of performers, as well as vibrant sets and special effects.
When: 25 December 2025 – 3 January 2026 (11:00, 15:00, 17:00)
Where: Palace of the Republic, 1 Oktyabrskaya Square, Minsk
Exhibition of New Year’s decorations
The Mikhail Savitsky Art Gallery in Minsk invites visitors on a nostalgic journey into New Year’s celebrations from bygone eras. The exhibition features over 400 items, including early Christmas tree ornaments from Germany, as well as vintage decorations and postcards from the Russian Empire. Soviet-era highlights include “Kremlin” cones and nuts, cotton figurines, homemade paper dolls and toys, and ornaments crafted from cable wire. A sense of nostalgia will be stirred by clothespin toys depicting fairy tales, circus themes, and popular motifs of spaceships, satellites, and rockets.
When: 15 December 2025 – 1 February 2026
Where: Mikhail Savitsky Art Gallery, 15 Svobody Square, Minsk
Premiere of New Year’s fairy tale Twelve Months in Mogilev
The Mogilev Regional Drama Theater presents a New Year’s premiere of Twelve Months, based on Samuil Marshak’s much-loved tale. Director Irina Kurako notes that the performance’s distinctive feature is the absence of villains: “Everyone faces challenges in their own way: the Stepmother is greedy, the Queen is a little brat, but none seeks to do harm merely for its own sake.” In addition to the fairy tale, the performance will include an appearance by Father Frost and Snow Maiden. “There will also be a character from the tale, Hare, who will guide the audience through the magical forest before the show begins,” added the director.
When: 18 December 2025 – 10 January 2026
Where: Mogilev Regional Drama Theater, 7 Pervomayskaya Street, Mogilev
New Year-themed exhibitions in Brest
The Brest Regional Local History Museum has prepared two exhibitions. “New Year Has Come to Children” displays decades-old New Year symbols and evokes nostalgia of a childhood holiday. “Winter Glow” will guide viewers through all the shades of a winter mood, from canvases of snow-draped urban architecture to intimate corners of a fairytale forest. On display are hanging and standing figurines of Father Frost and Snow Maiden made from cotton wool, papier-mâché, paper, fabric, sawdust composite, wood, and plastic, alongside New Year’s ornaments and accessories from the collection of Vitebsk collector Natalya Kovaleva. Her collection of over 5,000 items includes antique, vintage, and modern Christmas decorations from various countries, Soviet-era symbols, “Kremlin” toys, miniatures, cotton figurines, fairy-tale series, and even ornaments from the Great Patriotic War.
When: 19 December 2025 – 1 February 2026
Where: Brest Regional Local History Museum, 60 Karl Marx Street, Brest
New Year’s musical The Tale of a Cherished Wish in Grodno
More than two dozen singing artists will take part in the performance The Tale of a Cherished Wish on the stage of the Grodno Regional Philharmonic. In the story, a girl writes to Father Frost, wishing for the adults in her home to stop quarreling. This sets off a series of extraordinary events: kind characters Minutka, Secunda, and the Watchmaker strive to ensure her letter is delivered by midnight on New Year’s Eve, while the evil Rat and her retinue try to prevent it. The audience will help the girl and her friends ensure the letter arrives on time. Director Viktor Sokolovsky notes the plot is meant to remind us of the importance of friendship and harmony.
When: 19 December 2025 – 5 January 2026
Where: Grodno Regional Philharmonic, 17 Gornovykh Street, Grodno
Christmas Fair at the Palace of Sports, Minsk
The traditional Christmas Fair at the Palace of Sports draws thousands of local residents and visitors each year. Here, one can purchase natural Christmas trees (including potted ones), holiday ornaments and decorations, souvenirs, gifts, and handicrafts. This year, over 30 food vendors will offer dishes from Belarusian cuisine and beyond, including pancakes, potato pancakes, shashlik, grilled vegetables, sweets, pastries, and hot drinks like chocolate, herbal teas, and fruit drinks. A children’s menu will be available, along with Lenten options for those observing the fast.
When: 20 December 2025 – 11 January 2026
Where: Palace of Sports, Minsk
Winter food court in the Best Street venue, Minsk
The popular Best Street food court has been transformed into a festive fairground for the season. Attractions include a Venetian carousel, an outdoor winter cinema screening Christmas classics like Home Alone, Klaus, and The Polar Express, as well as a recording of The Nutcracker ballet. The schedule also features the Louis artisan fair (25-28 December) and the Olivier Academy with culinary master classes. The venue’s food court will serve Christmas duck, wood-fired pizza, hot dogs, waffles, pasta, and punch. A New Year’s mail service will also be available for sending greetings to loved ones.
When: 20 December 2025 – 11 January 2026
Where: Best Street gastronomic venue, Minsk
New Year’s Entertainment Fair at Lakeside Park
Lakeside Park, part of the North Waterfront residential complex by the scenic Tsnyanskoye Reservoir, has been transformed into a realm of winter magic. Visitors can enjoy a New Year’s Entertainment Fair featuring festive goods and decor, themed photo zones, and a food court with hot treats and drinks. Each day offers a packed schedule filled with engaging activities. On weekends and holidays, visitors can look forward to movie screenings in the amphitheater, karaoke and Just Dance with the Snow Maiden, discos and interactive games, as well as craft workshops by local artisans. Personalized greetings for loved ones can be displayed on the large screen. For younger visitors, there is Father Frost’s post office and scheduled craft workshops. A special track provides the chance to ride mini-cars. A festive spirit fills the whole park, creating the perfect setting for leisurely walks, meet-ups, and capturing lovely New Year’s shots.
When: 20 December 2025 – 11 January 2026
Where: Lakeside Park, Minsk
Christmas Orthodox Festival in Minsk
The Orthodox Festival Radost [Joy] in its new season will offer visitors a variety of family and children’s events: concerts, theatrical and musical performances and filmstrip screenings, batleika puppet shows and shadow theater, Christmas story readings, and creative workshops (tactile painting, mosaics, paper cutting [vytinanka], glass painting, sculpting, wood painting, scrapbooking, collage). Visitors will learn to create New Year’s home decor, for example, making an original Christmas tree, candleholders, Christmas wreaths, panels from natural materials, tree ornaments from yarn and straw, painting gingerbread cookies and marshmallows, and designing gifts for family and friends.
When: 26 December 2025 – 6 January 2026
Where: Kovcheg spiritual and educational center, St. Elisabeth Monastery, 164, Dolginovsky trakt, Minsk
New Year surprises 2026: Holiday program at Nesvizh Castle
A winter program for lovers of atmospheric travel in Belarus will be presented by a famous architectural and historical landmark - Nesvizh Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The New Year’s Workshop in the Theater Hall (1, 4-7 January) will open its doors to young creators, while the musical performance The Nutcracker will take place on 2 January. On Saturday evening, 3 January, Christmas Jazz will create a magical atmosphere for visitors of the Radziwill residence, and the New Year’s Kaleidoscope will unfold on 4-6 January.
When: 1-7 January 2026
Where: Nesvizh Palace and Park Complex, 2 Zamkovaya Street, Nesvizh, Minsk Oblast
Children’s Christmas Ball at Mir Castle
One of the most enchanting traditions at Mir Castle is the annual Children’s Christmas Ball. In the luxurious Portrait Hall, a real fairy tale comes to life, and every child becomes its main character. The young ladies and gentlemen will be greeted by a kind Master of Ceremonies who will teach the basics of ballroom etiquette in a fun and easy way: how to maintain posture, how to ask for a dance, and how to move to the rhythm of a waltz. Together with fairytale characters, the guests will embark on a journey into the world of dances, games, and riddles based on the story of The Nutcracker. Elegant ballroom interludes will be interspersed with fun contests and games, as well as classical minuets and polonaises adapted for children. The finale will feature a grand polonaise and commemorative gifts for all participants.
When: 6 January 2026, 12.00 and 15.00
Where: Mir Castle, 2 Krasnoarmeyskaya Street, Mir, Korelichi District, Grodno Oblast
Christmas Masquerade Ball at Mir Castle
The Christmas Ball for adult guests at Mir Castle is dedicated to the exquisite traditions of the Venetian Carnival. The magnificent residence of the magnates of the past invites you to spend an evening filled with mystery, music, and the refined entertainments of the Radziwill era. In the Portrait Hall, visitors, under the guidance of an experienced dance master, will learn to perform the polonaise and minuet, waltz and mazurka, and will also participate in the parlor games and amusements of the 18th century. The evening will be adorned with performances by the Feeria show ballet group. A night tour will be the culmination of the event. The dress code is accordingly formal: a strict suit for gentlemen, a dress (preferably in 18th-century style) and heel-free shoes for ladies, complemented by an elegant mask as a symbol of the Venetian celebration.
When: 10 January 2026, 19.00
Where: Mir Castle, 2 Krasnoarmeyskaya Street, Mir, Korelichi District, Grodno Oblast
Beresteiskie Sani 2026 festival in Brest
The traditional winter festival of southwestern Belarus, Beresteiskie Sani, will celebrate its fifth edition. In previous years, this beautiful January celebration was hosted by Brest, Baranovichi, Pinsk, and Kobrin, and its first anniversary is planned to take place once again in the regional center. The main stage for performances and theatrical presentations will be the Francysk Skaryna Embankment. The program includes exhibitions, interactive zones, sports tournaments, food courts, an artisans’ town, contests, children’s entertainment areas, and promotional activities.
When: 17-18 January 2026
Where: Francysk Skaryna Embankment, Brest
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