Press releases

Belarus Events Calendar: FEBRUARY 2026

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 16^th to the 20^th 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: 28 November 2025 – 29 March 2026
Where: Bolshoi Theater of Belarus, 1 Parizhskaya Kommuna Square, Minsk

My Belarus exhibition in Minsk

A large-scale exhibition showcasing the achievements of sovereign Belarus has opened at the Minsk International Exhibition Center on the second day of the seventh Belarusian People's Congress in Minsk. This year's exhibition is divided into three main sections: interactive installations and photo zones displaying a map of Belarus with iconic landmarks, eight large pavilions dedicated to key industries, and an exposition highlighting the country’s beauty and tourism potential. The leitmotif of the exhibition is the image of a modern, comfortable and forward-looking Belarus with advanced technologies. The atmosphere is enhanced by a cultural projects zone – a platform where visitors can enjoy events of various formats: theatrical performances, film screenings, concerts, and meet-and-greets...

When: 19 December 2025 – 23 February 2026
Where: Minsk International Exhibition Center, 24 Pavliny Medelki Street, 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: 14 February 2026
Where: Mir Castle, 2 Krasnoarmeyskaya Steet, Mir, Korelichi District, Grodno Oblast

Anatoly Kukharchuk's photography exhibition in Minsk

Belarusian photo artist Anatoly Kukharchuk attempted to unravel “The Mystery of the Black Square" through his exploration of visual meanings and ethical categories via the camera lens. The exhibition features approximately 100 pieces created using a mobile phone and organized as a philosophical journey in three acts. Visitors will move through thematically diverse halls: “The Abyss”, “The Creation of Light” and “Light as Meaning” finding themselves in a space of hope and optimism. In his reinterpretation of the legacy of avant-garde artist Kazimir Malevich, Anatoly Kukharchuk invites viewers to see not an end to representational art, as commonly assumed, but rather a “womb concealing light”

When: 15 January – 1 March
Where: Leonid Shchemelev Art Gallery, 10 Revolyutsionnaya Street, Minsk

‘Journey Through Time’ tour at Mir Castle

Mir Castle, the tourist gem of Belarus, an outstanding 16th-century defensive structure, can now be explored in small and family groups on the “Journey Through Time” tour. Guests will immerse themselves in the past of the famous Radziwiłł and Sviatopolk-Mirsky residence (now a UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage site) through dialogues with the builders who preserved its 500-year-old walls, as well as with the kitchen master and cook, who reveal the secrets of preparing sweets for the castle's former owners. Sounds and voices from the past will help guests delve into the world of music through forgotten melodies, learn to distinguish instruments such as duda, lute, viola da gamba, and spinet by their sounds, and master the medieval dance Marazulya.

When: Starting 23 January (every Monday and Friday)
Where: Mir Castle, Mir town, Karelichi District, Grodno Obalst

Royal Ball 2026

One of the most atmospheric and vibrant DanceSport tournaments, Royal Ball, will bring together over 2,000 participants and spectators from Belarus, Russia, and Kazakhstan on the Minsk dance floor. Guests can look forward to a professional light and sound show, musical accompaniment by the BorisMyagkov Band, dazzling costumes, and talented performances across different age categories: Adult, Youth, Junior, and Juvenile. An enjoyable surprise will be a showcase performance by the titled duo Dmitry Rodin and Yulia Sadovskaya.

When: 31 January – 1 February
Where: Palace of Sports, 4 Pobeditelei Avenue, Minsk

HC Dinamo Minsk in KHL matches at Minsk Arena

HC Dinmao Minsk will hold home matches at Minsk Arena against several Russian teams; SKA St. Petersburg, Severstal Cherepovets, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, and Spartak Moscow. In the 2024/25 season, Dinamo Minsk achieved its best result in its 17-year history in the KHL championship: the Belarusian hockey club finished in 8th place overall. Dinamo's head coach, Dmitry Kvartalnov, has led the team for several seasons (reaching 1,000 games on 28 December 2025) and has guided it to strong results in the KHL, including participation in the All-Star Game and prestigious standings in the conference.

When: 3, 10, 12, 18 February
Where: Minsk Arena, 111 Pobeditelei Avenue, Minsk

Denis Stelmakh's concert in Minsk

Russian composer and pianist Denis Stelmakh will perform an instrumental concert in the Belarusian capital for the first time. His creative portfolio already includes five albums, soundtracks for domestic and international film projects and music for popular television channels. He was named winner in the 2021 Best Neoclassica category from the modern independent label Rodnoy Zvuk. In Minsk, Denis Stelmakh will perform the best pieces from his albums.

When: 6 February
Where: Central Officers' House, 3 Krasnoarmeyskaya Street,  Minsk

New show at the Belarusian State Circus

The Belarusian State Circus presents a new show, “The Magic of Extreme”, dedicated to meticulous craftsmanship and conquering speed, the beauty of maneuver, and the adrenaline of a successful acrobatic stunt. Audiences can expect the breathtaking “Moto Ball”, an adaptation of the Globe of Death invented by legendary motorbike racer Piotr Mayatskyand the Wheel of Death act where performers execute stunts inside a giant wheel rotating in the arena. The program will also feature acrobats on perch poles, a strength athlete, aerial gymnasts and acrobats, a clown and trained dogs.

When: 6–28 February
Where: Belarusian State Circus, 32 Nezalezhnosti Avenue, Minsk

Tribute to Arno Babajanian at the Belarusian State Philharmonic

A musical evening in memory of the outstanding composer Arno Babajanian will be presented by the Zhinovich National Academic Folk Orchestra of the Republic of Belarus under the direction of Aleksandr Kremko. The compositions that brought the composer widespread fame, including “Best City in the World,” “The Wedding,” “Beauty Queen,” “Ferris Wheel,” and “Bring Me Back the Music”, were the fruit of his collaboration with poets Robert Rozhdestvensky and Andrei Voznesensky, immortalized by the inimitable baritone of Muslim Magomayev. Soloists from the Arno Babajanian Memorial Foundation – Elgiza Karazhanova (Kazakhstan), Alexey Tyukhin (Russia), and Suren Platonov (Russia) – along with the children’s ensemble Arno’s Notes, will also take part in the concert.

When: 8 February
Where: Belarusian State Philharmonic, 50 Independence Avenue, Minsk

Snow Sniper 2026 biathlon finals

The Snow Sniper national biathlon competitions, now in their 19^th year, will gather thousands of young shooting skiers from across the country. Traditionally, the tournament’s final stage is graced by world biathlon stars; past attendees have included Sergei Bulygin, Svetlana Paramyguina, Oleg Ryzhenkov, Igor Basinski, Olena Zubrilova, Darya Domracheva, Ludmilla Ananko, and Anton Smolski. Participants will vie for medals in sprints, mass-start races, and mixed relays across three age categories: youngest (born 2015–2016), middle (born 2013–2014), and senior (born 2011–2012). According to the competition format, the finals were preceded by a stage of mass-participation races in each age group, as well as regional (and Minsk city) qualifiers held between December 2025 and January 2026.

When: 13–15 February
Where: Raubichi National Olympic Training Center for Winter Sports, Minsk District

Maslenitsa 2026

One of the merriest folk holidays, Maslenitsa symbolizes the farewell to the long cold winter and the meeting of the ringing, singing spring. Each day of Shrovetide week carries a distinct name and its own set of vibrant customs, from the initial “Meeting” to the final “Forgiveness Sunday.” Golden pancakes, fritters, cheese, and butter traditionally grace the Maslenitsa table. These foods carried deep symbolism: pancakes embodied the sun and spring’s return, while cheese and butter were believed to “invite” abundance.

In 2026, Maslenitsa is celebrated from 16 to 22 February.

Where in Belarus to celebrate Maslenitsa in 2026?

Excursion program “Generous Maslenitsa in Sula”

When: 11 February – 1 March, 13:00 (Wednesday – Sunday)
Where: “The Grand Duchy of Sula” History Park, Sula village, Stolbtsy District, Minsk Oblast

Maslenitsa Weekend at the Dukora Estate

When: 14, 18 February; 1, 7, 8 March, 14:30
Where: Dukora Estate Museum Complex, Dukora agro-town, Pukhovichy District, Minsk Oblast

Excursion program “Hey-Ho! Maslenitsa!” and festival “Celebrate, Maslenitsa!” in the Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve

When:

• excursion program: 14 February – 8 March
• themed festival with overnight stay at the Serguch Hotel Complex: 21-22 February

Where: Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve, Domzheritsy village, Lepel District, Vitebsk Oblast

Maslenitsa 2026 in Komarovo

When: 21 February, 11:00 – 18:00
Where: Komarovo Village, Urozhaynaya village, Minsk District

Maslenitsa festivities in Nanosy

When: 21 February, 12:00 – 17:00
Where: Ethnocultural Complex, Nanosy village, Myadel District, Minsk Oblast

Grodno RazGulyai Festival

When, where: 28 February, Grodno

• carriage parade: 12:00, Sovetskaya Street – Lenin Square
• grand opening: 12:20, Lenin Square
• concert and entertainment program featuring artists from Minsk and Grodno: 12:45 – 21:30, Lenin Square
• Kaziuki craft fair: 13:00 – 19:00, Sovetskaya Square

Celestial Races of Yazep Drazdovich performance in Minsk

The Your Genius concert-play series presents its third cosmic performance, dedicated to the renowned 20th-century Belarusian artist Yazep Drazdovich, famed for his cycle of fantastic and prophetic works. This musical drama is a journey into the world of a genius, where diaries, letters, and descriptions of extraterrestrial life merge with a unique blend of folk and meditative-space music. This creative collaboration brings together the Sonorus Chapel (chief conductor Vyacheslav Larin), Oleg Kots (director and founder of the Theater on Nemiga), and Sergei Birulchik, an actor from the Yanka Kupala National Academic Theater.

When: 18 February
Where: Minsk Concert Hall, 5 Oktyabrskaya Street, Minsk

David Razumov’s King Stakh’s Wild Hunt in Minsk

The premiere of David Razumov's neonoir play, based on the historical novella of the same name by Vladimir Korotkevich at the Gomel City Youth Theater in 2025, became one of the most notable events marking the 95th birthday of the outstanding writer. The young director is known for such original interpretations of classics as the plays Faust. A Deal with the Devil and Masquerade at the Maxim Gorky National Academic Drama Theater. According to the plot, a young ethnographer, Andrei Beloretsky, finds himself in an old castle whose mistress is haunted by ghosts. She claims it is all due to the ancient curse of “King Stakh's wild hunt”. The hero, however, refuses to believe in supernatural forces and begins his own investigation...

When, where:
18 February – Writer’s House, 5 Frunze Street, Minsk
19 February – Palace of Culture of Trade Unions, 25 Nezavisimosti Avenue, Minsk

Maslenka theatrical program from Kharoshki

Celebrating Maslenitsa traditions from across the nation, the esteemed Kharoshki choreographic ensemble, with a history spanning more than 50 years, will debut its new theatrical program Maslenka. Each day of the festive week is traditionally filled with unique rites, merry games, winter pastimes, lively songs, and dances. Alongside this new production by artistic director Irina Grushova, an Honored Artist of Belarus, the company will perform selections from the ensemble’s celebrated “golden repertoire”.

When: 20 February
Where: Maxim Gorky Palace of Culture, 49 Revolyutsii Avenue, Borisov

Alessandro Safina in Minsk

The renowned Italian tenor Alessandro Safina will return to Minsk for a magnificent musical evening. Residents of the Belarusian capital have remembered his concerts since 2012, while Vitebsk audiences know him from his performances at the Slavianski Bazaar. His remarkable fusion of classical opera and popular music consistently wins over listeners. The tenor himself characterizes his style as “operatic rock”, incorporating elements of pop, classical vocals, soul, and even musical melodies. For the upcoming performance, Alessandro Safina will be joined by the Symphony Orchestra of Belarus’ National TV and Radio Company, led by the renowned Italian conductor Nicola Simoni.

When: 26 February
Where: Palace of the Republic, 1 Oktyabrskaya Square

Moscow’s Sovremennik Theater on tour in Minsk

Pygmalion, based on the play of the same name by Bernard Shaw, premiered in 1995 under the direction of the legendary Galina Volchek and became one of the most popular and sought-after productions of Moscow’s Sovremennik. Designer Pavel Kaplevich created an original visual concept specifically for this staging. The story of the transformation of a flower seller, Eliza Doolittle, into a true lady under the guidance of the eccentric Professor Higgins remains relevant to this day. It is not merely a social experiment but a profound exploration of human nature, social norms, and personal ambition. The lead roles are performed by Alena Babenko and Sergei Makovetsky.

When: 27 and 28 February
Where: Central House of Officers, 3 Krasnoarmeyskaya Street, Minsk