Press releases

Belarus Events Calendar: NOVEMBER 2021

Dear friends! We are sorry to inform you that we have to change the monthly Events Calendar on the belarus.by website. The coronavirus pandemic has led to border shutdowns, travel restrictions, cancellation or postponement of public events. People are willing to refrain from trips and entertainments to protect themselves and their families.

Belarus is taking all the necessary measures to prevent the spread of the infection. The country has not imposed strict travel restrictions. However, Belarus calls on EVERY PERSON to be extremely careful, follow the WHO and doctors’ recommendations, observe personal hygiene rules, and, most importantly, take care of each other. If you have returned from the worst-hit regions and countries, you should seek medical attention in case of the slightest deterioration in your health and, of course, isolate yourselves as soon as possible, in order not to spread any infection, not only COVID-19.

In view of this situation, large public events are canceled or postponed. Please, check out the information in advance. Organizers promise that tickets for all postponed events will remain valid. Please, remember to stay healthy!

Minsk tops CIS list of cities for virtual tours

Tadeusz Kosciuszko as an Artist

4 February marked the 275th anniversary of the birth of Tadeusz Kosciuszko, the national hero of Belarus, Poland and the United States. On this day, the Memorial Manor Museum in Merechevshchina in the town of Kossovo, the hometown of the outstanding military and political figure, rolled out a unique exhibition-project showing the creative side of the famous general. The exhibition features 16 reproductions of Kosciuszko's works made in different periods of his life. Among them is his first paintings - mostly copies of the works by other artists he made while studying at the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture in France, and replicas of the paintings from a later period. Despite the fact that Tadeusz Kosciuszko connected his life with the military, he continued to paint after the uprising of 1794. In America he gained fame as a portraitist.

When: 4 February – 31 December 
Where: Tadeusz Kosciuszko Memorial Manor Museum
108 Kosciuszko Street, Kossovo, Ivanovo District, Brest Oblast
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Artist and City project in Minsk

The 10th season of the Artist and City project has opened in Minsk, this time in Komsomolskaya Street. Its mission is to introduce Minsk residents and guests of the capital to the best representatives of contemporary Belarusian art. This time the open-air exhibition highlights the art of the famous landscape artist Leonid Shchemelev. The people’s artist passed away in January 2021, but his works will live. Many museums, including the National Art and Regional Local History, have his paintings. Guests of the Minsk open-air gallery will get acquainted with the stories behind the landscapes and paintings dedicated to the author's hometown with the help of an audio guide.
When: from 28 May
Where:

“Around the World in 100 Minutes” at Belarusian State Circus

An exciting program “Around the World in 100 Minutes” will kick off the 2021 autumn season at the Belarusian State Circus. Without leaving the city of Minsk, visitors will embark on a journey around the world full of adventures, new impressions, interesting encounters with colorful characters and other events. The show will feature American cowboys, Canadian pumas, camels, lamas and ponies, masterful gymnasts and tumblers.

When: 18 September – 5 December
Where: Belarusian State Circus, 32 Nezavisimosti Avenue, Minsk

Italian masterpieces on display at National Art Museum

The exhibition "There is a wonderful land …" invites to go on a picturesque voyage around the famous places of Italy. Italy, the cradle of the Renaissance and the main ‘museum’ of the world, was a must-see destination on the grand tour - an educational journey for the sons of European aristocrats and rich bourgeois. Tintoretto, Caravaggio, Zanchi, Molinari… The exhibition showcases the works of Italian masters of the 16th -20th centuries, including the unique ones such as Girolamo Troppa’s "Mythological Plot" and “Madonna and Child” attributed to Giovanni Francesco Barbieri, a representative of the 17th-century Bologna school. On display are also the engravings of the 18th - early 19th centuries and sculptures by  Giovanni Anderlini, Enrico Braga, Ernesto Ermete Gazzeri, the outstanding masters of the 19th century.

When: 22 September – 21 November
Where: National Art Museum, 20 Lenina Street,Minsk

Magic of Numbers in Museum of Music in Minsk

The musical and educational show "Magic of Numbers" is a unique journey into the sounds of the night Museum of Music. The second series of evenings (the first one took place in August 2021) will immerse visitors into a mystical atmosphere, introduce them to the mathematical and acoustic formulas, to a story about the medieval "Vitruvian Man" by Leonardo da Vinci, the golden ratio, the laws of physics and mathematics and the connection of all this with musical instruments. The unusual evening will continue with the presentation of interactive exhibits and a tea party - herbal tea made according to a special recipe. The program of the show will be completed by the quest game "The Magic of Music and Numbers".

When: 29 October, 20.20
Where: Interactive Museum of Music, 8 Cyril and Methodius Street, Minsk

International Cranberry Festival 2021

Autumn in the south of Brest Oblast is a busy time as local farmers are cropping Europe’s largest harvests of cranberries on local swamps and flooded fields and holding a thematic festival! It is expected that the festival, dedicated to one of the most useful autumn berries, will bring about delegations from several countries this year. The program includes a fair and a tasting event "Cranberry Dessert", an exhibition of devices for picking berries and means of transportation for lowlands, exhibition performances of rescuers and meetings with experienced tourists who will tell you how to act if you get lost in the forest or in the swamp. The festival will also celebrate the best cranberry harvesters, the best forestry workers, and the winners of three international competitions.

When: 4 November (8.00 – 17.00)
Where: Olmany village, Stolin District, Brest Oblast

Saint Sophia’s Bells Festival of Organ Music

The famous festival of organ music Saint Sophia’s Bells 2021 will bring together the best musicians from Belarus and Russia in the ancient Polotsk. The first to perform (7 November) will be the St. Petersburg concert duet of Mark Taube (violin) and Ekaterina Marishkina (organ). The concert "Fantasies About Love" will feature pieces from Kreisler, Bach, Stewart, Born, Karg-Elert. The famous Belarusian organist Ksenia Pogorelaya will have the honor to open the 26th festival on the Dvina river. She will perform on 14 November accompanied by the chamber orchestra "Europe-Center" under the baton of Rail Sadykov. Further in the program will be a solo evening of Belarusian Ekaterina Nikolaeva (21 November), and also a concert of Aleksei Gitsba (organ) and Alice (soprano) Gitsba from Russia, who will perform pieces from Bach, Taneev, Bubek, Shmitov on 28 November.

When: 7–28 November
Where: Saint  Sophia Cathedral, 1 Zamkovaya Street, Polotsk, Vitebsk Oblast

Moscow Contemporary Art Theatre: "Anna Karenina"

The Moscow Contemporary Art Theatre will present in Minsk its version of "Anna Karenina" about “happy families that are all alike; and unhappy families that are unhappy in their own way." Starring are People's Artist of Russia Vladimir Steklov, Honored Artist of Russia Lyudmila Tatarova-Dzhigurda, actors of drama theater and cinema Svetlana Klaus, Dmitry Mazurov, Mikhail Pavlik, Aleksei Zhukovsky.

When: 8 November
Where: Central House of Officers, 3 Krasnoarmeyskaya Street, Minsk

King Stakh’s Wild Hunt premiere in Bolshoi Theater

The Bolshoi Theater will kick off its 89th season with a premiere of the opera based on the novel by outstanding Belarusian writer Vladimir Korotkevich. The national classic was first staged in 1989, with Vladimir Soltan and music director Yaroslav Voshchak working on the production. In 1990 the creative tandem and the main actors Natalia Kostenko, Viktor Skoobogatov and Vladimir Eknadiosov received the State Award of the BSSR. The new production is directed by Anna Motornaya. Ancient castles, clocks symbolizing flowing time, chess as a keynote of the eternal game, colors and images of the Slutsk belts, decorations referring to the icons of the 15th-16th centuries - all these have became symbols filled with a special meaning important for understanding the message of the production.

When: 9 November
Where: National Academic Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theater, 1 Parizhskaya Kommuna Square, Minsk
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Alexander Boldachev and the Metamorphose String Orchestra in Minsk

Virtuoso harpist Alexander Boldachev will perform in Minsk accompanied by the Metamorphosis String Orchestra under the baton of Pavel Lyubomudrov. Native of Saint Petersburg, Alexander Boldachev started out his music career at the age of five. He received education at the Zurich Academy of Arts and by now he has won a dozen international competitions. During 2018 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony, Alexander Boldachev shared the stage with Robbie Williams and Aida Garifullina while performing a harp solo of his own composition. Two years later, he celebrated his 30th birthday with his debut at Carnegie Hall in New York. The program of the Minsk concert includes a Concerto for Harp and String Orchestra, Op. 267 by Alan Hovhaness, Two Dances For Harp And String Orchestra (Sacred Dance and Secular Dance) by Claude Debussy, Star Wars by John Williams, and a medley consisting of music by Mikael Tariverdiev, Alfred Schnittke and Isaac Schwartz.

When: 11 November
Where: Big Hall, Belarusian State Philharmonic Society, 50 Nezavisimosti Avenue, Minsk

Video Game Symphony.Vol. 2: Video game soundtracks

The second part of the Video Game Symphony project will present a collection of soundtracks for video games performed by a symphony orchestra and choir. The premiere concert took place in the Belarusian capital in April 2021 and was highly acclaimed by experts and the audience. The new program will delight music connoisseurs with soundtracks from the most popular video games: World of Warcraft, Final Fantasy, Battlefield, World of Tanks, Sonic, Mortal Kombat, Heroes of Might and Magic V, Starcraft, Assassin`s Creed, Super Smash Bros., Metal Gear Solid 2, Witcher ... The Polifonica choir, a laureate of international competitions in Japan, Portugal, Great Britain and other countries, will be one of the highlights of the event. The band is on a tour performing at the best venues in Europe and Asia and is a participant in international creative projects supported by UNICEF and the UN.

When: 11 November
Where: Minsk Concert Hall, 5 Oktyabrskaya Street, Minsk

Effie Awards Belarus 2021

Effie Awards is one of the most prestigious awards in the advertising industry. It was launched in 1968 to honor the most effective advertising efforts. Effie Awards Belarus will bring together representatives of various sectors of the economy, including banking, FMCG, pharmaceutical companies, retail, e-commerce, IT, as well as business leaders, marketing experts, managers of the advertising and creative industries. Participants of the Minsk conference will discuss the trends that have the biggest impact on the effectiveness of marketing in the era of the pandemic, including digitalization, the combination of science and applied technologies, and current experience. In addition to the business program and master classes from the guests, the program includes the award ceremony for winners of the Effie Awards Belarus 2021 Gala.

When: 18 November
Where: Minsk Marriott Hotel, 20 Pobeditelei Avenue, Minsk

2nd National Gastrofest ‘Countries of the World’

A cozy atmosphere and gastronomic pleasure are back again for the 2021 National Gastrofest in dozens of restaurants and cafes in Minsk and oblast centers across the country. Gastrofest as always offers special menus and deals. The theme of the 2nd edition of Gastrofest is Countries of the World because, as the organizers say, people missed traveling during the pandemic. The best dishes from around the world, unusual food products, unique serving and other things will help you enjoy your time and dream about future trips. Of course, coronavirus safety protocols are in place.

When: 18 November – 5 December
Where: Minsk and oblast centers of Belarus

Gomel Fest 2021

The city on the Sozh River will host the International Art Festival Gomel Fest for the third time, bringing together artists, vocalists, dancers, musicians and theater groups from Belarus and abroad. Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the forum will have a hybrid, online and offline, format, which will expand the number of participants to 3,500! Contestants aged three and over will demonstrate their skills in five nominations - singing, choreography, musical instruments, drama and visual arts. The best performers will take part in a gala concert where the Grand Prix winner will be announced.

When: 18-21 November
Where: Gomel Cultural Center, 16 Irininskaya Street, Gomel
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Kirill Richter with Orchestra in Minsk

One of Russia's most popular musicians, pianist and composer Kirill Richter, is considered a representative of neoclassicism, although he himself disputes this definition. Kirill Richter is a star on the rise, with the lineup of his works already ranging from piano compositions to soundtracks for art-house dramas, sci-fi blockbusters and even the FIFA World Cup 2018 theme. In the Belarusian capital, Kirill Richter, Richter Trio (Alena Zinovieva and August Krepak) and the symphony orchestra will perform the main themes from the world ballet masterpieces Rasputin, The Divine Comedy and others, written especially for the shows of famous dancer Sergei Polunin. A pleasant addition to the program of the concert will be compositions from his latest album CHRONOS.

When: 19 November
Where: Palace of the Republic, 1 Oktyabrskaya Street, Minsk

The 27thMinsk International Film Festival Listapad

The country’s largest film forum will return for the 27^th time after a one-year break in order to present the best achievements of the world’s movie industry to Belarusian viewers. The national film studio Belarusfilm organizes the event this year. The program will feature the main contests for feature films and documentaries, a youth films contest, the Listapadzik contest of films for children and teenagers. Cinema art fans will also see works by Belarusfilm’s partners as part of a non-competition program, retrospective screenings timed to the 85^th birthday of the prominent movie director and People’s Artist of the BSSR and the USSR Viktor Turov. Apart from that, events will be held dedicated to the 80^th anniversary since the beginning of the Great Patriotic War and the 50^th anniversary of the Belarusian cartoon industry.

When: 20–26 November
Where: Belarusian movie theaters
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The 9th international festival JAZZinMINSK 2021

The international festival JAZZinMINSK 2021 will gather jazz stars from the USA, Russia, Latvia, and Italy in Belarus. The saxophonist Waldo Weathers, a former soloist of the James Brown Band, will be the headliner of the ninth festival JAZZinMINSK.

The program of the festival:

25 November, 19:00, 26 November, 20:00 – a Grammy winner, Jean Toussaint (USA), a soloist of the legendary music band Jazz Messengers, will present a retrospective of New York jazz of the 1950-1970s; "Detroit" Gary Wiggins (USA) and Michele Di Toro Trio (Italy);

26 November, 19:00, 27 November, 20:00 – the guitarist and vocalist Michael Russell (USA), Dorrey Lin Lyles (USA) and Rigas Jazz Quartet (Latvia);

27 November, 19:00, 28 November, 20:00 –Eb Davis (USA), Ingrid Arthur (USA) and Moscow Jazz Quartet (Russia).

When: 25–28 November
Where: The Palace of the Trade Unions, Jazz Club (the Palace of the Republic), Oktyabrskaya Square, Minsk

Pesnyary: A tribute concert to Vladimir Mulyavin

2021 marked 80 years since the birthday of the People’s Artist of the USSR Vladimir Mulyavin, who went down in history of Belarusian music and world music as a genius musician, the founder of the legendary band Pesnyary. He and the composer Igor Luchenok went all over the country collecting and writing down folk melodies in order to recreate Belarusian songs. Thanks to his adaptations verses by Belarusian poets started a new life. The Pesnyaryband was founded on 1 September 1969. Over the course of many years the band’s repertoire grew larger with dozens of popular songs, parable operas, and theatricalized concerts… The band and the Presidential Orchestra of the Republic of Belarus will perform the best songs in a tribute concert to the founder ahead of the anniversary date.

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