Press releases

Belarus Events Calendar: NOVEMBER 2025

Premiere of Black Castle movie based on Vladimir Korotkevich’s novel

The Black Castle is a modern adaptation of Vladimir Korotkevich's historical detective novel ‘The Black Castle of Olshany’. Forty years have passed since its first screen adaptation: a film of the same name by director Mikhail Ptashuk was premiered in 1984. This time, screenwriter Gleb Shprigov and director Kirill Kuzin took on the task of reinterpreting the novel. Even before the official premiere in Minsk, The Black Castle won the Special Jury Prize of the Feature Film Competition and the Special Prize “Cinema without Borders” of the CIS Executive Committee at the Minsk International Film Festival Listapad 2024. According to the plot of the historical drama, young professor Anton Kosmich (Evgeny Shvarts) finds himself in trouble after an ancient gospel belonging to the Olshany family finds its way into his antique store. To save himself and unravel the secrets of the past, he goes to Olshany... The screen adaptation of one of the most famous works of Belarusian literature was attended by Anastasia Krasovskaya, Evgeny Stychkin, Evgeny Shvarts and Vitaly Kishchenko.

When: 12 December 2024 - 2 December 2025
Where: cinemas in Belarusian cities

Exhibition celebrating People's Artist of Belarus and USSR Stefaniya Stanyuta

The exhibition dedicated to the 120th anniversary of the People's Artist of Belarus and the USSR Stefaniya Stanyuta explores her life and artistic career. The exhibition features photos, texts of roles, manuscripts, drawings, correspondence with the family and friends, critics' and admirers' reviews, documents. Visitors to the museum can see photos of the outstanding artist with her son Aleksandr, a writer, who dedicated a book to her, the documents related to the Second Belarusian Drama Theater in Vitebsk where many Belarusian artists started their careers after training with the great masters in Moscow in the 1920s. Hsving completed the training in the studio of the Moscow Art Theater in 1931, Stefaniya Stanyuta joined the First Drama Theater (now – Kupalovsky theater) where she served for 70 years, starring in about 200 roles and becoming a true legend!

When: from 13 May 2025
Where: Belarusian State Archives Museum of Literature and Art, 4 Cyril and Methodius Street, Minsk

Exhibition celebrating Frantsishak Bogushevich in Minsk

Matei Burachok and Simon Reuka from Borisov were the playful pseudonyms adopted by the outstanding writer, lawyer, and public figure Frantsishak Bogushevich for his literary persona. His famous poetry collections “Dudka Belaruskaya” and "Smyk Bielaruski", originally written in the Latin script, are now published in Cyrillic, while the older authentic copies have become extremely rare. However, real artifacts from the past were sent to the Museum of the History of Belarusian Literature from the village of Kushlyany in Smorgon District, Grodno Oblast, where the writer grew up. Visitors to the exhibition, dedicated to the 185th anniversary of Frantsishak Bogushevich, will have the opportunity to explore the world of the estate and wander the winding paths of the poet, as well as see a 19th-century buffet from the dining room that belonged to the Bogushevich family.

When: Until 28 December
Where: State Museum of the History of Belarusian Literature, 13 Bagdanovicha Street, Minsk

Exhibition of watercolors by Mikhail Chepik in Minsk Town Hall

“Autumn Sonata” in the Minsk Town Hall will display watercolor works by Belarusian artist Mikhail Chepik. Throughout his creative journey, he has excelled in various roles: as a theatrical set designer, easel painter, poster artist, and a magnificent watercolorist known for his landscape and thematic paintings. Mikhail Chepik's work is a tribute to the beauty of his beloved capital; he has dedicated dozens of drawings and paintings to Minsk, creating his own vision of the city. Visitors to the exhibition will take a special route through the capital of the 1950s-70s (from the Opera House to the Upper Town).

When: September 4 –2 November
Where: Minsk Town Hall, 2A Svobody Square, Minsk

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

MIRAS fantasy show at Belarusian circus

The unique fantasy performance MIRAS has been created by Belarusian and Russian artists in collaboration with the Kazan State Circus. Belarusian audiences will get acquainted with the rich history and culture of the Tatar people through the combination of circus art and modern technology. Under the dome of the Minsk circus, the program showcases the ancient myths and legends, intricately woven into reality, while ancestral traditions will be recreated through acrobatics, music, and magic. The new program also features aerial jugglers, balancing acts on rollers, aerial gymnasts, acrobatic tracks, horseback riders, trained bears, sheep, and, of course, clown shows.

When: 27 September –30 November
Where: Belarusian State Circus, 32 Nezavisimosti Avenue, Minsk

Exhibition celebrating 10th anniversary of National Center for Contemporary Arts in Minsk 

A new exhibition project titled as The Archive, Space Between… dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the National Center for Contemporary Arts, brings together installation, painting, photography, sculpture, graphic art, and video art. According to the curators, different art forms serve simultaneously as the language of artistic expression and a means of rethinking reality and establishing connections with the viewer. The very word "archive" in the title suggests an artistic exploration and expansion of traditional notions of memory, history, and identity. The exhibition will be supplemented by 10 works from the center's holdings, selected by staff from various departments. These include pieces by Matvey Basov, Nikolai Kazakevich, Vitaly Tsvirko, and other Belarusian artists.

When: Until 23 November
Where: National Center for Contemporary Arts, 3 Nekrasova Street, Minsk

'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 (12^th - 16^th  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

Belarusian Musical Autumn festival in Minsk

The Belarusian Musical Autumn festival is holding its 51st season, uniting connoisseurs of eternal classics and presenting the finest examples of world cultural heritage. The November program will open with the concert "How Can I Not Love This Land…" in memory of the legendary Soviet singer Lyudmila Zykina, performed by soloist Yekaterina Bulatovskaya and the Zhinovich National Academic Folk Orchestra of the Republic of Belarus under the baton of Aleksandr Kremko. Audiences can expect a kaleidoscope of vocal, piano, symphonic, and jazz evenings dedicated to the outstanding composers and performers from various eras: Pyotr Tchaikovsky, Georgy Sviridov, Giya Kancheli, Arvo Pärt and also Belarusian musician, composer, and educator Yuri Blinov, who became the first Belarusian pianist to perform a solo concert at the renowned Carnegie Hall.

When: 10 October –30 November
Where: Belarusian State Philharmonic, 50 Nezalezhnosti Avenue, Minsk

Ceramics exhibition in Minsk

The Art-Zhizhal international plein air festival, a signature event of Bobruisk and a professional platform in the art of ceramics, was held for the 19th time in the city on the Berezina River. This open-air creative workshop brought together 21 ceramic artists from five countries: Belarus, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Moldova, and Russia. Over three weeks, the artists created art objects on the theme “Culture and Art in Images and Symbols” participated in kiln preparation, and conducted daily firings. The final exhibition “The Art of Living Fire” showcases works by the 2025 plein air participants dedicated to their countries' national history, traditions, and events. The exhibition features over 50 ceramic works, ranging from vases with Egyptian ornaments to sculptures inspired by the vast Kazakh steppes. The pieces cover a broad spectrum of themes: motifs from folk art, their contemporary interpretations, and abstract forms.

When: 15 October –9 November
Where: Mikhail Savitsky Art Gallery, 15 Svobody Square, Minsk

NeuroBelarus project in Brest Art Museum

The NeuroBelarus project offers a completely new perspective on Belarusian nature, architecture, traditions, cuisine, and the history of the Blue-Eyed Land. A collection of 110 pieces created using neural networks and augmented reality is presented to visitors. This is not just an exhibition in the conventional sense, but a synthesis of technology and national identity. Neural networks create unique visual images of Belarus, where the ancient intertwines with the digital, and the recognizable merges with the unexpected. To explore the exhibition in an engaging way, visitors can choose a thematic quest or a podcast that anyone can listen to on their smartphone.

When: 21 October –30 November
Where: Brest Art Museum, 60V Geroi Oborony Brestskoy Kreposti Street, Brest

Price of War exhibition at Great Patriotic War Museum in Minsk

One of the most visited museums in the Belarusian capital and the first in the world dedicated to the bloodiest war of the 20th century will, for the first time in its more than 80-year history, present an exhibition of currency notes. The main highlights will be two collections: of paper money (bonistics) and coins (numismatics) comprising 1,600 items. Visitors will see currency notes, bonds, and coins from the countries of the anti-Hitler coalition and their allies the Soviet Union, the United States, Great Britain, and France and from the axis nations Germany, Japan, Italy, and the countries they occupied. The exhibition will be supplemented with items from other collections of clothing, weapons, and military hardware.

When: 21 October –22 December
Where: Belarusian State Museum of the History of the Great Patriotic War, 8 Pobeditelei Avenue, Minsk

International Organ Music Festival St. Sophia’s Bells

The ancient town of Polotsk will resonate with the music of the International Organ Music Festival St. Sophia’s Bells for the 30^th time. The festival will present masterpieces from the Baroque era alongside celebrated works of the 19^th and 20^th centuries. Renowned musicians will perform music by Mozart, Liszt, Schumann, Franck, Beethoven, Albinoni, Fauré, and Yuya Kakinuma. This anniversary celebration is symbolically tied to a milestone of its own: the 40^th anniversary of the Polotsk organ. Crafted and installed in 1985 by the historic Czech firm Rieger-Kloss specifically for the concert hall of St. Sophia Cathedral, the instrument is widely recognized as the finest of its kind in Belarus.

The festival program also pays tribute to the 340^th anniversary of Baroque masters Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frideric Handel. Their timeless works will be performed by Ksenia Pogorelaya, Honored Artist of Belarus and the cathedral’s soloist, together with the Europe Center Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Rail Sadykov. The event will also welcome distinguished guests, including Russian organists Aleksei Shmitov and Natalya Mikhailova, coloratura soprano Lyudmila Tratsevskaya, and esteemed Belarusian musicians Vera Latysheva, Konstantin Mazyuk, Yekaterina Nikolayeva, and Tatiana Kormazinova. Completing the international lineup, the vibrant Japanese organist Hiroko Inoue will present a special solo program.

When: 26 October – 30 November
Where: St. Sophia Cathedral, Polotsk, Vitebsk Oblast

Minsk International Film Festival Listapad

Under the slogan “Life-Changing Story”, the film festival – one of the most prominent film events in the CIS and the largest in Belarus – will gather renowned actors, directors, and cinema enthusiasts in Minsk for a week. The festival received a record 3,655 submissions from 120 countries, with 157 films from 41 countries selected for the program. The international feature film jury will be chaired by Mosfilm Director General and film director Karen Shakhnazarov. Listapad 2025 will open at the Palace of the Republic with a solemn ceremony and a screening of the sports drama Turning Point by young director Dmitry Soroka. Turning Point is the first full-length film about rowing since 1973.

A new addition for 2025 is the Short Film Competition, which broke its own record with over 2,200 submissions. Nearly all selected films are already prize-winners at prestigious international festivals, including the South African drama The Last Ranger, nominated for a 2025 Oscar.

The Youth Films Competition “Cinema of the Young” will feature ten works from 13 countries, many from the Berlinale. Highlights include the Italian film The Last Beautiful Thing, the groundbreaking Japanese drama Happy End by Neo Sora, and the Vietnamese Berlinale winner for Best Debut, Cu Li Never Cries.

Anticipated highlights of the 31^st edition of the festival include the Franco-Spanish drama Sirat, a 2025 Cannes winner; Jacob Schwarz’s historical epic Tamerlane: Rise of the Last Conqueror; Le Lac by Jean-Luc Godard’s student Fabrice Aragno; and My Grandfather, directed by Svyatoslav Vlasov and starring People’s Artist of Belarus Vladimir Gostyukhin.

When: 31 October – 7 November
Where: Cinemas across Minsk and regions; Opening ceremony at the Palace of the Republic; Closing ceremony at the Moscow Cinema

Phoenix Fire Festival at the Botanical Garden

This large-scale Phoenix Fire Festival invites you to a spectacular autumn evening at the Botanical Garden. Visitors can expect a captivating show program, themed locations and photo zones, a diverse food court with warming treats, and the evening’s culmination: a spectacular fire show on a large podium. Adding to the atmosphere, popular Belarusian singers and bands will perform starting at 5:00 PM. A dedicated children’s playground with its own entertainment and activities will be available for the youngest guests.

When: 31 October – 2 November (Fire shows at 7:00 PM and 9:00 PM)
Where: Central Botanical Garden, 2B Surganova Street, Minsk

“The Brave Journey of Nicholas Christopher Radziwill the Orphan” in Nesvizh

As part of the “Nesvizh Castle: A Vacation with History” program, visitors can embark on “The Brave Journey of Nicholas Christopher Radziwill the Orphan.” This is not a standard tour, but a unique journey through the museum exhibition incorporating theatrical and quest elements. Guests will be transported to the 16^th-century Grand Duchy of Lithuania to learn about Nicholas Christopher Radziwill, a magnate, traveler, philanthropist, and the first ordinate of Nesvizh. The tour focuses on his journey to the Holy Land, and participants will have the chance to meet the Prince of Nesvizh and his entourage!

When: 3 and 4 November
Where: Nesvizh National Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve, 2 Zamkovaya Street, Nesvizh

TRIANGLE Music Program at the Minsk Planetarium

The well-loved “Music and Stars” project invites you on a sonic journey at the Minsk Planetarium, accompanied by an immersive fulldome projection. Connoisseurs of intimate evenings can expect original ambient music from the TRIANGLE project. This acoustic ambient sound, played on guitar with a sampler and effects pedals by founder Andrei Apanovich, combines with vistas of stars and galaxies to evoke profound emotions, allowing you to discover the beauty and grandeur of the universe.

When: 5 and 6 November
Where: Minsk Planetarium, 2 Frunze Street, Minsk

International health & beauty expo InterStyle 2025

InterStyle is the only international professional exhibition in the beauty industry in Belarus. This new season will bring together over 60 companies and organizations, as well as professionals in hairdressing, makeup, lash & brow, nail services, cosmetology and aesthetics, SPA salons and clinics, perfumery, nutrition, fashion, and style. It is a platform for exchanging knowledge and experience with colleagues, introducing guests to fashion trends, and presenting the best materials and top new cosmetic products. Visitors can expect a rich program of events, including the international festival WIND ROSE HAIR 2025, the country's first podiatrist championship, designer shows, various workshops and presentations.

When: 5-8 November
Where: Exhibition pavilion, 14 Pobeditelei Avenue, Minsk

THE BEST & THE NEW: Three-Piano Show by BEL SUONO in Minsk

This International Pianist Day on 8 November will be memorable for a meeting with the BEL SUONO piano trio, a one-of-a-kind ensemble performing in the progressive genre of classical crossover. The group, with over a decade of experience, features Kirill Gushchin, Anton Mosenkov, and Nikita Khabin. On the Minsk stage, they will present THE BEST & THE NEW grand three-piano show, accompanied by the Presidential Orchestra of the Republic of Belarus under the baton of its Chief Conductor Vitaly Kulbakov. The evening will feature most beloved compositions as well as fresh works receiving their premiere on the stage of the Palace of the Republic.

When: 8 November
Where: Palace of the Republic, 1 Oktyabrskaya Square, Minsk

International trade fair PRODEXPO 2025

For over 30 years, PRODEXPO has maintained its status as the largest food industry exhibition in Belarus. Last season, its floor space grew by 30%, and this year it will open for the first time at the new Minsk International Exhibition Center BELEXPO. The exhibition's scope covers the entire food market spectrum - from new food and beverage products and quality raw materials to advanced production technologies, packaging, food industry trade solutions, and the launch and promotion of new brands. In addition to the expansive exhibition, the event will feature a large-scale business program, B2B negotiations between retailers, suppliers, and manufacturers, the International Culinary Cup, the International Confectionery Art Championship, the International Anti-Gravity Cake Competition Dreams Come True, the Taste of Belarus show presentation, and the International Bakers' Symposium.

When: 11-14 November
Where: Minsk International Exhibition Center BELEXPO, 24 P. Medyolka Street, Minsk

Gastrofest

For its 10th edition, the beloved nationwide Gastrofest will once again unite the country's largest cities and tourist centers in a single format, celebrating delicious food, quality drinks, and creative presentations from the best local chefs. Each festival season has its own theme, but the concept remains unchanged: participants offer their best set menus at a fixed price for a limited time.

When: 13-30 November
Where: Minsk, Brest, Vitebsk, Gomel, Grodno, Mogilev, Pinsk

Gala concert of Bolshoi Theater of Belarus

A kaleidoscope of the finest solo and duet pieces from the repertoire of the Bolshoi Theater of Belarus will be performed by stars of its opera and ballet companies. The program's content and the full list of performers are a closely guarded secret. What is known is that the gala will be accompanied by the orchestra of the nation's main theatre under the baton of Yuri Karavayev. The production features Chief Director Anna Motornaya, a recipient of the Francysk Skaryna Medal; Chief Set Designer Lyubov Sidelnikova, a laureate of national competitions; and Chief Chorus Master Nina Lomanovich, a People's Artist of Belarus and laureate of the State Award of the Republic of Belarus.

When: 21 November
Where: Bolshoi Theater of Belarus, 1 Parizhskoy Kommuny Square, Minsk

International Festival of Modern Choreography

The famous Vitebsk forum of modern choreography, IFMC, will gather artists and dance companies from Belarus, Russia, Italy, Germany, and other countries for its 36th season. A special evening will be held in honor of the legendary choreographer Yevgeny Panfilov, an enthusiast of free dance and the founder of Russia's first private ballet theatre. The forum will open with the first round of the national competition, followed in the second part by the divertissement evening Bolero+ performed by the Novaya Opera Theatre of Moscow. The 2025 festival program also features the mono-spectacle One Man Ball, the choreographic performance The Overcoat. Gogol, the evening Two Marias, and productions by guests from Chelyabinsk and Perm… On the final day, the competition laureates will present their best pieces, and the Yevgeny Panfilov Ballet Theatre will perform the one-act play Eight Russian Songs.

When: 26-30 November
Where: Vitebsk Concert Hall, 1 Frunze Avenue, Vitebsk

Concerts to mark 20th Anniversary of the Valaam Monastery Choir in Belarus

The Valaam Monastery Choir is celebrating its anniversary with a tour. The choir was created for the occasion of the restoration and consecration of the Valaam Monastery of the Transfiguration of the Savior in August 2005. The uniqueness of this musical group lies in its dual role as both a liturgical choir and a concert-performing ensemble. Accordingly, its repertoire, spanning songs, romances, and sacred music, is dedicated to the theme of love. The audience will enjoy the atmosphere of the ancient chants for which the Valaam Monastery is famous and will follow the key life paths of Christ, traveling through time to the lands of Greece, Serbia, and Argentina. The second part of the program will feature the best works from the choir's repertoire, dedicated to Faith in God and Love for the Homeland.

Where, when:
28 November – Pinsk City House of Culture, 7a Lenin Square, Pinsk
29 November – Grodno Regional Philharmonic, 17 Gornovykh Street, Grodno
30 November – Oblast Social and Cultural Center, 1 Kommunisticheskaya Street, Brest
1-2 December – Minsk Tractor Palace of Culture, 24 Dolgobrodskaya Street, Minsk
3 December – Social and Cultural Center, 17 Lange Street, Gomel
4 December – Vitebsk Regional Philharmonic, 69 Lenin Street, Vitebsk