Press releases

15 Jul 2026

Slavianski Bazaar pre-opening events get underway in Vitebsk

VITEBSK, 15 July (BelTA) – The organizers of the 35^th International Festival of Arts Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk told BelTA what visitors and participants of the event can look forward to, including a dance overture, the second round of the children’s music competition, solo shows by famous pop artists, theater plays, and museum exhibitions.

Ahead of the official opening ceremony, a variety of events will take place in Vitebsk, much to the excitement of both attendees and performers at this massive arts festival. The headlining events include the second round of the International Children’s Music Contest Vitebsk and the opening concert at the Summer Amphitheater.

During the opening day of the contest, the young artists performed soundtracks tailored for children and youth. The highest points from the judges went to the participants from Belarus and Kazakhstan. The upcoming second round will be crucial for these young talents, as they are set to sing songs in a Slavic language accompanied by a live orchestra. At this stage, they need to showcase both exceptional vocal talent and the ability to collaborate with a major musical ensemble, feeling the pulse of every instrument behind their backs. The second competition day will take place at the Vitebsk Concert Hall, bringing together performers and spectators.

The cultural and sports complex of the Summer Amphitheater will host the raising of the International Festival of Arts Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk flag. This vibrant and warm traditional ceremony unites different generations shared by their deep affection for the July forum.

Dance troupes are set to make history on the festival’s main stage with the spectacular show Dance, Slavic Soul! The audience will experience the rich variety of traditional folk dances from across the Slavic world. Featured performers include the legendary Igor Moiseyev State Academic Folk Dance Ensemble from Russia and the acclaimed Belarusian State Academic Choreographic Ensemble Khoroshki. Thanks to the renovated venue and its new retractable seating, spectators can dance along, effectively turning the entire amphitheater into a giant open-air folk disco.

Some of the festival’s most loyal performers are set to deliver solo shows. Taisia Povaliy, the very first winner of the Pop Song Contest, will perform at the smaller venue of the Vitebsk Concert Hall. At the same time, a stadium-sized crowd is expected at the central sports complex for Oleg Gazmanov, who marks his milestone 75th birthday in 2026.

The philharmonic is set to host the children’s musical The Journey of the Little Prince, followed by a performance from the Omsk State Academic Russian Folk Choir. Theater enthusiasts can also look forward to the production Seems Easier, presented by the Yermolova Moscow Drama Theater. The company will stage their performance at the Yakub Kolas National Academic Drama Theater.

Art lovers can look forward to a rich exhibition program. The House of Cinema is set to display graphic art by Germany’s Alexander Bogdanovsky, an artist with family roots in St. Petersburg and Vitebsk. Meanwhile, the Museum of the History of Private Collections will present an exhibition titled as The Magnificence of Omani Silver. Festival visitors and participants can also explore The Space of Eternal Meanings at the Art Museum. Furthermore, the Vitebsk Concert Hall will host the Color. Rhythm. Image exhibition, bringing together paintings by artists from Belarus, Russia, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, and Latvia.

The Koleso Youth Theater invites audiences to the Vitebsk Concert Hall’s small venue for their production The Art Commissar, part of the Vitebsk Renaissance cycle.

The 35^th International Festival of Arts Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk will take place through July 20, with the official opening ceremony scheduled for tomorrow, 16 July.