Moscow Events 2020

Journey to Christmas Festival

13 December 2019 - 13 January 2020

Moscow will become the ground for a great winter fest. The city's government worked a lot to dress streets and avenues nicely in light garlands and 3D installations. The Christmas fairy-tale kicks off on Red Square and takes over Nikolskaya Street, Stoleshnikov Lane, Maroseyka Street, the Arbat and many other streets of Moscow. Guests will be greeted by Father Frost, Snow Maiden and Nutcracker; Christmas shops are to be found all around the downtown. The Europe's largest ice-skating rink opens up at the VDNKh park; you also may go skating in the Gorky Park and right on Red Square.

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Russian Orthodox Christmas

7 January 2020

According to the Julian calendar, the Russian Christmas falls on 7 January and is probably the most beloved celebration for Russian Christians. That day baby Jesus is glorified in 30 thousand churches around the world. In Moscow the main Midnight Mass is held by the Russian Patriarch Kirill in the astonishingly beautiful Christ the Saviour Cathedral and annually crowded with over 5 thousand Muscovites including the prime-minister and other top officials. The Mass usually starts about 11 pm and may last for up to 3 am but it is better to contact a particular church for the schedule.

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Maslenitsa Pancake Week

24 February - 1 March 2020

Maslenitsa is a blend of pagan beliefs and Christian traditions and is the Russian equivalent of Mardi Gras - the last period for feasting before the fasting of the traditional Lent season. Blini are a type of Russian pancake which is eaten smothered in jam, sour cream, honey or other sweet foodstuffs. Maslenitsa lasts for up to one week ending on Shrove Tuesday or 'Blini Day'. Many Muscovites enjoy blini and medovukha honey wine in numerous chalet-tents set up all around the city centre. These days you may happen to become a spectator or even participant of a folk show staged right on a street.

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Women's Day

8 March 2020

International Women's Day (IWD) is an internationally recognised celebration of women and their social, economic and political achievements. In Russia, the demonstrations that marked International Women's Day created a sea of change that kick-started the Russian Revolution of 1917. To commemorate the day's historic importance it is now a public holiday in Russia. However, rather than staging political protests the day has a more sentimental slant, with husbands and sons showing their love for the ladies in their lives.

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Moscow Fashion Week

24 March - 29 March 2020

Following in the vein of Fashion Week London, Pairs, Milan and New York, Fashion Week Moscow is a growing draw for fashionista the world over, with over fifty fashion houses showcasing their productions to nearly 100 000 guests bi-annually. The ethos on the Moscow event is to promote the fashion industry in Russia and has made big names of Igor Chapurin, Andrew Sharov and Tatiana Parfenova. The festival is expected to take place at the Gostiny Dvor other venues around Moscow.

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Golden Mask Russian Performing Arts Festival

March - 15 April 2020

This is Moscow's most prestigious drama, ballet and opera festival showcasing the most significant Russian premiers to come out of the previous year. All genres of the theatre arts are catered for, from puppetry to high end drama. The festival incorporates the National Theatre Awards which since their launch in 1993 have now become the country's most prestigious theatre awards.

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Moscow Easter Fest

19 April 2020

Moscow Easter festivities generously vary from street performances of parish choirs and ethno folk groups to a highly reputable musical event under maestro Gergiev's direction assembling some of the world's elite musicians to perform in best Moscow concert halls. Muscovites and the city's guests may also join street master-classes in painting Easter eggs and baking Easter cakes. This year Russian Paskha falls on May 1. Midnight services are very solemn and crowded; next morning people greet each other saying "Christ is risen!" and replying "Truly risen!". After 40-day Lenten fast, they break it by sharing a kulich cake with family and friends.

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Moscow International Film Festival

22 April - 29 April 2020

The MIFF is among the oldest in the world. For the first time it was held in 1935 and the jury was headed by great Sergei Eisenshtein. Now the jury is presided by film director Nikita Mikhalkov. Among the MIFF prize winners were Akira Kurosawa and Stanley Kramer, Federico Fellini and Andrzej Wajda, Krzysztof Zanussi and Sergei Gerasimov. The MIFF paved the way for filmmakers who later became known throughout the world like Istvan Szabo, Kaneto Shindo, Krzysztof Kieslowski, Aki Kaurismaki. The main prize of the festival is a statuette of St. George, patron saint of Moscow.

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Labour Day

1 May 2020

The Soviet Russia celebrated May 1st as a day of working people while people themselves saw in it a good occasion to go out and spend a nice spring day all together walking and singing on the streets. They usually started the day marching across Red Square with flags and banners displaying a slogan "Peace, Labour, May". Now political parties launch their separate actions. The most noticeable is that of Communists who traditionally march from the Lenin's monument on Kaluzhskaya Square to the Karl Marx place in front of the Bolshoi. Last year Russian authourities staged a parade on Red Square for the first time since the USSR's collapse; its obvious purpose was to encourage people to support a recent unification with Crimea.

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Five Rings of Moscow bicycle race

1 May - 5 May 2020

The race will bring together cyclists from Russia, the Netherlands, Belarus, Poland, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan. The programme consists of a prologue stage and group stages. Over a period of five days, the cyclists will cover 600 kilometres of city roads, competing for the prize fund and rating points of the International Cycling Union (UCI). Those who will clock the lowest aggregate time will take the prizes.

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Victory Day

9 May 2020

On May 9th we celebrate Victory Day to commemorate the defeat of Nazi Germany in the WWII. Moscow celebrations schedule is usually busy: memorial events in Poklonnaya Hill and Alexander Garden, retro dance party in the Hemitage Garden, meeting of veterans in Teatralnaya Square, military orchestras in city parks and so on. Certainly, military parade on Red Square is a highlight. As admittance to the parade is very limited people crowd the neighboring Tverskaya Street to watch tanks and jets on the way to the square. Don't miss fireworks at 10 pm!

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Chekhov International Theater Festival

14 May - 21 July 2020

The Moscow Theater Festival named after playwright Anton Chekhov was held first in 1992 and since then became a significant event in the life of the world's theater. It brings together artists from all over the world serving a space for exchanging ideas and experiences. This year Moscow will host companies from France, Japan, Argentina, China, Germany, Taiwan, Great Britain, South Africa, Spain, Italy.

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Day of Slavic Writing and Culture

24 May 2020

That day Russia glorifies two saint brothers Cyril and Methodius, Christian missionaries from Greece, who invented Cyrillic alphabet in the 9th century. Moscow will run many local events but the main venue is Red Square. In the morning Patriarch Kirill will conduct a public prayer in front of the St. Basil's; and a concert will follow it about 12.00 (usually free entrance). The concert gives us a rare chance to listen to Russian classics and Soviet time hits performed by popular singers and an amazing united choir of 2000 professionals, adults and children both.

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Moscow Fish Week

24 May - 3 July 2020

Every year Moscow hosts a colorful food festival dubbed 'Fish Week', where visitors can buy fresh fish and seafood on very reasonable prices, as well as try various seafood dishes from street stalls and fairs. The menu features oysters, mussels with various sauces, many different fish soups, codfish and chips, deep-fried fish, paella, and dozens of other appetizing seafood dishes! Over a hundred types of fish and seafood! There are also theater performances and culinary shows to enjoy. You may try to cook dishes from travel book recipes and create maritime souvenirs with your kids.

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Children's Day

1 June 2020

International Day for Protection of Children is celebrated all around the world, and our city is not exception to the rule. Plenty of amusements will be arranged for kids and parents, and best places to visit will be parks and public gardens. The Hermitage Garden traditionally hosts a family fest with many artists to participate; Sokolniki Park may invite guests for an ice-cream party; Muzeon park treats children with quests and quizs. Izmaylovo Kremlin, Kolomenskoye estate are also good places to be visited that day. Many museums offer special programs for kids and open for free that day.

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Russia's Independence Day

12 June 2020

Russia declared its sovereignty on 12 June 1990 as a way of distancing itself from the crumbling Soviet Union. The following year Boris Yeltsin came to power and declared 12 June Russian Independence Day and a national holiday. But it was not until over a decade later in 2003 under the presidency of Vladimir Putin that the day became an event. Now each year on 12 June there is a parade and then a great concert at Red Square arranged by the government, while the opposition runs anti-governmental actions in the Sakharov avenue, Bolotnaya Square, Triumphal Square and other places. Police presence is overwhelming.

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Times and Epochs Festival

12 June - 21 June 2020

Hundreds and even thousands of reenactors from different countries will recreate various epochs from Antiquity to the 20th century for festival guests on the streets and boulevards of Moscow, as well as in parks. You'll be able to check out old costumes, weapons, and household items at the venues, where you can also see the reconstruction of balls and battles, attend thrilling jousting tournaments and, of course, try a variety of historical dishes! This is a unique opportunity to see gladiators, medieval knights, court ladies, cowboys and Indians, Russian boyars, sailors, pioneers, and other residents of different parts of the world in different eras - right on the streets of Moscow!

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High School Prom Day

(to be confirmed): between 19 June and 24 June 2020

On May 24 or 25 Russian school graduates bid their teachers farewell at the Last Bell ceremony marking the final day of classes. After the ceremony they flood favourite stomping grounds like Gorky Park and Sparrow Hills, and you may see thousands of them bearing red-colored sashes. But magnificent graduation parties come at the end of June, after all the exams are over. Prom day is celebrated citywide, and Red Square, of course, is the main venue. Parties are arranged at night clubs, city palaces, restaurants and on river cruise boats. Many hire limos to make a funny ride around the town.

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International Fireworks Festival

(to be confirmed later): August 2020

The International Fireworks Festival ROSTEC is the largest international festival of pyrotechnical art that will take place in August 2020 in Brateevsky park, Moscow. The leading pyro teams from all over the world gather together to surprise our spectators and to compete against each other. Last year the event hosted 8 world’s best pyroteams from Portugal, Canada, Italy, Argentina, Pakistan, France, Spain and Russia. Hope to meet more this year! It's a great chance to witness unforgettable light and laser show between the pyromusic performances.

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Moscow Jam Fest

(to be confirmed later): August 2020

The Jam Fest marks the start of a harvest time in middle Russia. Hundreds of chalet-tents will be set in the city to treat residents and guests with all sorts of traditional and exotic jams, for example, made of zucchini or cactus. There are also workshops on making jams and desserts and many other activities including even sand sculpture and dance lessons. The festival will cover the entire city center taking place on the Arbat, Revolution Square, the Krymskaya Embankment, Tverskaya and Manezhnaya Square. The fest traditionally culminates in a huge open-air concert; last year among the invited stars were Akon and Craig David.

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Moscow Gastronomic Fest

(to be confirmed): August - September 2020

Moscow seems to be a kind of gourmet city. There are dozens of food fests to be held annually and time to time: Moscow Gourmet, Taste of Health, Slow Food, Street Food and many others. End of summer usually brings us an opportunity to get more acquainted with food traditions of different regions of Russia. You are able to buy or just try any of delicacies produced throughout the country and some foreign food as well. Chief's master classes, tastings and samplings are all to please spoilt Muscovites and our dear guests.

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Moscow City Days

(to be confirmed later): 5 September 2020

On the first weekend in September we celebrate the birth of the Russian capital. In 2016 Moscow will mark its 869 anniversary by many worth seeing events including open air concerts, sports contests and laser shows; and there will be plenty of food and drink stalls lining the streets. The city parks are also popular places to celebrate the occasion with many families choosing to enjoy a picnic. I suggest to use the subway to move around as many streets will be closed for traffic these days. Don't miss the time to book for a grand military bands festival Spasskaya Tower on Red Square! Best places to watch fireworks are Pathriarshy Bridge, Krymsky Bridge, Sparrow Hills.

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Spasskaya Tower Tattoo

28 August - 6 September 2020

The Spasskaya Tower Tattoo is an annual music fiesta, staged right in Red Square, and a great "battlefield" of the bands from all over the world! It is indeed a stunning combination of military band parades and dance shows, laser and pyrotechnic effects. Military, classical, folk and popular music is mixed up as musicians are absolutely free in choosing the repertoire. The festival is usually held within the framework of Moscow City Days. Each show is usually ended up with a firework just above the St. Basil's domes. It is an open air venue so get warmed up if weather forecast is not encouraging.

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Circle of Light Festival

(to be confirmed): 20 September - 24 September 2020

The Moscow International Festival "Circle of light" celebrates the growing possibilies of modern lighting technologies. For our guests it's a chance to gain a sight of numerous light installations, breathtaking laser shows and videomappings. Many Moscow landmarks will participate in the action. Traditional venues are the Bolshoi, Manezhnaya Square, the Kuznetskiy Most street, the VDNKh park and Ostankino Pond, Tsarytsyno Palace. The Digital October Center usually hosts professional educational program including master-classes, show-cases and workshops. Check out the events calendar.

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Kremlin Cup

17 October - 25 October 2020

Russia's answer to Wimbledon captures the city's attention for nine days in October. Was the first International Professional Tennis Tournament in Russia founded in 1990. In its 25 year history, the tournament has established itself as an integral part of the ATP World Tour and treated passionate Russian fans to some of the best tennis the world has to offer. Muscovites have witnessed great players claim its title, including Yevgeny Kafelnikov, Goran Ivanisevic, Nikolay Davydenko, Mikhail Youzhny and Richard Gasquet. The competition will take place at the Olympic Stadium.

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Day of National Unity

4 November 2020

The day commemorates the expulsion of Polish-Lithuanian invaders from Moscow in November 1612. Actually Russian authorities just recently proclaimed it a national holiday so that to replace the Communist Revolution celebration with it. Alternative name for a newly established holiday was the Day of Accord and Reconciliation. In fact, many Russians don't celebrate it at all while some opposition supporters use the opportunity to stage street rallies including those known as "Russian Marches" by Russian nationalists.

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