Kult Kyieva Festival 2026
Scheduled for 2026, the Kult Kyieva Festival is broadening its scope by bringing together creators from Kharkiv, Lviv, and Zaporizhzhia. The event promises a rich and varied lineup, featuring theater performances, film screenings, lectures, guided tours, workshops, a marketplace, a charity auction, and an open-air concert. Proceeds from a signature cocktail and the auction will support the Azov Brigade.
Larysa Sheloumova, the festival’s director and curator of its educational program, shared her vision:
This year, Kult Kyieva invites artists from Kharkiv, Lviv, and Zaporizhzhia to experience a polyphony of cultural expressions—different rhythms of experience, resistance, and presence—and to collectively capture a moment where art speaks openly and on equal terms. Larysa Sheloumova
The festival’s program highlights several notable theater performances, including:
- 'Sex education. Girls' version' directed by Nina Zakhozhenko from the independent Lviv-based theater Lava.
- 'Empire of Mast Day' directed by Oksana Dmitriieva from the Kharkiv State Academic Puppet Theater named after V. A. Afanasiev.
- 'SERENDIPITY' directed by Mariia Shvarnova from the Maly Theatre.
Additionally, starting June 14, the sculpture 'Dialogue' by Lviv artist Volodymyr Semkiv will be on display on the Maly Theatre terrace. The theater program is curated by Dmytro Veselskyi, director and artistic head of the Maly Theatre.
The film segment is curated by Kateryna Yaniuk, a producer and the operating director of the Kyiv International Short Film Festival (KISFF). Audiences can look forward to a retrospective of Ukrainian short films from 2016 to 2025, featuring works such as 'Nail' by Filip Sotnychenko, 'Shift' by Oleksii Radynskyi, 'Kyiv Cake' by Mykyta Lyskov, and 'Prelude' by Alina Panasenko.
Educational Program and Other Activities
The festival’s educational track includes a series of lectures and discussions. Highlights include a lecture titled 'Group R.E.P. - Game Changer of 2000s Art' by art historian Daryna Yakymova, a conversation about 1990s Ukrainian literature with literary scholar Viacheslav Levytskyi, a lecture on design manifestos by art critic Yevheniia Butsykina, a session with music critic Oleksii Bondarenko on ten albums that transformed Ukrainian music, and a discussion on Ukrainian literary manifestos featuring Vira Aheieva and Rostyslav Semkiv. A curated lecture 'Dialogue' by Liona Radchenko is also planned.
Festival-goers can join guided tours of Kyiv, watch a plastic performance by students of the Maly Theatre School, and participate in workshops on movement, acting, and collage. On June 27 and 28, the Maly Theatre will host a marketplace of local brands, where limited-edition MANIFEST caps will be available. The terrace will feature the 'Books and Bottles' bar, offering a special 'Manifest' cocktail, with proceeds supporting the Azov Brigade.
The festival will conclude with an open-air musical finale featuring performances by the bands Lady Aphina and Blooms Corda. Actor Illia Choporov will lead a charity auction, with funds raised directed to the AZOV.ONE Eastern Barrier campaign.
Kult Kyieva stands as a landmark event in Ukraine’s cultural landscape, fostering connections among artists from various regions and raising awareness of Ukrainian art. Its program—encompassing theater, film, and educational sessions—reflects the diversity of contemporary Ukrainian culture and its resilience under challenging circumstances. The fundraising efforts for the Azov Brigade further underscore the participants’ social commitment and their dedication to supporting the military during this difficult period.
As the Kult Kyieva Festival prepares to showcase a diverse array of artistic expressions, it's worth noting that Kyiv is also hosting a vibrant cultural weekend filled with engaging events. From exhibitions to live performances, this weekend promises to enrich the city's cultural landscape. To explore more about the exciting happenings in Kyiv, including a rock opera and various concerts, visit this detailed guide.