Cover Image Credit: Wikimedia.com
Ukraine is not just a major sightseeing destination, it is also a land of some of the most colorful and amazing festivals. Thus, when you are planning a visit to Ukraine, you must know about the major festivals in Ukraine so that you can accommodate it in your itinerary. The charm and beauty of Ukrainian festivals can easily compete with major festivals around the world.
Get ready, hold your excitement till your flight lands at Kiev as you get to be a part of celebrations. So, let’s know more about the major festivals in Ukraine.
10 Festivals In Ukraine
Without talking much about the beauty and charm of this European nation, let us dive into a major cultural aspect i.e. the best and major festivals in Ukraine.
1. Leopolis Jazz Fest
2. Centaurs Horse Stunt Festival
3. Food And Wine Festival Kyiv
4. Ostrov Festival
5. Gogol Festival
6. White Nights Festival
7. The April Palm Week
8. Ivan Kupala
9. Odessa International Film Festival
10. Lviv Coffee Festival
1. Leopolis Jazz Fest
The Leopolis Jazz fest is considered as one of the finest jazz events happening in all of Europe. The festival greets jazz artists from all over the world. More than 40,000 spectators come to participate and have a look at this festival. Different scheduled concerts are held, and you can also participate in various jam sessions and workshops. Thus, it is a festival to interact with different artists around the world. If you are a music enthusiast, you must attend the Leopolis Jazz Fest.
Where: Lviv
When: June 24 to June 28, 2023
Must Read: Ukraine Nightlife: 10 Thrilling Ways To Experience The Best Night Ever
2. Centaurs Horse Stunt Festival
The image is for representation purposes only.
If you are an adventure enthusiast, you must attend the Centaurs festival in Ukraine. It is a festival in which different horse riders participate. The festivity consists of two parts, the first part is related to the competition among the stunt riders, and the second part relates to the demonstration of the riders in front of your eyes. The performance by skilled horse riders will leave you speechless and awestruck.
Where: Kopachi Village
When: April
Suggested Read: 12 Best Things To Do In Ukraine To Ensure An Enticing Vacay
3. Food And Wine Festival Kyiv
For all those food lovers out there, the food and wine festival of Kyiv is a must-visit. The festival is one of the most traditional festivals in Ukraine. Every year the festival relates to different food themes. Taste the best wines in the world and be a part of different activities including oyster battle, exhibition, and wine tasting. Thus, for ultimate fun and enjoyment, you must attend the festival if you are in Ukraine in the month of April.
Where: Kyiv
When: April
Suggested Read: Top 12 Places To Visit In Ukraine For A Wonderful Trip
4. Ostrov Festival
Ostrov is an electronic music festival in Ukraine where multiple entertainment zones are installed as per the tradition. The festival is an open-air non-stop striking party that lasts for 72 hours. The festival is held at the bank of the river Dnieper on Island of Trukhaniv. As per the culture of this festival, the visitors marvel at the spectacular panorama by drinking tasty drinks and dancing on the sand.
Where: Kiev
When: May 3rd-7th, 2023
Suggested Read: 10 Famous Winter Festivals In Europe That Are Perfect Spots Of Happiness
5. Gogol Festival
The basic characteristic of the Gogol festival is that it unites diverse types of Ukrainian art. Attend this festival to witness the amazing art forms, plays, screening of movies, and other performances. Thus, if you are an art lover, you must attend the Gogol Festival in Ukraine, once in your lifetime. The beauty of the festival is that it consists of an educational program under which people can also learn about the basics of different art forms.
Where: Kiev
When: September
Suggested Read: This Winter, Escape To The Best Honeymoon Destinations In Europe!
6. White Nights Festival
If you love music, food, and unlimited dance, you must attend the white night festival in Ukraine. The festival combines dance floors with different music genres. Visitors come for different art installations, mesmerizing music, and unlimited dance. The white night is a complete night time festival that starts late in the evening. The festival begins in the month of June and ends up at the end of autumn.
Where: Kyiv, Ukraine
When: June
Suggested Read: 22 Chilling Winter Destinations In Europe That’ll Melt Your Heart
7. The April Palm Week
The April Palm Week is a festival that relates to the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. As per the tradition of this festival, many Ukrainian people beat each other with willow branches to cure diseases and expel evil spirits. The festival ends on Palm Sunday, and it is one of the major festivals that is organized in the month of April. The festival is held all around Ukraine.
Where: Entire Ukraine
When: April
Suggested Read: 17 Spots For Snorkeling In Europe Every Underwater Enthusiast Must Visit
8. Ivan Kupala
The Ivan Kupala festival is organized to celebrate the summer solstice. As per the ancient beliefs, someone who finds Fern flower at this time will get a lot of prosperity, luck and power. In fact, there is also a tradition of testing a person’s bravery and faith, in which couples in love test their relationship by jumping over a flame. The true origins of this festival are influenced by the Slavic religious beliefs.
Where: Entire Ukraine
When: July
Suggested Read: 18 Must-Attend Spanish Festivals That Reflect Europe’s Rich Culture
9. Odessa International Film Festival
The first version of the festival was celebrated in the year 2010, and since then, it has been celebrated as one of the major film festivals in Eastern Europe. The program of this festival consists of film screening, summer film school, as well as discussions and workshops. Thus, if you are a fan of movies and love movie screenings, then this is the place to be.
Where: Odessa
When: July
Suggested Read: 35 Best Places To Spend Christmas In Europe
10. Lviv Coffee Festival
Most people know that Lviv is the city with perfect coffee. So, if you are a coffee lover, you must visit the Lviv Coffee Festival to gather at one of the biggest coffee gatherings in the world. You will enjoy delicious coffee and other desserts in addition learning about the different methods of coffee preparation.
Where: Lviv
When: September
Further Read: Europe In October: A Guide To A Dreamy Fusion Of Budapest, Vienna, And Prague
So, if you like exploring festivals, you must not miss a chance to visit the amazing festivals of Ukraine. To do that, you can plan a customized tour to Ukraine based on your time of travel. Rest assured, you can have lots of guaranteed fun, laughter and enjoyment. At the end of the day, the spirit of festivals is to spread lots of joy and spread it will when you visit this amazing country.
Disclaimer: TravelTriangle claims no credit for images featured on our blog site unless otherwise noted. All visual content is copyrighted to its respectful owners. We try to link back to original sources whenever possible. If you own the rights to any of the images, and do not wish them to appear on TravelTriangle, please contact us and they will be promptly removed. We believe in providing proper attribution to the original author, artist or photographer.
Please Note: Any information published by TravelTriangle in any form of content is not intended to be a substitute for any kind of medical advice, and one must not take any action before consulting a professional medical expert of their own choice.
Frequently Asked Questions About Festivals In Ukraine
How many major holidays are there in Ukraine?
There are approximately 15 main holidays in Ukraine including New Year’s Day, Orthodx Christmas, Victory Day, Day of the Defender and Christmas.
What food is Ukraine famous for?
You can taste a variety of dishes while on a trip to Ukraine including Paska, Borscht, Varenyky, Holubtsi, Holodets, and so much more.
What is the main religion in Ukraine?
Ukraine’s main religion is Orthodox Christianity observed by 75 percent of the population. Other than that, there is approximately 23 percent Catholicism. Some other religions that people follow include Islam, Judaism, Adventism and Buddhism.
How do people in Ukraine greet each other?
A usual greeting would include a warm yet firm handshake, maintaining direct eye contact. In the case of female friends meeting, they kiss on the cheek three times, starting with the left and then alternating, while male friends may pat each other on the back and hug.
People Also Read:
Festivals In Bhutan Festivals In Malaysia Festivals In England
A graduate of Political Science, Gyana likes to explore by interacting with people and learning about their culture and traditions. He likes to eat, go places and talk about movies. A big fan of people and their pioneering spirit and an avid movie watcher, he is fascinated with world of imagination. He constantly seeks to grow and yearns to improvise with innovation that eventually provides solutions to problems.
