12 June 2026

Kupalle 2026 in Alexandria: cheese festival, new venues, and unique souvenirs

The national “Kupalle 2026” festival will take place on July 11–12 in the agrotown of Alexandria. This year, “Kupalle” will be transformed into a true kaleidoscope of new features. Visitors can expect an expanded programme with unique venues.

For the first time, Kupalle will feature two special venues:

• Year of the Belarusian Woman — an exhibition dedicated to outstanding Belarusian women and their contribution to Belarusian science, culture, and industry
• National Tourism — travellers will be introduced to promising routes across the country, eco-trails, and authentic rural estates for recreation

The most delicious surprise of the festival will be the first cheese festival at Kupalle. Farms fr om across Belarus will bring dozens of varieties of cheese, from classic types to signature cheeses with herbs and local spices.

The popular locations will remain. The folk arts and crafts exhibition-fair has been given the poetic name “Under the Protection of the Kupalle Bereginya.” Craftspeople will demonstrate wood carving, straw weaving, vytynanka paper cutting, and pottery.

Every guest will be able to buy unique souvenirs and take part in master classes.

The organisers have prepared a rich programme tailored to the interests of different categories of visitors: families with children will have a separate children’s area with Kupalle games; young people will take part in an open-air dance battle; and tourists will be offered excursions to historical sites in the Shklow region. Everyone will find their own source of joy: jumping over a bonfire, joining a round dance by the water, or tasting Kupalle kulesh.

Full programme of the “Alexandria Gathers Friends 2026” festival.

July 11 (Saturday)

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m. Themed festival venues open:

• “#FirstMerch”
• “Made in Belarus”
• National tourism presentation venue “Under the Protection of the Kupalle Bereginya” — themed venues of the regions of the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation, with displays presenting cultural heritage, the work of decorative and applied arts masters, and distinctive folk culture with regional characteristics
• Presentation exhibition of projects by the 2025 winners of the President of the Republic of Belarus Award “For Spiritual Revival,” as well as recipients of grants from the President of the Republic of Belarus in the field of culture
• Exhibition project “Anthology of Female Beauty: From Tradition to Modernity” — a presentation of ancient women’s jewellery (pendants, temple rings, fibulae, and others), traditional costumes, and rushnyks from all districts of the Mogilev region, reconstructions of 18th–19th-century costumes, as well as an exhibition and sale of the finest clothing, textiles, and accessories created by domestic manufacturers of the Bellegprom concern
• Venue of the Belarusian Women’s Union public association
• Press venue for organising short interviews, including a presentation of the “Women’s Radio” station
• Trade rows: “Alexandria Hospitality,” “Mogilev Region,” “Fair Lane,” “Trading Community”
• Cheese festival in Alexandria, with cheese tastings and sales from producers representing all regions and the city of Minsk
• Press centres: “Kupalle 2026” (with young bloggers participating), “Beltelecom — More Than Just Communication”
• Youth venue
• Venue of the Mogilev Regional Committee of the Belarusian Republican Youth Union public association
• Sports and entertainment venue
• Venue of the Mogilev Regional Department of the Security Service Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus
• Venue presenting products and services of forestry enterprises in the Mogilev region

1:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. “Open-Air Cinema” venue

2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. “The Puppet Theatre Invites” venue — performances by the State Cultural Institution “Honoured Collective of the Republic of Belarus ‘Mogilev Regional Puppet Theatre’”

1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. “Circus Celebration” — a circus tent in operation, variety and circus performances, shows in various circus genres, a photo zone, and a fair selling souvenirs and confectionery for children

11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. Museum open, including visits to the classroom wh ere President of the Republic of Belarus A.G. Lukashenko studied (Alexandria Secondary School of Shklow District). The local history museum will also be open.

Stage runway of the “Under the Protection of the Kupalle Bereginya” exhibition-fair

12:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Concert programmes featuring creative groups from the regions of the Republic of Belarus and the city of Minsk

3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Awards ceremony for the winners of the national family agricultural project “Lord of the Village”

Small concert venue

12:00 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. “Youth. Traditions. Future” concert featuring winners of national youth creative projects in 2025

1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. “Celebrate, Folk Soul!” concert accompanied by the Honoured Collective of the Republic of Belarus — the Folk Instruments Orchestra named after L.L. Ivanov, People’s Artist of Belarus (Mogilev Regional Philharmonic). Soloist: Elena Kurskaya (St Petersburg, Russian Federation)

1:40 p.m. – 2:20 p.m. Concert programme by the V.P. Dubrovsky Smolensk Russian Folk Orchestra (Smolensk Regional Philharmonic, Russian Federation)

3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Grand opening ceremony of the national “Kupalle” festival (“Alexandria Gathers Friends”)

3:30 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. Festive concert programme by creative groups of the Minsk Tractor Works Palace of Culture

3:45 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Fashion show of the Bellegprom concern’s women’s clothing collection

4:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Demonstration flights by a group of DOSAAF aircraft, with a parachutist landing carrying the State Flag of the Republic of Belarus

5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. “Union Stars Visit Alexandria” concert featuring Russian ensembles and performers: Tatyana Kurtukova, Ibragim Karasov, and the winner of Season 5 of the “Factor.by” television project. Hosted by Ivan Dyatlov

6:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. “Kupalle — Enchanted Love” concert by the Honoured Collective of the Republic of Belarus — the “Medunitsa” Song and Dance Ensemble (Mogilev Regional Philharmonic)

7:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. “Honour and Quality” music project performed by the “Vesyaloukha” vocal ensemble (Mogilev Regional Philharmonic)

7:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Kupalle karaoke mix show “Old Songs About the Main Thing” featuring artists from the Mogilev region

7:20 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Kupalle karaoke mix show “Old Songs About the Main Thing” (second listing retained from the original text)

11:45 p.m. – 3:00 a.m. “Kupalle Yarilo Dance” youth disco featuring the “Dushevnoe Radio” radio station, MC Andrei Yurchenco (Andrei Yurchenkov), and artists from the Mogilev region

Main concert venue

9:30 p.m. – 11:20 p.m. Main concert

11:20 p.m. – 11:30 p.m. Festive fireworks display and lighting of the Kupalle bonfire