Irkutsk has a calendar of festivals and holidays that changes how the city feels, from cold, open-air New Year celebrations to Buryat New Year, a Museum Night in May and a run of music and film festivals in early autumn. This page gathers the events covered on Russia Vibes. Use the list to see what happens when, then open a guide for details.
Irkutsk has a calendar of festivals and holidays that changes how the city feels, from cold, open-air New Year celebrations to Buryat New Year, a Museum Night in May and a run of music and film festivals in early autumn. This page gathers the events covered on Russia Vibes.
The list on this page shows each event. Use the text here to see how the year is organised and what to plan around. Exact dates change from year to year, so check the official program for the current edition before you travel.
Irkutsk (central streets and squares of the historic center)
- Irkutsk City Day – The city's birthday, held every year on the first Saturday of June. Concerts, a fair of crafts, a book fair and a carnival fill…
Irkutsk (city-wide; the main public event is on the square by the Trud sports palace on Lenin Street)
- Sagaalgan Buryat New Year, Irkutsk – The Buryat New Year by the lunar calendar, called the White Month, celebrated in Irkutsk in February or March. A round dance on the…
Irkutsk (city-wide; the main venue is usually a square on Lenin Street in the center)
- Maslenitsa Festival, Irkutsk – The pancake week that sees off winter, celebrated across Irkutsk in late winter with folk games, songs, pancakes and the burning of a straw…
Irkutsk (historic center, Gagarin Boulevard on the Angara embankment)
- Syty Babr Gastronomy Festival, Irkutsk – A two-day open-air gastronomy festival on Gagarin Boulevard by the monument to Alexander III. It offers a large food court of street food and…
Irkutsk (historic center, Kirov Square)
- New Year Celebrations, Irkutsk – The main city tree and an ice town on Kirov Square, a Santa Claus residence, midnight fireworks and Christmas on 7 January. New Year…
Irkutsk (historic center, Sedova Street)
- Stars on Baikal Music Festival, Irkutsk – An annual international festival of classical music in Irkutsk, founded in 2004 on the initiative of the pianist Denis Matsuev. Concerts are held every…
Irkutsk (historic center, Speransky Square and Kirov Square)
- Victory Day, Irkutsk – The anniversary of the 1945 victory, marked every 9 May with a wreath ceremony at the Eternal Flame, a parade on Speransky Square, the…
Irkutsk (historic center, Speransky Square and the Epiphany Cathedral)
- Shine of Russia Festival, Irkutsk – An all-Russian festival of Russian spiritual and cultural traditions, held in the Irkutsk region since 1994. A procession, a liturgy, concerts, exhibitions and film…
Irkutsk (historic center, around the Volkonsky and Trubetskoy house museums)
- Decembrist Evenings Festival, Irkutsk – An annual December history and culture festival of the Irkutsk Decembrist Museum, held since 1985. It brings theatre, salons, films, conferences and meetings to…
Irkutsk (venues across the city, with the gala concert in the Zagursky Musical Theatre on Sedova Street)
- Jazz on Baikal Festival, Irkutsk – An annual international jazz festival in Irkutsk, held since 2006. It combines a free opening concert, club and hall concerts, masterclasses, jam sessions, a…
Irkutsk (venues across the historic center and the city)
- Museum Night, Irkutsk – The annual Russian Night of Museums, held in Irkutsk on a May evening around International Museum Day. Regional museums and galleries open late with…
Irkutsk (venues in the city; the festival office is at Mukhina Street 2a)
- Man and Nature Film Festival, Irkutsk – The Baikal International Film Festival Man and Nature, named after the writer Valentin Rasputin, is one of Russia's oldest environmental film festivals. It is…
Irkutsk (venues vary; recent editions at the Sukachev Estate and on Yunost Island)
- Baikal Day Festival, Irkutsk – A regional celebration of Lake Baikal held in early September, with lectures by scientists, quizzes, master classes, concerts and charity. Entry to the main…
Winter and early spring
Winter in Irkutsk is built around open-air celebrations. New Year Celebrations bring the main tree, an ice town and a Santa Claus residence to Kirov Square, with midnight fireworks and Christmas on 7 January. The Decembrist Evenings Festival is held in December, with events mostly in the evenings around the Volkonsky and Trubetskoy house museums.
Sagaalgan, the Buryat New Year, falls in February or March by the lunar calendar. Maslenitsa follows in late winter, with folk games, pancakes and the burning of a straw effigy. Both use the square in front of the Trud sports palace. Dress warmly for any open-air event.
May and summer
Museum Night is held on a Saturday in May, when regional museums and galleries open late with tours, concerts, quests and workshops. Early evening is calmer, with tours and children's programs.
Victory Day is marked every 9 May, with a wreath ceremony at the Eternal Flame, a parade on Speransky Square, the Immortal Regiment march and concerts. The parade and march take place in the late morning.
The Syty Babr Gastronomy Festival is a two-day open-air event on Gagarin Boulevard, held in summer, in recent years over a weekend in late June. Midday is calmer, and the afternoon and early evening are the busiest.
September and autumn
September is the busiest month for festivals. Baikal Day is held in early September on a Sunday, with lectures, quizzes, master classes and concerts. The Shine of Russia Festival marks its key day on a weekend in the centre, with a procession and concerts. The Man and Nature Film Festival and the Stars on Baikal classical music festival are also traditionally held in September.
Jazz on Baikal has been held in autumn in recent editions, but the season has varied, so check its program. Most open-air events are generally free, while concerts and screenings are often ticketed, so check each event.
Frequently asked questions
When is Sagaalgan celebrated in Irkutsk?
Sagaalgan, the Buryat New Year, falls in February or March, depending on the lunar calendar. The main open-air events are on the square by the Trud sports palace.
Which events are free to attend?
The main open-air programs of Maslenitsa, Sagaalgan, Victory Day, New Year Celebrations, Syty Babr and the key day of Shine of Russia are generally free. Concerts, screenings and some halls may be ticketed, so check each program.
What is happening in Irkutsk in early September?
Baikal Day is held in early September on a Sunday, and September is also the traditional month for the Man and Nature Film Festival and the Stars on Baikal music festival. The Shine of Russia Festival also holds its key day then.
When is Museum Night held?
Museum Night is held on a Saturday in May, around International Museum Day. Regional museums and galleries open late with tours, concerts, quests and workshops.
What happens on Victory Day in Irkutsk?
Victory Day is marked every 9 May with a wreath ceremony at the Eternal Flame, a parade on Speransky Square, the Immortal Regiment march and concerts. The parade and march take place in the late morning.
What should I wear for winter events?
Dress warmly. December in Irkutsk is very cold, with snow, and New Year, Sagaalgan and Maslenitsa events are mostly held in the open air.
Final thoughts
Pick the event that fits your travel dates and read its guide for what to expect. Dates, programmes and locations change from year to year, so check the official source of the event before you book travel or accommodation. Winter events call for warm clothing, and busy festival weekends can fill hotels early.
Ask Masha