The Stars of the White Nights Festival, Saint Petersburg, is the Mariinsky Theatre’s summer season of opera, ballet and symphonic music, timed to the weeks when the sky barely darkens. Performances run most evenings, often late, in the theatre on Theatre Square and in its newer halls nearby.
The festival draws on the theatre’s own orchestra, chorus, ballet and opera companies, joined by guest soloists. It is not a street party like the Scarlet Sails; it is a ticketed series in concert halls. This page explains how it is organised, where the venues are and how to plan an evening in Kolomna. Check the official site for each year’s programme.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | Фестиваль «Звёзды белых ночей» |
|---|---|
| Type | Recurring event |
| When | Every year from late spring into midsummer, with the busiest weeks around the white nights in June and early July. The programme dates are set each year by the organizers. |
| Typical duration | Several weeks of performances, with one or more concerts, operas or ballets on most evenings |
| Address | Театральная площадь, 1, Санкт-Петербург (Mariinsky Theatre, Theatre Square) OpenStreetMap · Google Maps |
| District | Admiralteysky |
| Metro | Sadovaya (Line 5 (Purple), About 20 minutes on foot to Theatre Square, or a short bus or taxi ride) Sennaya Ploshchad (Line 2 (Blue), Linked to Sadovaya; the same walk west through Kolomna) Spasskaya (Line 4 (Orange), Linked to Sadovaya; the same walk) |
| Admission | Tickets are paid and range from ₽₽ to ₽₽₽₽ depending on the performance, the hall and the seat. A few open-air or special events may be free; check the programme. |
| Best time to visit | Plan for the evening, when performances are held. The strongest atmosphere is in June, when the sky stays pale after the final curtain. Book weekends and ballet nights earliest. |
| Website | mariinsky.ru/en |
| Last updated | October 17, 2026 |
Dates, programs and prices change from year to year. Always check the official website for the current edition.
Why Visit Stars of the White Nights Festival, Saint Petersburg?
- A leading company: the Mariinsky’s opera, ballet and orchestra perform in their home theatres.
- Late evenings: concerts end under a pale sky, so a night out feels different from the rest of the year.
- Several halls: the historic theatre, the concert hall and the newer stage each have their own character.
- Wide range: classical opera, full-length ballets and orchestral programmes in one season.
- Central location: the venues sit in Kolomna, close to canals and the Naval Cathedral.
What to Expect at Stars of the White Nights Festival, Saint Petersburg
The festival is a season of performances rather than a single event. On most evenings of the season, the Mariinsky gives an opera, a ballet or an orchestral concert, with the programme changing from night to night. Starting times are often later than at other times of the year, and several performances can run on the same day in different halls.
Guest soloists, conductors and visiting ensembles join the theatre’s own companies, and some programmes are built around a theme, a composer or an anniversary. The audience is a mix of residents, music lovers who travel for the season and visitors on a short stay. Dress is smart rather than strict. Exact programmes, halls and times change every year.
Highlights of Stars of the White Nights Festival, Saint Petersburg
The historic Mariinsky Theatre
The original theatre on Theatre Square opened in 1860 and was designed by Albert Cavos. Its pale green exterior hides an auditorium in blue and gold, with tiers of boxes around a large central chandelier. Many opera and ballet evenings of the festival are given here.
The theatre has its own ticket system, so see the dedicated ticket guide.
Tip: Check the hall on your ticket; the festival also uses other stages.
Mariinsky Concert Hall
The Concert Hall opened in the mid-2000s on Pisareva Street, a short walk from the theatre. It is built for orchestral and chamber music, with a wooden interior designed for sound. Many symphonic programmes of the festival take place here.
It is a separate building, so allow time to walk between venues if you plan two events.
Tip: Look for the sound design inside, which is part of the draw for orchestral evenings.
Mariinsky-2
The newer Mariinsky-2 stage opened in the 2010s on the other side of the Kryukov Canal, and is a large modern theatre with a glass-and-stone exterior. It hosts opera, ballet and larger productions during the season.
It is a different building from the historic theatre, so check which one your ticket is for.
Tip: Walk between the two theatres along the canal rather than by road.
Opera in the festival season
Operas from the Russian repertoire, by Tchaikovsky, Mussorgsky and others, appear alongside Italian and German works. They are usually sung in the original language, with surtitles shown above the stage in Russian and sometimes English.
Check the programme for the language of the surtitles before you book.
Tip: Pick a Russian opera for the sense of the company's home repertoire.
Ballet evenings
The Mariinsky's ballet company is one of the best known in Russia, and the festival usually includes both full-length classics and mixed programmes. Evenings often start late and finish after midnight, with the sky still light outside.
Stage times and casts change often, so check for the current edition.
Tip: Book early for the ballet nights, which tend to sell out first.
The walk through Kolomna
Before or after the performance, the streets around the theatre are worth a slow walk. The Naval Cathedral and its bell tower, the Kryukov Canal and the Moika lie within a few minutes, and the white-night light gives the canals a soft glow.
See the Kolomna page for the full walking route.
Tip: Leave extra time after the show; the area is calm and well lit.
What It Means for Your Visit
The festival mainly affects the Kolomna area around Theatre Square. Evenings are busier near the theatres, with queues at the entrances and many taxis stopping nearby. Cafes and restaurants in the area stay open later, and tables fill up before performances.
There are no general road closures, but traffic near the theatres can slow down at the start and end of performances. Metro and buses run as usual, though late-night finishes can overlap with the end of the metro day and the drawbridge closures. Check the official site for the current schedule and plan your way home.
Atmosphere
The evening starts with a crowd gathering on Theatre Square, with people in smart clothes and tourists with programmes in hand. Inside, the foyers fill with the sound of an orchestra tuning, and the auditorium glows in blue and gold.
The best part comes afterwards. When the performance ends, it is often close to midnight, yet the sky is still pale and the canals are quiet. Groups walk slowly through Kolomna toward the metro or a late dinner, still humming the final act.
History of Stars of the White Nights Festival, Saint Petersburg
The Mariinsky Theatre opened in 1860, named after Empress Maria Alexandrovna, and became the home of Russian opera and ballet. Albert Cavos designed the building, which still stands on Theatre Square. During the Soviet period it was renamed the Kirov Theatre, and it returned to its original name in the early 1990s.
The Stars of the White Nights Festival began in the early 1990s as a way to present the theatre’s companies to a wide audience during the white nights. It grew into a season lasting several weeks, with performances almost every evening.
Over time, the Mariinsky added new stages. The Concert Hall opened in the mid-2000s, and Mariinsky-2 opened in the 2010s. These halls allowed the festival to expand its range of programmes and host larger productions.
Today the festival is one of the main cultural events of the Saint Petersburg summer, held in several halls and attended by both locals and visitors. Programmes change each year, so check the official site for the current edition.
Tickets and Booking for Stars of the White Nights Festival, Saint Petersburg
Tickets for the festival are sold by the Mariinsky Theatre through its official website and box offices. Performances are ticketed, and demand is high for popular operas and ballets, so book as early as the sales window allows. If your date is not yet on sale, check back, as sales open in stages.
- Where to buy: only through the official site or box offices.
- Details change by year: programmes, halls and sales windows are announced for each edition.
- Payment: the sanctions rules of your own country may limit the use of some Russian payment services, so check this yourself.
Rates for Russian citizens and concessions differ from those for foreign visitors; see the official site (mariinsky.ru) for all categories and the Mariinsky ticket guide on this site.
Get Tickets for Stars of the White Nights Festival, Saint Petersburg
How to Get to Stars of the White Nights Festival, Saint Petersburg
The main venues are in Kolomna.
- Sadovaya (Line 5): allow about 20 minutes on foot to Theatre Square, or take a short bus or taxi ride.
- Sennaya Ploshchad (Line 2) and Spasskaya (Line 4): linked to Sadovaya; the same walk west.
- From Saint Isaac’s: about a 10 to 15 minute walk south-west along the canals.
If your performance ends late, plan your way home in advance. See How to Use the Metro, Saint Petersburg and How to Book a Taxi or Ride-Hailing Car, Saint Petersburg.
Food Nearby
Cafes and restaurants cluster around Theatre Square and along the Moika and the Kryukov Canal. Many stay open late during the festival, but tables fill up before performances. For sit-down options see Best Restaurants, Saint Petersburg.
What to Bring
Smart clothes, a light jacket for the walk home and a rain layer. Expect bag checks at the entrance.
Best Views and Photo Spots of Stars of the White Nights Festival, Saint Petersburg
Theatre Square facing the Mariinsky
The pale green facade with audience arriving before a performance.
Best time: Early evening
The bell tower from the Kryukov Canal
The Naval Cathedral bell tower reflected in the water.
Best time: Late evening in the white-night light
Kryukov Canal bridge
Low houses and a canal in soft, pale light.
Best time: After the performance
Photography Rules
Photography and video are generally not allowed during performances. Photographing the exterior and the square is fine. Drones are not allowed in the centre.
Family Suitability
Possible with older children who enjoy music. Performances are long and run late, so they can be tiring for small children. Check the age rules for each performance on the official site.
Russia Vibes Tips
- Check which hall your ticket is for before you set off, since the festival uses several buildings.
- If you can see only one thing, choose a Russian opera or a full ballet to see the home repertoire.
- Eat before the performance or after it; the intervals are short and the buffets crowded.
- Combine the evening with a walk through Kolomna while the light is still pale.
- Plan your return in advance; late finishes overlap with the end of the metro day.
Explore Nearby Stars of the White Nights Festival, Saint Petersburg
Sights near Stars of the White Nights Festival, Saint Petersburg
Mariinsky Theatre, Saint Petersburg · typical visit: An evening: about 3 hours for a performanceMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Saint Nicholas Naval Cathedral, Saint Petersburg · typical visit: 30–45 minutesMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
New Holland Island, Saint Petersburgabout 550 m away (~9 min walk) · typical visit: 1.5–2 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Yusupov Palace, Saint Petersburg – about 350 m away (~6 min walk) · typical visit: 1.5–2 hours for a standard palace route; approximately 2.5–3 hours for a comprehensive visit including the Rasputin exhibition.Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Central Naval Museum, Saint Petersburgabout 450 m away (~7 min walk) · typical visit: 2–3 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Saint Isaac's Cathedral, Saint Petersburg – about 1.1 km away (~18 min walk) · typical visit: 1.5–2 hours for the cathedral interior; allow another 45–60 minutes for the colonnade.Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Metro stations near Stars of the White Nights Festival, Saint Petersburg
Spasskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburgabout 1.2 km away (~19 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Sadovaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburgabout 1.2 km away (~19 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Restaurants and cafes near Stars of the White Nights Festival, Saint Petersburg
Severyanin, Saint Petersburgabout 950 m away (~16 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Gogol, Saint Petersburgabout 1.5 km away (~24 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Train stations and river piers near Stars of the White Nights Festival, Saint Petersburg
Rumyantsev Descent Pier, Saint Petersburgabout 1.4 km away (~22 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Vitebsky Railway Station, Saint Petersburgabout 1.9 km away (~32 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Events and traditions near Stars of the White Nights Festival, Saint Petersburg
- Scarlet Sails Festival, Saint Petersburgabout 1.9 km away (~30 min walk)
Related guides
- Kolomna, Saint Petersburg: Canals, Mariinsky and Naval Cathedral
How to Buy Mariinsky Theatre Tickets, Saint Petersburg: Safe StepsMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Best White Nights Experiences, Saint Petersburg: 10 Night HighlightsMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Saint Petersburg City Day: The Founding Celebration GuideMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
- Sennaya Square Area, Saint Petersburg: Dostoevsky’s Streets
Browse more: More in Admiralteysky · All Entertainment · All Events & Holidays · All Events & Holidays in Saint Petersburg · All Saint Petersburg
FAQ: Stars of the White Nights Festival, Saint Petersburg
Is the festival the same as the White Nights Festival at other venues?
No, this one is run by the Mariinsky Theatre. Other events during the white nights are separate.
Where does the festival take place?
Mainly in the Mariinsky Theatre, the Concert Hall and Mariinsky-2, all in Kolomna.
Is the festival free?
Most performances are ticketed. A few special events may be free.
How far ahead should I book?
As soon as sales open, especially for ballet and weekend dates.
Are operas sung in Russian?
Usually in the original language, with surtitles. Check the programme.
Do I need to dress up?
Smart clothes are common, though there is no strict dress code.
Is it the same as Scarlet Sails?
No, Scarlet Sails is a free public celebration on the Neva. See the Scarlet Sails page.
Can I visit the theatre without a ticket?
Only on special tours or open days; see the Mariinsky ticket guide.
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Last updated: October 17, 2026.
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