Victory Day, Irkutsk: Parade, Immortal Regiment and Eternal Flame

Victory Day, Irkutsk, is held every year on 9 May, the day Russia marks the end of the Great Patriotic War, and it is a public holiday. The main events take place in the historic center, around Speransky Square, Kirov Square and the Eternal Flame memorial.

The day usually begins with a wreath-laying ceremony, followed by a parade of the local garrison and the Immortal Regiment march, in which residents carry portraits of relatives who fought in the war. Concerts and programs fill the squares in the afternoon. The details change every year, so check the official source for the current edition.

Quick Facts

Russian name	День Победы в Иркутске
Type	Holiday / observance
When	Every year on 9 May
Next occurrence	May 9 (same date every year)
Typical duration	One day, with ceremonies, a parade, a march and concerts from the morning until the evening
Public holiday	Yes, a non-working day in Russia
Address	площадь графа Сперанского, Иркутск
District	Irkutsk (historic center, Speransky Square and Kirov Square)
Admission	Free for spectators. The parade, the Immortal Regiment march and the concerts are held in the open air and are open to everyone, according to the city administration's announcements of past years.
Best time to visit	The parade and the Immortal Regiment march take place in the late morning, from about 11:00, with the ceremony at the Eternal Flame earlier. The afternoon has concerts and programs in many places. Early May weather is usually mild but can still be cool, especially in the morning.
Last updated	October 13, 2026

Dates, programs and prices change from year to year. Always check the official website for the current edition.

Why Visit Victory Day, Irkutsk?

Victory Day is the most solemn and the most widely observed holiday of the Russian year. In Irkutsk it gives visitors a close look at how the city remembers the war, with a ceremony at the Eternal Flame, the parade in front of the regional government building and a long march of residents with portraits.

It is also practical for visitors. The events are free, outdoors and held in the old center, close to the Angara embankment, the Moscow Gate and the oldest churches. Spring weather in early May is usually milder, but crowds are large, and the day calls for respectful behavior, since it is a day of remembrance for many families.

How Victory Day, Irkutsk Is Celebrated

The day typically begins in the morning with a ceremony at the Eternal Flame memorial, where people lay flowers, according to a city program. At about 11:00 the parade of units of the Ministry of Defense and security forces of the Irkutsk garrison takes place on Speransky Square in front of the regional government building, with a garrison orchestra and the Victory Banner, according to local news. Military vehicles are not shown in every year.

The Immortal Regiment march forms before midday and sets off from the monument to Yakov Pokhabov on the Lower Embankment, goes along Sukhe-Bator Street and reaches Speransky Square, according to city programs. Residents join the column at several points, and participants pass security checks. In the afternoon, concerts, children’s programs, an open microphone for war songs and poems, film shows and field kitchens operate at several venues, including Kirov Square, the square by the monument to Alexander III on Gagarin Boulevard and Yunost Island.

Highlights of Victory Day, Irkutsk

The Eternal Flame ceremony

The day begins at the Eternal Flame memorial, where residents lay flowers, according to a city program. The flame has burned for more than half a century in memory of the Siberians who died in the war, and memorial slabs around it carry the names of the lands where they fought, according to a local news report. It is a quiet start to the day.

Tip: Go early, before the parade, if you want to lay flowers in a calm atmosphere.

The parade on Speransky Square

The parade is held on Speransky Square in front of the regional government building, according to city programs, with units of the Irkutsk garrison and security forces marching to an orchestra, and the Victory Banner carried onto the square, according to a local news report. The start is usually about 11:00. Military vehicles are shown in some years but not in others.

Tip: Arrive early, since thousands of residents gather and the square fills quickly.

The Immortal Regiment march

Residents march with portraits of relatives who fought in the war from the monument to Yakov Pokhabov on the Lower Embankment along Sukhe-Bator Street to Speransky Square, according to city programs. The column forms before the start, with entry points and security checks at the Moscow Gate and other places. It is the most moving part of the day.

Tip: Follow the route from the side if you do not carry a portrait, and keep the column's path clear.

Concerts on the squares

Concerts, children's programs and open-microphone events with war songs and poems are held in the afternoon on several squares, including Kirov Square, the square by the monument to Alexander III on Gagarin Boulevard and Yunost Island, according to city programs. A concert by the Alexander III monument has lasted several hours in past years.

Tip: Check the schedule of the current year and choose a venue close to where you stay.

Field kitchens and children's festivals

Past programs mention a field kitchen with soldiers' porridge at a concert in a district square and a children's festival with a gala concert, according to city programs. These events are in several districts of the city, not only in the center, and are usually free. They give a warmer, family side of the holiday.

Tip: Try the porridge at a district event if you want a local experience.

The monuments of the center

The holiday links several landmarks: the Lower Embankment with the monument to the founders of Irkutsk, the Eternal Flame memorial and Speransky Square. They are covered in separate guides. Walking between them gives a good picture of the city's memory of the war.

Tip: Plan a walk from the embankment to the square after the march.

What It Means for Your Visit

9 May is a non-working day in Russia, so offices, banks and many shops are closed or have short hours, while many cafes, restaurants and museums are open but may have changed hours, so check before you go. The center is crowded in the morning, and streets along the parade and march routes, such as Sukhe-Bator Street, the Lower Embankment and the streets around Speransky Square, are closed to traffic, according to the structure of past programs. Public transport is rerouted, and parking is hard.

Participants of the march pass security checks. The program, the route and the venues change each year, so check the official source for the current edition. Book hotels early, since many Russians travel to the city for the holiday.

Atmosphere

Victory Day in Irkutsk is solemn, crowded and emotional. Thousands of people fill Speransky Square and the streets of the center, many with red carnations, ribbons of St. George and framed portraits of relatives. You hear the military orchestra, commands from the parade and then, as the march passes, quiet footsteps and the occasional song.

The morning is the most formal part of the day, with the ceremony and the parade, and the afternoon is warmer and more relaxed, with concerts, field kitchens and families walking in the spring sun. Many older residents wear medals, and visitors are expected to behave respectfully.

History of Victory Day, Irkutsk

Victory Day marks the surrender of Nazi Germany in May 1945 and the end of the Great Patriotic War, as the Second World War is called in Russia. It is celebrated on 9 May and is one of the most important public holidays in the country.

Irkutsk was far from the front but worked for it. A holiday website says that during the war the city worked for the front and that in 2020 it received the title City of Labor Valor for mass labor heroism, which is often recalled on this day.

The Eternal Flame in Irkutsk has burned for more than half a century in memory of the Siberians who died in the war, according to a local news report. It stands in the center near memorial slabs with the names of the lands where Siberians fought, according to the same report.

The Immortal Regiment, in which residents carry portraits of relatives who fought, has been a regular part of the day in Irkutsk, according to local news, and the route and the number of participants vary from year to year. In recent years the parade has been held with and without military vehicles, according to local news.

The details above come from city programs and local news and should be checked against the official city portal.

Tickets and Booking for Victory Day, Irkutsk

Entry. The parade, the Immortal Regiment march and the concerts are held in the open air and are free for spectators, so no ticket is needed, according to the city administration’s announcements of past years.

Organizer. The city administration and the regional authorities organize the main events, and the program is published on the city’s official portal and in local media a few days before 9 May.

Planning. The program, the venues, the route of the march and the street closures change by year, so check the current schedule on the official city portal before you go. Spectators may pass security checks at the entrances to the main venues, and the details are announced with the program.

How to Get to Victory Day, Irkutsk

The main events take place in the historic center of Irkutsk, on Speransky Square in front of the regional government building, along Sukhe-Bator Street, on the Lower Embankment near the monument to Yakov Pokhabov and at the Eternal Flame. Irkutsk has no Metro, so most visitors arrive on foot, by tram, bus or taxi.

• From the center: everything is within walking distance of Kirov Square and Karl Marx Street; check a map for the venues in the current program.
• By tram, bus or taxi: routes are changed on the day because of street closures, so check the current information with the operators and expect a walk.
• From the station or the airport: a taxi to the center is delayed by closed streets, so ask the driver to drop you at the edge of the closed zone.

Check a map on your phone before you go. See the Irkutsk guide for how to reach the city.

Accessibility

Accessibility was not verified for the events. The squares and streets are paved and mostly flat, but crowds make movement difficult, and security checks and closed streets add to the walking distance. Visitors with reduced mobility should check the current program and arrive early.

Food Nearby

Field kitchens and stalls operate at some events, and the center has many cafes and restaurants, including some covered in separate guides, such as Pepel on Sukhe-Bator Street and Strizhi on Karl Marx Street. Many are busy on the holiday, so book a table in advance.

What to Bring

Bring layers for variable spring weather, comfortable shoes for a long day on foot, water and a camera. Red carnations are customary for the Eternal Flame. Expect security checks at the entrances to the main venues.

Best Views and Photo Spots of Victory Day, Irkutsk

Speransky Square at the parade

The parade columns with the regional government building behind them and the crowd around the square give the main picture of the day.

Best time: Late morning, at the start of the parade.

The Immortal Regiment on Sukhe-Bator Street

The column of residents with portraits moves along the old street with the churches in the background, a moving and quiet scene.

Best time: Before midday, when the column starts.

The Eternal Flame memorial

People laying red carnations at the flame, with the memorial slabs around it, make a solemn, quiet picture.

Best time: Early morning, before the parade.

The Lower Embankment at the start of the march

The column forming by the monument to Yakov Pokhabov with the Angara behind gives a wide view of the gathering crowd.

Best time: Before the march begins.

Photography Rules

Photography is allowed at open-air events, as in most public spaces, but be respectful at the ceremony, do not photograph participants of the march at close range without asking, and keep out of the column's path. Drones are usually restricted at mass events, so check the regulations with the official source.

Family Suitability

Victory Day suits families, with free open-air events, children's programs and field kitchens, but the morning events are solemn and crowded. Strollers are hard to use in the column and in crowds. Children should be kept close, and families should explain the meaning of the day and behave respectfully.

Russia Vibes Tips

• Arrive at the center early, since thousands of people gather at Speransky Square and streets close to traffic.
• Walk, since taxis and public transport are delayed or rerouted around the center on 9 May.
• Bring a red carnation if you want to lay flowers at the Eternal Flame, and go before the parade.
• Check the afternoon program in districts and on Yunost Island if the center is too crowded.
• Dress in layers, since early May mornings can be cool even when afternoons are mild.
• Book a table for lunch or dinner in advance, since restaurants in the center are busy on the holiday.

Explore Nearby Victory Day, Irkutsk

Sights near Victory Day, Irkutsk

• 
  AI

  Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
  Kirov Square, Irkutsk · typical visit: 30 to 60 minutes
• 
  AI

  Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
  Monument to the Founders of Irkutsk · typical visit: 10 to 20 minutes
• 
  AI

  Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
  Lower Angara Embankment, Irkutsk · typical visit: 1 to 2 hours
• 
  AI

  Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
  Russia Triumphal Gates, Irkutsk · typical visit: 15 to 30 minutes
• 
  AI

  Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
  Alexander III Monument, Irkutsk · typical visit: 15 to 30 minutes
• 
  AI

  Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
  Epiphany Cathedral, Irkutsk · typical visit: 30 to 60 minutes

Browse more: More in Irkutsk (historic center, Speransky Square and Kirov Square) · All Events & Holidays · All Events & Holidays in Irkutsk · All Irkutsk · All Soviet Russia

?

FAQ: Victory Day, Irkutsk

When is Victory Day?

Every year on 9 May, and it is a public holiday in Russia.

Where is the parade in Irkutsk?

On Speransky Square in front of the regional government building, usually starting at about 11:00, according to city programs.

What is the Immortal Regiment?

A march in which residents carry portraits of relatives who fought in the war. In Irkutsk it goes from the monument to Yakov Pokhabov along Sukhe-Bator Street to Speransky Square.

Is it free?

Yes, the parade, the march and the concerts are held in the open air and are free for spectators.

Are there fireworks?

Fireworks are mentioned in some media headlines of past years, but they are not confirmed for every year, so check the current program.

Will shops and museums be open?

It is a non-working day, so offices and banks are closed, and shops, cafes and museums may have changed hours, so check before you go.

Is there a military vehicle display?

Not in every year. In some years the parade has been held without military vehicles, according to local news.

What should visitors wear?

Dress in layers for variable spring weather, and wear respectful clothing, since it is a day of remembrance.