Where Our People Are: Ukrainian Music Festivals in Europe and the US in 2026
Where to catch Ukrainian music festivals abroad.
Today, Ukrainian cultural events are held in Ukraine and cities across Europe as a form of cultural diplomacy and support for Ukrainian artists during the war. According to the European Festivals Association, festivals foster cross-cultural exchange and bring different communities together. Ukrainian events abroad also showcase contemporary culture and help build professional connections among artists.
Which Ukrainian music festivals are happening abroad in 2026, and what's on their programs — read on in this DeTalks article.
UKRFEST
UKRFEST 2026 takes place February 28 in the German city of Vechta. The festival program will include concerts from Ukrainian artists, including Maks Barskih, Tina Karol, IBO Bobul, POZYTYV, and Mariia Domiy. The event will also feature performances by folk ensembles and traditional dance troupes, a Ukrainian food fair, and creative workshops for the whole family.
The first UKRFEST took place in late 2025 and drew Ukrainians from Germany and across Europe. This year, the festival will run in an expanded format with concerts, cultural activities, and family zones. Visitors will be able to take part in workshops and other cultural activities throughout the event.
Ukrainian Contemporary Music Festival
The 2026 Ukrainian Contemporary Music Festival, titled 'Mosaics,' takes place March 19–21 in New York. The festival will collaborate with the Ukrainian Institute in Kyiv and the cultural media archive Ukraïner. The program will consist of three concerts titled 'Places' (March 19), 'Peoples' (March 20), and 'Practices' (March 21).
The festival will feature music by 17 Ukrainian composers, with 14 US premieres planned. The program will cover everything from Crimean Tatar jazz to Ukrainian-Jewish folk traditions, with the opening handled by the International Contemporary Ensemble.
The opening will also include the world premiere of a new arrangement by 2026 composer-in-residence Alla Zagaykevych. The festival closes March 21 in a format called 'UCMF Afterdark.' The event will be a cross-cultural jazz collaboration and community gathering led by Crimean Tatar composer and pianist Usein Bekirov.
EUROPEAN FESTIVAL: UKRAINIAN SPRING
European Festival: Ukrainian Spring 2026 runs April 1–24 in Sweden, with the festival's main events taking place in Stockholm.
The 2026 program will be devoted to the theme 'Contra Spem Spero' ('Without Hope, I Still Hope'), a line from Lesya Ukrainka's poetry. The festival will feature musical premieres, concerts, poetry readings, art projects, and film screenings, with Ukrainian and European artists taking part.
The festival traces its roots to the project 'Rethinking Europe: Ukraine,' launched in 2016 to promote Ukrainian music in Europe. Since 2022, the event has been growing under its current name, keeping its mission of establishing Ukraine as an inseparable part of Europe's cultural space.
Ukrainian Culture Festival
The third Ukrainian Culture Festival takes place August 16, 2026, from 11:00 to 21:00, in front of the Cross club in the Holešovice district of Prague. This year's festival will be dedicated to Ukraine's Independence Day.
The program will include musical performances by Ukrainian artists and folk choirs, contemporary music, plus art zones, fashion presentations, and food areas ranging from traditional dishes to modern street food. The venue will also host creative workshops and children's activities, including face painting and coloring.
For more on music, see the "Playlist" section.