Lapitsky: Jazz and dancing will take center stage at Slavianski Bazaar 2026

VITEBSK, 4 May (BelTA) – Gleb Lapitsky, Director General of the Vitebsk Cultural Center, Director of the International Festival of Arts Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk, told journalists about the new features of the 35th edition of the festival, BelTA reports.

The festival director noted that tickets are now on sale for all events across every venue hosting the large-scale festival. These include the Summer Amphitheater, the Vitebsk Concert Hall, the Central Sports Complex, the Regional Philharmonic, the Yakub Kolas National Academic Drama Theater, and the Belarusian Theater Lyalka.

“The theater program will also celebrate the centenary of our drama theater. We’re planning a fascinating project, “A Centenarian Visiting a Centenarian”, with the Yermolova Moscow Drama Theater, which is also turning 100. The two companies will share one stage in Vitebsk. Every project is built around milestones like these, and together they’ll make this anniversary festival a single, unified celebration,” Gleb Lapitsky emphasized.

As for the program at the Regional Philharmonic, lovers of classical music can look forward to an engaging encounter with academic art. “And not only musical art,” Gleb Lapitsky noted. “This year, jazz will be played at the Regional Philharmonic, and there will be a lot of jazz overall at Slavianski Bazaar. Both award-winning ensembles and emerging performers will take part. Audiences at the Regional Philharmonic will also enjoy a major choreographic program. Tge Serbian Folklore Ensemble KOLO is coming, and together with our ensemble Talaka, they will put on a large concert celebrating Belarusian-Serbian friendship. A very interesting concert by a Baltic composer is also planned; he will perform his songs together with Belarusian artists. The Regional Philharmonic will continue this year with the direction it has chosen, which is ‘A Festival Without Borders.’”

Gleb Lapitsky particularly noted that dancing will not be just on stage. “Our festival has always stayed true to its core audience – the young people who first came to Slavianski Bazaar in 1992. But we also keep up with the times. The projects we have launched at the Central Sports Complex are meant to let today’s young people dance – to give them their own dance floor. That includes “Rhythms of Summer” and several solo concerts. And this year, our legendary Summer Amphitheater is also becoming fully dance-friendly. We are already installing new seats that won’t get in the way of those who come to dance,” the festival director assured.

Photos by Aleksandr Khitrov