An archive photo
GRODNO, 18 February (BelTA) – The 15th Festival of National Cultures will bring together representatives of 42 ethnicities, Head of the Culture Department of the Grodno Oblast Executive Committee Yelena Klimovich told journalists following a meeting of the organizing committee, BelTA has learned.
According to Yelena Klimovich, residents of Grodno, Belarus, and countries near and far abroad are eagerly awaiting 5-7 June, when the final events of the 15th Festival of National Cultures will take place in the city.
The qualifying rounds, which were held in all regions of Belarus from October to December 2025, have concluded. “Representatives of 42 nationalities have been selected. This is six more than at the previous, 14th festival,” Yelena Klimovich said. “Among the newcomers are, preliminarily, Gabonese, Gagauz, Udmurts, Yemenis, Turks, and Czechs.” The festival will feature 800 representatives of all nationalities, with the largest ethnic groups being Russians, Jews, Ukrainians, and Poles.
“We have new national diasporas due to the large number of students [from abroad] studying in Belarus, who have also applied for this festival and have already brought their vibrant colors to their performances in the qualifying rounds. I am sure that the opening concert will feature very interesting numbers, and they will be joint performances with representatives of national associations and professional Belarusian artists,” the head of the department noted. “We also expect groups from the ethnic homelands of some of our nationalities; we will now be working on this together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”
“The directing and production team has been appointed to bring the anniversary festival concept to life,” Yelena Klimovich said. “The chief director of the festival will be Olga Bogdanovich [Director of the Grodno Oblast Drama Theater].”
According to the organizers, this theme will be seen across the festival’s venues, events, and concerts. A key novelty is the relocation of the main stage. It will move to Lenin Square, while the Belarusian homestead will be located on Sovetskaya Square. “Consequently, the procession route will be from Sovetskaya Square to Lenin Square on the first day of the festival,” Yelena Klimovich said. According to her, the best traditions will be repeated: “National homesteads, cuisine, rites, dances.”
According to the organizers, the main prize of the festival of national cultures has also been developed and is still being refined. The symbol of the fest will be a seven-color flower adorned with stylized ornaments of various nationalities.
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