What to Do in Kyiv on the Weekend of May 16–18: Concerts, Performances, Festivals, and Exhibitions

From May 16 to 18, the capital once again becomes a stage for dozens of events — musical, visual, theatrical, and social.

If you're looking for an emotional reboot, there's plenty to choose from: VOLKANOV and TVORCHI will perform at the "V’YAVA" stage, while Phil it and Yulia Yurina will appear in the intimate Origin Stage space. Museums offer exhibitions on contemporary society, Sicily, and the strength of Ukrainian women. In Pechersk, an intimate theatrical love story will be staged, while "Platforma" hosts a boho-style picnic with a yoga retreat and children’s activities. Add a concert by the band "Skazhy Shchos Pogane" and a new art project at Imagine Point — and you’ve got a perfect weekend route.

Phil it Concert

On May 16, the creative union Phil it will perform on the ORIGIN STAGE — an independent collective of Ukrainian artists working at the intersection of music, theater, dance, and visual art. Their performances are not classical concerts but rather a live dialogue with the audience through art.

Attendees can expect a multi-genre, emotionally rich event that touches on memories, experiences, inner questions, and the power of freedom. Each act is a unique story created in the moment to share experience, sound, and feeling.

Admission: from 690 UAH

Exhibition "Woman. Mother. Guardian."

Until May 25, the Central House of Artists is hosting the exhibition "Woman. Mother. Guardian." — an art project dedicated to the strength, tenderness, and resilience of Ukrainian women. The halls feature works of fine and decorative-applied art reflecting the female role in culture, family, war, and public life.

This project honors those who hold up the sky and the home front: women who defend the country, care for children, pass down traditions, and change Ukraine every day.

Admission: free

TVORCHI Concert

On May 18, the long-awaited concert of TVORCHI will take place at the "V’YAVA" stage. For the first time in a while, one of Ukraine's most famous electronic duos will perform a major open-air solo show in Kyiv.

The program includes all the hits fans love: "Bonfire," "Believe," "Heart of Steel," "Idi syuda," "Ne tantsyuyu," "Mova tila," "Vich-na-vich," and a premiere of a new track. Their music embodies modern Ukrainian sound on a global scale — style and the confidence to be yourself.

Admission: 750–2000 UAH

Album Presentation “Kralya” by Yulia Yurina

On May 17, Yulia Yurina will present her album "Kralya" on the Origin Stage — a new concert program in the folktronica style, where Ukrainian folklore meets electronic sound. Each song is a unique interpretation of folk motifs, sure to make you both reflect and dance.

The title "Kralya" holds special meaning: it refers to the band "Kralytsia," with which Yurina's career began back in her student days. With this project, the singer pays tribute to her teachers and the traditions that started it all.

Admission: from 650 UAH

Performance “Lazy and Tender”

From May 16 to 18, the Theatre on Pechersk will stage the performance "Lazy and Tender" — a poetic love story told through body, music, and the texts of Yurii Izdryk.

This isn’t a traditional drama but a performance-experience: ten poems transformed into songs, gestures, glances, and an atmosphere where everyone can recognize a part of themselves.

Admission: 350 UAH

VOLKANOV Concert

On May 16, VOLKANOV will give a major solo concert in Kyiv at the "V’YAVA" stage. This is a real event for the capital: the artist rarely performs in Kyiv as he tours the country extensively.

The program includes hits like "Pyshy meni," "Yak moya lyubov," "Narechena," "Namalyuyu" (with over a million views on YouTube), and new tracks created during the full-scale war.

Admission: from 450 UAH

Exhibition “Siciliada”

The Kyiv Art Gallery is hosting the exhibition "Siciliada" by Yurii Vakulenko — an artistic travelogue inspired by journeys through Sicily.

The paintings do not depict tourist landscapes but a deep immersion into cultural layers, the relationship between nature and architecture, sun and wind, myth and matter. The route from Palermo to Forza d’Agrò to Syracuse becomes a slow journey through a world of color, texture, and meaning.

Admission: 75–150 UAH

“Khanenko Electro”

On May 17, the Khanenko Museum invites you to the event "Khanenko Electro" — a live performance by DJ SHTEISEL, who combines the bandura with electronic music. This musical experiment blends an ancient instrument with modern rhythms, creating a hypnotic atmosphere right in the museum halls.

SHTEISEL calls himself an “emotions molfar” and promises to dissolve time in sound during this evening.

Admission: 500 UAH

Concert by the Band “Skazhy Shchos Pogane”

On May 17, the band "Skazhy Shchos Pogane" will perform at Atlas club — a Kyiv-based project mixing alternative rock with blues and grunge. Their concerts are an emotional explosion with loud guitars, live drums, and lyrics that don’t ask permission — they hit right where it matters.

The program includes hits like "Ya kokhatymus pid dzhaz," "Tvoya kokhana," "Tak bolyache!" and other tracks that will get you moving even if you didn’t plan to.

Admission: from 450 UAH

Exhibition Project “Tekhnologiya”

The IMAGINE POINT space is hosting the exhibition project “Tekhnologiya” — an artistic exploration of how social and cultural models influence Ukrainian reality.

Ten contemporary artists, including Vira Blanche, Oleh Tistol, Anastasia Podervianska, and Sasha Makarska, analyze the adaptation of borrowed patterns — from progress to grotesque.

Admission: free

Picnic Boho at Art-zavod “Platforma”

On May 17–18, Art-zavod “Platforma” will host Picnic Boho — a city weekend with a countryside vibe.

Guests can enjoy BBQ, live music, lounge areas, a market, yoga, sound therapy, nail-standing, children’s and sports activities. All in boho aesthetics and with a true sense of relaxation. Perfect for recharging with friends or family.

Admission: 100–300 UAH