What to Do in Kyiv on the Weekend of December 19–21: Concerts, Markets, and Folk Gatherings

December in Kyiv is entering its final phase — the city is slowly switching into Christmas mode, but doing so in its own way: through concerts, parties, markets, and events where tradition coexists with contemporary music and new leisure formats. The weekend of December 19–21 offers a wide range of options — from large stages and dance floors to family-friendly events, folk rituals, and intimate concerts.

We have gathered the most interesting events so you can plan your pre-holiday days without haste or random decisions.

Maryna Krut Concert

On December 20, a major Christmas concert by bandura player and singer Maryna Krut will take place on the stage of the “Ukraine” Palace. For this performance, the artist has prepared a special program titled “Take Me With You for Christmas,” created specifically for the country’s main concert venue.

Together with musicians from the Kyiv Orchestra symphony ensemble, Maryna Krut will perform Christmas carols, original songs, and well-known compositions in new symphonic arrangements. The concert will be enhanced by a light show highlighting the festive atmosphere of the evening.

Admission: from 400 UAH

Kureni House Party

On December 20, the KURENI space will host the “House” party, dedicated to various shades of house music. The lineup includes KADIRISTY with sets on the edge of disco, Balearic, classic house, and acid; KIPTILOV, who works with hypnotic house, leftfield disco, and modern downtempo; and ALEX P, for whom house is primarily a way of working with rhythm and the emotional tension of the dance floor.

Admission: from 300 UAH

“VSI. SVOI”. Kyiv’s Largest Gift Market

On December 20–21, a large gift market “VSI. SVOI” will take place at 12 Desiatynna Street, traditionally bringing together Ukrainian brands and local producers under one roof. It is an opportunity to find Christmas and New Year gifts in a single weekend — for loved ones, friends, colleagues, or yourself.

The market will feature designer items and home goods: festive décor, textiles, ceramics, candles, toys, cosmetics, jewelry, clothing, and accessories. A dedicated area will host food courts and charitable initiatives, making the event not only about shopping but also about leisurely pre-holiday time.

Admission: free

LATEXFAUNA Band Concert

On December 20, the band LATEXFAUNA will perform in Kyiv at Stereo Plaza as part of their nationwide tour. For the capital concert, the musicians are preparing an updated program featuring new compositions and familiar tracks in a different live format.

The organizers also promise expanded visuals to complement the band’s sound and emphasize the atmosphere of the performance. The Kyiv show will be one of the key stops of the tour and an opportunity to hear how LATEXFAUNA evolves live on stage.

Admission: from 890 UAH

Christmas Weekend at Mystetskyi Arsenal

On December 20–21, Mystetskyi Arsenal will once again host Christmas Weekend — a two-day, family-oriented program dedicated to festive traditions and contemporary interpretations of Christmas.

The Arsenal space will feature a craft fair with ceramics, candles, Christmas tree ornaments, caroling stars, ethnic clothing, and jewelry. Visitors can also attend a series of workshops on making a didukh, Christmas décor, and themed greeting cards.

The program includes nativity plays, caroling, and Malanka celebrations, as well as a lecture dedicated to Christmas traditions. Food courts and an interactive play area for children under four will be available, along with specially designed festive photo zones.

Admission: 250 UAH; discounted — 125 UAH; family ticket — 500 UAH (conditions apply to families with children aged 5 and older).

New Year’s Wonder “The Code of Christmas Tree Adventures”

From December 17 to 23, the Kyiv Palace of Children and Youth will host the New Year’s show “The Code of Christmas Tree Adventures,” designed for children aged 4 to 14 and their parents.

At the heart of the story are fairy-tale characters called Palatsyky, who embark on a digital journey through the worlds of New Year’s trees. The interactive format combines story-driven tasks, challenges, and stage performances that gradually lead to a shared finale.

The program is structured as a theatrical performance with characters, costumes, music, and dance, aimed at family attendance during the pre-holiday season.

Admission: 300 UAH

Lely45 Concert

On December 19, Lely45 will perform on the Atlas stage — an artist who emerged in 2021 and quickly gained attention not only in Ukraine but also internationally.

Her stage presence is marked by directness and inner freedom: Lely45 works with themes and intonations of her own choosing, without adapting to expectations. In a live setting, her music sounds energetic and intense, combining emotional openness with a sense of movement and power.

Admission: 690 UAH

Family-Friendly Stand-Up Without Profanity

On December 20, the House of Cinema will host a family-friendly stand-up show by Felix Redka — a special program without explicit language, designed for audiences of all ages.

The comedian is touring with new material that has not been published online: the program includes about an hour of fresh jokes based on observations and life situations understandable to both adults and teenagers. The format allows the whole family to attend — without awkwardness or content-related age restrictions.

After the stand-up performance, a charity auction will take place, with proceeds directed to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In this way, the event combines entertainment with a volunteer-driven mission.

Admission: 390–1190 UAH

Yule NEVERTEP at the Small Opera

On December 21, the day of the winter solstice, “Yule NEVERTEP” will take place at Kyiv’s Small Opera — a dark folk event combining Ukrainian and Celtic traditions. The festival refers to Yule as a moment of transition: the longest night of the year, when darkness and light symbolically complete a cycle.

The musical program brings together various directions of the folk scene — from country and fantasy folk to horror folk and experimental forms. This year’s lineup includes ROHATA ZHABA, FOLKULAKA, RUN, DvaTry, and Horror Choir.

Beyond concerts, the event unfolds as a multilayered cultural space with two stages, a market of Ukrainian artisans, lecture blocks, workshops, exhibitions, and costume contests. The festival format encourages active participation from guests — both performative and visual.

“Yule NEVERTEP” also includes a charitable component: funds raised through auctions, the market, and ticket sales will support the medical initiative “Ptakhiv” and ongoing fundraisers benefiting artists serving in the Defense Forces of Ukraine.

Admission: 900 UAH

Christmas with ShchukaRyba & Fusion Jams

On December 21, a Christmas concert by the band ShchukaRyba in collaboration with the Fusion Jams project will take place at Concert Hall, 41 Kyrylivska Street. The event once again brings listeners together around traditional Ukrainian singing interpreted through a modern musical lens.

ShchukaRyba are known as carolers who treat folklore not as a museum artifact but as a living tradition. In their performances, ancient carols and shchedrivkas sound relevant and natural, preserving their original power and meaning.

During the concert, works from the collection “Shcho i sviatoie…” will be performed, along with compositions from the new album “Rozkish-volia,” which the audience will hear for the first time. The program features collaboration between ShchukaRyba and composer and music producer Yaroslav Tatarchenko (Bunht). According to the creators, the new material reveals different dimensions of the Ukrainian song tradition — from lyrical motifs to Cossack songs reflecting historical experience and values that remain relevant today.

Admission: 800 UAH