What to Do in Kyiv on the Weekend of August 21–23: Brave! Factory, Concerts, Exhibitions and Independence Day Events

More than 50 artists at Brave! Factory, concerts by MamaRika, Kazhanna and “Bez Obmezhen”, a major festival for children, an audio journey through the Ukrainian steppe and museum events marking Independence Day — the program for the upcoming weekend will cover music, theater, sports and art. We’ve collected events taking place in Kyiv on August 21–23.

Brave! Factory 2026 Festival

Brave! Factory — a two-day music and art festival — will be held for the seventh time at the Oleksandr Dovzhenko Film Studio. This year, more than 50 Ukrainian and international artists will perform across seven stages, with live performances making up a significant part of the program.

International participants include French multi-instrumentalist Mezerg, whose energetic live sets are recognizable by his signature theremin; Japanese selector DJ Masda; C.A.R., Eric Clotier (USA) and Wallace; French artist Sweely; and New York-based selector J.Richards. A Japanese psychedelic band, Heavenphetamine, and the Romanian duo K not K, formerly known as Karpov not Kasparov, will also come to Kyiv.

The Ukrainian lineup will include SI Process, Sigmund Friends, Andrey Sirotkin, Ready in LED, Blooms Corda, Tik Tu, Kinnota, iO (Mulen), Borys, Roman K, Igor Glushko and others.

A separate media art program will be curated by artist Oleksii Sai. Works for it will be created or adapted specifically for the film studio’s space. A children’s playground will also be set up at the festival for the first time.

Admission: UAH 4,500 (for two days)

Jumpalooza 2.0

For two days, the Platforma Art Factory will turn into a venue for children’s and family entertainment. Jumpalooza 2.0 will feature swimming pools, water slides, a foam party, trampolines, inflatable arenas, carousels and a separate area for the youngest children. The trampoline zones will be divided according to participants’ height.

The program will also include animation, performances by mimes and stilt walkers, shows, bubbles and outdoor movie screenings. There will be TikTok rooms, temporary tattoo areas, a food court and a market featuring more than 100 brands. Most activities are included in the ticket price; bungee jumping, zorbing, some workshops and beauty services are charged separately.

Admission: UAH 150–400

MamaRika Concert

Singer MamaRika will perform at Feels Garden with a new concert show. The artist, who works in pop and R&B, is preparing updated stage productions and a performance featuring a ballet troupe.

The concert will include “Zviazok”, “Ne Khody”, “Liuby Sebe”, “Poliubyla”, “Odne Pytannia” and other songs by MamaRika from recent years.

Admission: UAH 800–1,700

“Rabbit Hole” Play

The Wild Theatre will present “Rabbit Hole” at the Khora space — a production directed by Yurii Radionov and based on a play by American playwright David Lindsay-Abaire. The play premiered in June.

The story centers on Becca and Howie, a married couple grieving the loss of their son after a car accident. Each of the characters tries to cope with what happened in their own way and find a way to move forward with their lives.

Admission: UAH 700–1,500

“Independence Market”

“Vsi. Svoi” will hold a two-day “Independence Market” dedicated to Ukraine’s Independence Day. More than 180 Ukrainian brands will gather on Desiatynna Street.

The market will feature clothing, footwear, ceramics, home textiles, accessories and items with Ukrainian symbols from local producers.

Admission: free

“Bez Obmezhen” Concert

The band “Bez Obmezhen”, fronted by Serhii Tanchynets, will perform on the main stage of Osocor Residence. The band has been active for more than 20 years and will present a program featuring some of its best-known songs.

The concert will include “Bez Nei Niak”, “Lystopad”, “Zori Zapalaly”, “Vilni Liudy”, “Dym”, “Yakby” and other songs by the band.

Admission: UAH 1,200–4,000

“The Real Steppe” Audio Exhibition

The “Real Steppe” audio exhibition is currently on view at the Museum in the Dark “Third After Midnight”. The project offers visitors an opportunity to discover Ukrainian steppe ecosystems through sound, touch and researchers’ stories — in complete darkness.

The soundscape features the calls of larks and cranes, grasshoppers, wind, rustling grass and bats. It is complemented by excerpts from comments by biologists who study and preserve steppe territories. In the darkness, visitors are accompanied by the museum’s blind guides, while the exhibition also offers an introduction to traditional steppe plants.

The project also highlights the fact that a significant part of Ukraine’s steppe is currently under occupation or in areas of active hostilities. The exhibition will run until September 6.

Admission: free with prior registration

Kazhanna Concert

Kazhanna will play a solo concert at Feels Garden. In April, the singer received the “Breakthrough of the Year” award at the YUNA national music awards.

In her music, the artist combines indie pop with alternative sounds. At the Kyiv concert, she will perform her best-known songs and present new tracks.

Admission: UAH 800–1,700

“Vyshyvanka Run”

The traditional “Vyshyvanka Run” will take place at VDNG — a sporting initiative that has been held since 2014. Participants complete their chosen distances wearing vyshyvankas or clothing featuring elements of Ukrainian symbolism.

Over the years, the event has expanded beyond Ukraine: participants in Europe, the United States and other parts of the world also take part in the runs.

Participation: UAH 1,500–2,000

Shugar Concert

Shugar will perform at “Kureny Concerts” with a program featuring his most popular tracks. The announced songs include “Oleh”, “Tiotya”, “Toksik”, “BMW” and other compositions that have amassed millions of streams.

The artist is also promising songs that listeners have not heard yet, but no further details about this part of the program are currently available.

Admission: UAH 1,150

Independence Day Events at the Museum of the Ukrainian Diaspora

The Museum of the Ukrainian Diaspora has prepared a two-day program marking the 35th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence. It will combine a guided tour, a creative workshop and a quest through the museum exhibition.

On August 22, historian and junior research fellow Valeriia Levkovets will lead the “Diaspora Code: August 24” tour, focusing on figures from the first three waves of Ukrainian emigration and their contribution to preserving Ukrainian statehood. The following day, the “Independence Passport” workshop will take place, where participants will create their own symbolic passport dedicated to Ukraine, its history and culture. Throughout both days, visitors will also be able to take part in a quest based on the exhibition “I Will Return to My Homeland…”.

Admission for an individual activity: UAH 160, discounted — UAH 80