What to do in Kyiv over the weekend of January 30–February 1: performances, concerts, festivals, and exhibitions

Kyiv enters February with a dense cultural program — even despite power outages and complicated logistics. In our selection are concerts, performances, parties, exhibitions, and events for children taking place from January 30 to February 1: from jazz and electronic live shows to theater, contemporary art, and museum meetings for kids. 

We’ve gathered the most interesting events worth planning a visit to right now.

Concert by the band «Mertvyi Piven»

One of the key bands of Ukrainian rock presents a new album, «Poems of Tipsy Courtyards». The program features the recognizable intellectual rock ’n’ roll of «Mertvyi Piven».

Their songs still sound damn relevant — without nostalgic dust, but with living energy. A concert worth attending both for the new material and for well-known songs.

Admission: from 550 UAH

Kyiv Modern-Ballet. «On the Beautiful Blue Danube»

Kyiv Modern-Ballet presents the ballet «On the Beautiful Blue Danube» set to music by Johann Strauss. Radu Poklitaru’s production is built as a choreographic comedy in which contemporary physical theater is combined with stylized ballroom dances of the Art Nouveau era.

At the heart of the performance is a play with theatrical forms: vaudeville situations, costume changes, flirting, and comedy of manners, reinterpreted through the language of contemporary dance.

Admission: 200–1750 UAH

Podil Jazz

Despite the difficult situation with electricity supply and the risk of temporary closure, «KultMotyv» will still host the traditional Podil Jazz evening. The venue is currently in critical need of an additional generator, so the event becomes not only a musical experience but also a form of support for the space.

The program features live jazz in an intimate atmosphere: without a large stage, but with a sense of closeness, warmth, and community. It’s an opportunity to listen to quality music while supporting an independent cultural space that continues to operate despite challenging circumstances.

Admission: 250–550 UAH

Alena Omargalieva Concert

Alena Omargalieva will perform a solo concert at Osocor Residence. The singer blends modern pop with elements of Ukrainian folklore — this is how the track «Not Drunk — In Love» came about, which entered the Apple Music and YouTube Music charts in Ukraine.

The program includes hits and songs well known to listeners, presented in the format of a large concert evening. The event will take place at the open-air Osocor Residence venue, with an emphasis on sound, lighting, and the atmosphere of a live performance.

Admission: 1200 UAH

Gauzen party

Gauzen party will take place at the House of Cinema — a fan party dedicated to the work of the band Schmalgauzen. The format is not a concert in the classical sense, but a community gathering around music you want to sing along to and dance to easily.

The program includes live performances of the band’s songs, group sing-alongs, informal communication, themed activities, and the opportunity to take part in creating a poster for Schmalgauzen. An auction with lots, limited-edition merch, photo shoots of looks, and small surprises for guests are also planned.

The party is conceived as a temporary «Tired Street» — a space for like-minded people to meet and enjoy live music without pathos, but with a strong sense of togetherness.

Admission: 300 UAH

Whisky Dram Festival 2026

Whisky Dram is a specialized festival of single malt whisky and remains the only one in Ukraine focused exclusively on single malt. The event brings together a collection of releases from various producers and bottlers: official editions, independent bottlings, rare samples, closed distilleries, as well as bottles presented in Ukraine for the first or last time.

The festival program is composed of whiskies of different styles and ages — from well-known and highly rated releases to collectible items usually inaccessible to a wide audience. Whisky Dram is an opportunity to systematically explore the modern single malt landscape and taste samples curated specifically for one day in Kyiv.

Admission: 650–10,000 UAH

Performance «Below the Belt, Above the Baseboard»

This author’s performance by Oleksii Kuryllo combines theatrical miniatures with a stand-up format, built on sharp humor and improvisation. The actor remains on stage throughout the entire performance, guiding the audience through a series of ironic and sometimes provocative scenes.

The show contains explicit language and frank imagery, so it is intended for an adult audience. «Below the Belt, Above the Baseboard» is a hard-hitting comedy without censorship, where humor oscillates between sharpness and self-irony, leaving room for both laughter and recognition.

Admission: 410–560 UAH

Educational meeting «Who Were the Trypillians?»

The National Museum of the History of Ukraine will host a children’s meeting from the «Story Box» series by the StoryYa platform. The topic is Trypillian culture: who the Trypillians were, how they lived, and what they left behind.

The program combines an introduction to museum artifacts, reading a story about the Trypillians, and a creative workshop. The meeting will be led by Olesia Bozhko, founder of the StoryYa platform. The number of participants is limited, and participation is possible only with prior registration.

Admission: free with prior registration

Exhibition «Garden City. Botanical Microworld»

At the «Estate on Kudriavka», a joint exhibition by multidisciplinary artist Yevhen Lytvynenko and a branch of the Museum of the History of Kyiv has opened. The project is dedicated to Kyiv’s botanical gardens and parks — as spaces of urban memory, science, and everyday life.

The exhibition combines the artist’s contemporary works — applique, graphics, textiles, furniture, wallpaper, and digital art — with archival materials from the Museum of Kyiv collections: vintage photographs, botanical publications, documents, postcards, porcelain, clothing, and interior objects. Together they build a visual history of the city’s gardens and convey the atmosphere of different eras.

Admission: according to venue rules