What to Do in Kyiv on the Weekend of September 5–7: Concerts, Festivals, Exhibitions, and Stand-Up Parties

The first weekend of September in Kyiv is packed with concerts, festivals, and cultural events. The city will host performances by Bez Obmezhen and the headliners of the charity Khartia Fest, while V’YAVA will hold the Garden Beer Weekend. Several museums are opening new exhibitions — from large-scale photo documentation by Oleksandr Hliadelov to works by Dutch photographer Eddy van Wessel. And for those who prefer film or comedy, this week offers the Kyiv International Short Film Festival and a 10-hour stand-up marathon.

Khartia Fest

Khartia Fest, the first charity festival aimed at raising 20 million UAH to support the 13th Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine "Khartia", will take place on September 6–7.
The two-day event will combine music, sports, and educational programs.

Headliners include Zhadan i Sobaky, Latexfauna, Skofka, Alyona Alyona, Faktychno Sami (ex-Qarpa), and Mariia Kvitka. In addition to concerts, guests can attend lectures and discussions featuring Serhiy Zhadan, who also serves as the festival’s creative director, and Radio Khartia.

The venue remains secret for now and will be disclosed to ticket holders later.

Admission: from 899 UAH

Bez Obmezhen (Without Limits) Concert

On September 7, Bez Obmezhen will perform at KURENI Concertni on Parkova Road.
The open-air concert will feature hits like Zori Zapalaly, Bez Nei Niyak, DYM, Yakby, and Vilni Lyudy in a special setting on the Dnipro River hills.

Admission: from 1,250 UAH

Garden Beer Weekend

From September 5–7, V’YAVA cultural space will host the Garden Beer Weekend — Kyiv’s largest Ukrainian craft beer festival.

Guests can enjoy over 20 breweries with new releases and classic flavors, a large food court, a beer lecture zone with tastings and discussions, as well as glass painting workshops. The event also includes a music stage with live performances and DJs (Ostrovskyi, Uliana Rois, Tember Blanche, Motor’Rolla, Lama, O.Torvald), a gaming area with retro machines, board games and beer pong, a chill-out zone with hammocks and blankets, and a kids’ area.

The festival is designed as a way to prolong the summer with good beer, music, and shared relaxation.

Admission: 300–950 UAH

Exhibition "Heritage in Myths and Forms"

Until September 11, the Maria Zankovetska Museum will host the exhibition "Heritage in Myths and Forms". This is the third concluding exposition of Wanda Orlova’s authorial project "Mosaic of Ukraine's Heritage".

The exhibition features works by contemporary artists from different regions, created as part of the project’s competition. The central theme is the fusion of Ukrainian mythology and architecture, revealing different layers of historical memory and cultural identity.

Admission: with museum ticket

Photo Exhibition "And I Saw"

Until October 5, the Ukrainian House will host "And I Saw", a photo exhibition by Oleksandr Hliadelov. The exposition includes 323 black-and-white photographs taken by the author over the past 35 years.

The photos depict key events in Ukraine’s modern history: the collapse of the USSR, the independence movement, the 1990s, the Orange Revolution, the Revolution of Dignity, and the Russo-Ukrainian war — from 2014 to the full-scale invasion. Among the works is the well-known series "Children of the Streets".

The exhibition is accompanied by essays from Ukrainian intellectuals, military personnel, and writers offering various interpretations of the events shown.

Admission: 50–120 UAH

Exhibition "State of Will"

Until November 2, Dovzhenko Center will host the exhibition "State of Will" by Dutch war photographer Eddy van Wessel, who has documented armed conflicts for over 30 years, focusing in recent years primarily on Ukraine.

The exhibition explores themes of war, resilience, and humanity. The photographs portray Ukrainian civilians and military personnel, their daily lives, worries, and emotions in the context of war. Public discussions on memory, resistance narratives, and the role of art in shaping the future will accompany the exhibition.

Admission: 120 UAH

Kyiv International Short Film Festival (KISFF)

From September 4–10, the Zhovten Cinema will host the 14th Kyiv International Short Film Festival (KISFF).
This year’s theme is "Manifestation", as a choice to be present, attentive, and open to the experiences of others.

The festival program features around 300 short films from around the world. Highlights include curated selections about contemporary challenges and female presence in cinema, cult screenings like Midnight Sexy Shorts, Short Attack, Animania, Comedies, and 60 Films in 60 Minutes. There will also be a Kinotron collective retrospective, body-horror selections, experimental shorts, and video art.

An educational program will also support young Ukrainian filmmakers.

Admission: from 700 UAH

10 Hours of Laughter: Stand-Up Marathon

On September 7, SQUAT 17B Yard Cafe will host a 10-hour stand-up marathon. Ukrainian comedians will gather on one stage to raise funds for an evacuation vehicle for the 21st Separate Special Forces Battalion.

The lineup includes performances by Vesta Hunchenko, Oles Pinchuk, Sasha Kyivskyi, Dmytro Dovhyi, Dmytro Tiutiun, and Kateryna Fedorkova. The event runs from 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Admission is free.

The marathon combines humor with a charitable goal: each joke contributes to helping Ukrainian soldiers on the front line.

Admission: free