Scarlet Sails festival in St. Petersburg
Maksim Konstantinov/Global Look PressRussia is counting down the days to the opening of 2018 FIFA World Cup™. Within the course of a month, from June 14 to July 15, more than two million people will watch the football extravaganza in 12 stadiums located in 11 cities. But what else is there to do except supporting your favorite team? Well, how about some culture! Here’s our guide.
The official sponsor of the World Cup™, BUD
Lovers of jazz and chess are invited to the Hermitage Gardens in the Russian capital on July 7 to enjoy a lineup of great acts. The likes of Grammy award winner CeeLo Green, Brooklyner Cory Henry with his band the Funk Apostles, star of the London underground Kamaal Williams (aka Henry Wu), as well as Russian jazz bands - will be entertaining the crowds. Tickets are available on the official website.
'Goalkeeper' (1934) by Alexander Deineka
State Tretyakov GalleryThe New Tretyakov Gallery on Krymsky Val focuses on 20th century art, but it has prepared a special display for the World Cup. Painting and sculptures devoted to sports will be on show starting May 9 and continuing until Sept. 11. Free Entrance with a fan ID!
If you happen to visit the New Tretyakov Gallery, then don’t miss another great retrospective – 500 works by outstanding Russian artist Vereshchagin that reflect the artist’s time on the front lines and travel to exotic places: Turkestan, the Balkans, and India, as well as his Russian North and Japanese series.
Don’t miss the chance to visit the Soviet-era VDNKh park and enjoy its Stalinist architecture, not to mention the country’s recently-opened space museum complex that features more than 120 unique aircraft and spacecraft, as well as rare photos and videos. In its unique 5D cinema you can watch the story of the cosmos, from the Big Bang to the prospects of colonizing Mars.
Visitors can play football on rare Soviet game machines, as well as play the first cult computer games and games on consoles.
'Anna Karenina' in the Bolshoi
Press photoNot many theaters in Moscow provide subtitles to their performances (the list of the best is here), so we advise you to go to the ballet, and the Bolshoi Theater offers the chance to see an excellent ballet by John Neumeier.
If you want to hear live a legend of Russian rock music, then this is your chance. One of Zemfira's rare performances will delight football fans on July 12.
The State Hermitage Museum is a top place to visit and this exhibition is absolutely a must-see for anyone interested in contemporary art. In fact, this Soviet-born couple, who are now American citizens, do not often exhibit in the U.S.
The city itself is a work of art, and millions of tourists flood here every year during that very unique period that fortunately lasts the entire time of the World Cup. The sun sets for only a few hours during, so enjoy the city, walk around, and take a boat on the many canals and rivers.
On June 23, St. Petersburg’s most prominent festival, “Scarlet Sails,” will have spectacular fireworks, a water show and of course the beautiful frigate Shtandart with its red sails will grace the Neva River. This will certainly be a once in a lifetime experience. If you only happen to visit the final draw of the World Cup – you’ll be able to enjoy the Baltic Sea Festival when hundreds of yachts and ships will sail along the Neva.
'Swan Lake' at the Alexandrinsky Theater
Press photoThis utmost classical ballet under the legendary music of Pyotr Tchaikovsky couldn’t be better entertainment for your St. Petersburg cultural evening. The Alexandrinsky Theater is the first state theater in Russia, established by Peter the Great’s daughter. So, one other thing to do is enjoy its interior.
Motherland Calls monument
Alexander Legky/Global Look PressVolgograd, previously known as Stalingrad, is a city of Soviet military glory, and so you won't be able to avoid diving into history. After seeing the massive Mamaev Kurgan and Motherland Calls monument, go to the Old Sarepta Historical-Ethnographical Museum for an exhibition of photo collages by Sergei Larenkov.
When walking inside the ancient walls of the local
Sochi's Winter Theater usually hosts classical music performances and various cultural competitions - comedy, ballet
Chukaly village residents at the ethnic folklore festival in the Republic of Mordovia
Julia Chestnova/SputnikSaransk is the capital of
This Ural city will host a night of music on June 29, so you can listen to some good old bands and younger ones such as the drum 'n' bass group, Neuromonk Feofan. The concert will be held close to the new Yeltsin Center.
For more information about cultural life in World Cup host cities, including all museum opening times and addresses please visit welcome2018.com.
Read more: 7 books you must read before visiting Russia for FIFA World Cup™
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