The XIX Winter International Art Festival will be held in Sochi.

From February 18 to March 01, one of the main cultural events of the winter will be held – the XIX Winter International Art Festival in Sochi, artistic director Yuri Bashmet.

The Winter International Art Festival in Sochi is currently one of the most famous and significant cultural forums taking place in Russia. For almost 20 years of its existence, this annual festival has become a "calling card" not only of winter Sochi and the Krasnodar Territory, but also the main cultural venue in Russia, a notable world music event. The festival attracts the world's leading musicians and artists, numerous tourists, representatives of Russian and foreign media.

The development strategy of the festival is formed within the framework of a long-term concept, one of the main objectives of which is the formation of a large-scale world-class creative project.

The festival has long become not just a series of concerts and performances, but a real creative laboratory where trends and Russia's view of the current development of professional art are being formed. A large number of educational projects are being implemented within the framework of the festival, a number of professional competitions are taking place, and a professional conference, which last year brought together more than 350 participants.

An extensive program of various events with the participation of leading Russian and foreign artists and ensembles is planned for the 2026 festival. The festival will feature a number of world premieres and unique projects.

Among the participants of the 2026 festival: Yuri Bashmet and Denis Matsuev, Denis Rodkin and Ildar Abdrazakov, Vadim Repin and Vittorio Grigolo, Evgeny Mironov and Konstantin Khabensky, and many others. Artists and groups from South Africa, China, Italy, Cuba and other countries will perform at the festival.

The Winter International Art Festival in Sochi is the clearest example of how in just over 20 years it has been possible to create a unique large-scale cultural project in Russia and achieve recognition in the global cultural community.

The festival will open on February 18 with the premiere: Polina Agureeva's production "About Love (5 pounds of Love, 22 misfortunes, 33 tantrums)" will be presented to the public on the stage of the Winter Theater. The unique performance "Iolanta" will continue the line of theatrical premieres on February 24, where Tchaikovsky's last opera will be presented in the original version by Yuri Bashmet and directed by Pavel Safonov. The premiere of the play took place in July 2025 against the backdrop of the picturesque ruins of the Demyanovo estate, which became the living setting for the mystical story of Iolanthe, the blind daughter of French King Rene, for whom love becomes the strongest motivation to regain her eyesight and see the "light". Tchaikovsky's score will come to life thanks to the New Russia State Symphony Orchestra conducted by Yuri Bashmet, and the main roles in the performance will be performed by artists from the Bolshoi Theater's Youth Opera Program. The Chamber Choir of the Moscow Conservatory (artistic director – Professor Alexander Solovyov) will take part in the performance.

On February 20, for the first time in Russia, the plastic performance "Jiangnan Written in Ink" (China) will be shown. The culture of Jiangnan, a historical region in the south of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, embodies refined aesthetics, poetic spirituality and exquisite harmony. The Russian premiere of the production will take place at the Sochi Festival.

On February 21, another premiere of the Sochi Festival will take place on the stage of the Winter Theater: the performance–concert "Poor People" with Evgeny Mironov, Yulia Khlynina and the Moscow Soloists chamber ensemble under the direction of Maestro Bashmet. The performance-concert "Poor People", directed by Murat Abulkatinov, conveys the subtleties of the plot of Dostoevsky's novel. The role of Makar Devushkin is played by Evgeny Mironov, who reads the text on behalf of the character. According to the idea of the production, it is correspondence with a loved one that awakens a girl's literary talent. The director's concept of the play includes not only an adaptation of the classic plot, but also modern accents emphasizing the theme of social injustice, love and despair. A special place in the production is given to the music of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.

On February 25, the festival's theatrical program includes the world premiere of the Baroque opera "The Village Philosopher" performed by the Italian collective La Magnifica Comunità conducted by Enrico Casazza, a leading conductor and musician in the field of baroque and classical music performed on historical instruments. The buffa opera The Village Philosopher (1754) by Baldassare Galuppi was written to a libretto by Carlo Goldoni. The premiere took place in Venice on October 26, 1754.

The theater program and the entire festival will be completed by the already iconic play "Don't Leave your Planet" based on the novel by Exupery "The Little Prince" with Konstantin Khabensky in the main and only role. The Moscow Soloists Chamber Ensemble conducted by Maestro Bashmet is also a full participant in the performance. The director of photography, the author of literary composition, set designer and costume designer is Viktor Kramer, the composer is Kuzma Bodrov.

The opening gala concert of the festival will be held on February 19. This evening, outstanding soloists will perform on the stage of the Sochi Winter Theater: Denis Matsuev, Vadim Repin, Ildar Abdrazakov, as well as creative teams - the Moscow Soloists Chamber Ensemble and the All-Russian Youth Symphony Orchestra. The artistic director and chief conductor is Maestro Yuri Bashmet at the conductor's desk.

A traditional jazz evening will be held on February 23. This year it will be presented by artists from Cuba. The final Gala concert of the XIX Winter International Yuri Bashmet Art Festival in Sochi will be held on February 28.

As in previous years, the festival will not be limited to the main venue, the Winter Theater. A special program awaits the guests of the forum also in the Chamber and Organ Music Hall of Sochi. The Chamber and Organ Music Hall will also host annual gala concerts of the departments of the International Music Academy. In addition, a school for young journalists writing about culture, a School for a young producer, and a Photography school will be developed within the framework of the Festival. One of the events for the professional environment is the annual International Conference of Directors of Cultural Institutions in Russia, Europe and Asia, as well as meetings of the Lecture Hall. In addition, the results of the 5th Argus-2025 photography competition will be summed up at the festival. Photography is among the arts."

And some of the concerts will go beyond academic venues and gather the audience at the Sochi Sea Station and Adler Railway Station.