You're reading: Entertainment Guide Aug. 21 – Aug. 27

Koktebel Jazz Festival

For the second year in a row Koktebel Jazz Festival will not take place in Koktebel. One of Ukraine's biggest and most famous music festivals has left the southern Crimean town because of the Russian occupation, and is instead to take place in Zatoka, a town near Odesa. The festival has four stages with Ukrainian and international bands, including 5’Nizza, Machete, Serebryanaya Svadba, Krykhitka, Undiscovered Soul, Paris Monster and many others.


Koktebel Jazz Festival. Aug. 23-30. Zatoka, Creative Village Koktebel (45 Prymorska St.). Hr 150 - 650. To get there, take train No. 763 from Kyiv to Odesa (Hr 330-575, 7 hours) and a bus from Odesa to Zatoka (appr. one hour).

Mystetsky Arsenal

Private art collection goes on display at culture center

Mystetsky Arsenal will host an exhibition of the private art collection of Ihor Dychenko, a Ukrainian artist and art critic. The collection called “Harlequin Is Leaving” includes over 300 artworks of Ukrainian and international artists of the 20th century, including Kazimir Malevich, Aleksandr Bogomazov, Viktor Palmov, Salvador Dali, as well as a number of works of Ukrainian painters of the 1960s wave.

Ihor Dychenko’s collection of 20th century art (exhibition). Aug. 20 – Sept. 6. 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. Mystetsky Arsenal (10-12 Lavrska St.). Hr 50. English-language tours available for Hr 250

Ukraine Independence Day, America House, modern art

Independence-themed art of Ukraine, US

On the eve of the Ukraine Independence Day, America House and Modern Art Research Institute put together an exhibition of the works of 15 modern artists from Ukraine and U.S. Paintings, sculptures and installations presented at the exhibition will explore the meaning of independence.

“The Coefficient of Independence” (art display). Aug. 21 – Sept. 17. America House (6 Mykoly Pymonenka St.). Free

Classical music

Classical music under the stars

Jazz, rock and folk adaptations of prominent classical musicians will be performed in the Kyiv Planetarium, under one of the biggest starry domes in Europe. Organizers promise a very emotional show.

Classical Music Under the Stars. Aug. 21. 7:30 p.m. Atmasfera 360 (Kyiv Planetarium, 57/3 Velyka Vasylkivska St.). Hr 100 – 150

Lee Perry

Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry show

Lee Perry, one of the founders of reggae, will give his first ever performance in Kyiv. The 79-year old Jamaican was the producer behind Bob Marley’s first albums in the 1970s. His last album “Back on the Controls” was nominated for a Grammy award.

Lee Perry show (reggae). Aug. 28. 8 p.m. Sentrum (11 Shota Rustaveli St.). Hr 350 – 700.