On 24 August 2026, Ukraine will mark the 35th anniversary of the declaration of independence. In Kyiv, the full programme is still being finalised, whilst Lviv and Zhytomyr have already published a list of cultural and charitable events.
Ukraine’s Independence Day in 2026 falls on a Monday
On Monday, 24 August, Ukraine will mark the 35th anniversary of the declaration of independence. It was on this day in 1991 that the Verkhovna Rada adopted the Act of Declaration of Independence of Ukraine, which was endorsed by the people in a nationwide referendum on 1 December of that year.
The celebrations will take place against the backdrop of a full-scale war, so the main themes of the events will be Ukrainian statehood, commemorating fallen defenders, support for the armed forces, culture and national unity.
Although 24 August is a public holiday, there is no additional guaranteed day off during martial law. The law stipulates that, during this period, the provisions of the Labour Code regarding public holidays and non-working days do not apply. Working arrangements will be determined by employers and the internal regulations of organisations. The relevant provisions are set out in Article 6 of the Law on Labour Relations during Martial Law.
What’s on in Kyiv
As of 15 August, there is still no complete official programme of events in the capital specifically for 24 August. The Kyiv City State Administration has published a list of cultural events for 17–23 August, marking Flag Day and the 35th anniversary of independence.
In particular, themed museum exhibitions, guided tours, lectures and workshops are planned in the capital. From 21 August to 20 September, the «Purr-fect Ukraine» flower exhibition will be on display at Spivoche Pole. The centrepieces will be ten arrangements featuring images of Ukrainian cats, each of which will tell a separate story about Ukraine.
To mark the 35th anniversary of Independence, the «Kyiv Fortress» will host a photography exhibition entitled «My Homeland — Free Ukraine». A folk art fair will take place at the Ivan Honchar Museum on 22–23 August. The Kyiv City State Administration has published a full list of events in the capital that have already been confirmed.
Ukrainians also have until 24 August to enter the «My Independence Cake» family recipe competition. The aim is to establish a shared culinary tradition to mark the national holiday. The Ministry of Culture of Ukraine is a partner in the initiative.
At the same time, the concert by the band «Bez Obmezhen» at the NSC «Olimpiyskiy», which had previously been announced for 24 August 2026, postponed to 24 August 2027. The organisers explained that the decision was due to a ban on holding such large-scale events at venues without adequate shelter. Tickets purchased previously remain valid.
Concerts and charity events in Lviv
In Lviv, the programme will run from 21 to 25 August. The following events are scheduled for 24 August itself:
- at 2.00 pm — an organ lunchtime concert to mark Independence Day at the Lviv Organ Hall;
- at 6.00 pm — a concert by Artem Pivovarov at !FESTrepublic;
- at 6.00 pm — «Independence Day in Hai» featuring the folk band «Eteria» and a fundraiser for tactical medicine;
- at 6.30 pm — a concert by the BIGSHOW ORCHESTRA: «Hits of Independence»;
- From 12:00 to 19:00 — the «Tlum&Kram» market at LEM Station, featuring craft, art and vintage items.
Admission to the fair involves a voluntary donation to support the armed forces. For serving military personnel, veterans and the families of fallen defenders, admission to the event in Shevchenkivskyi Hai will be free of charge. Programme on Lviv’s tourism portal.
Museums in Zhytomyr are to open their doors to visitors free of charge
A marathon entitled «35 Years of Independence — 35 Events» will take place in the Zhytomyr region from 17 to 28 August. Scheduled for 24 August are an exhibition of the museum artefact «The Towel of Independence», patriotic events, themed workshops, book displays and a charity concert and fair.
On this day, museums in Zhytomyr will be holding an Open Day — visitors will be able to view the exhibitions free of charge. Free registration will also be available at the Oleg Olzhych Zhytomyr Regional Universal Scientific Library. The Zhytomyr Regional State Administration has published a detailed programme.
Nationwide projects and safety rules
У Independence Day An interactive map for the nationwide children’s project «Ukraine Sounds» will also be launched. The platform will bring together creative works by schoolchildren from different regions of the country. The initiative was launched by the National Police’s Juvenile Prevention Unit and AR Book. The map is set to go live on 24 August.
Programmes in individual towns and cities may still be subject to additions or changes depending on the security situation. Before visiting, the organisers advise checking the current start time, the location of the nearest shelter and not to ignore air-raid sirens. Air-raid alert map online.
