When even those who don’t live in the capital remember Kyiv Day — that’s when the chestnut trees bloom. Usually, it’s at this time that one of the city’s symbols flourishes, greatly enhancing the festive atmosphere.
Kyiv’s birthday is celebrated on the last Sunday of May. In 2025, this day falls on May 25.
This year, the capital’s anniversary is marked during the fourth year of the full-scale war. The chestnuts are already fading, sirens interrupt work rhythms daily, and the news troubles us like storm clouds. We could all use a little distraction, right? Especially when there’s a chance to learn something new and get to know our beloved city better.
“UP.Zhytia” has gathered events for Kyiv Day that helped people relax, deepen their knowledge about the city, and learn something new.
The history of Kyiv’s birthday
Kyiv Day was celebrated for the first time in 1982. At that time, at the end of May, the city marked the 1500th anniversary of the founding of the Ukrainian capital.
It’s worth noting that the city’s age is quite approximate — there is no exact record of the year Kyiv was founded. Tour guide Yuliya Bevzenko says that according to the earliest written source, Kyiv’s history begins in the year 930. Meanwhile, according to the chronicle of one of Belarus’s first historians, Matviy Striikovsky, Kyiv was founded as early as the year 430.
In the Soviet Union, it was decided to count Kyiv’s age from the year 482.
“We will celebrate now, and if we are mistaken, let future generations correct us,” — Yuliya Bevzenko quotes the first secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Ukraine, Volodymyr Shcherbytsky, speaking about Kyiv Day. This date was supported by the discovery of ancient settlements on Old Kyiv Hill in the 1980s.
The celebration took root: since 1984, regular art fairs began to be held on Andriyivskyy Descent for Kyiv Day, and the city’s official Day was first marked in 1987.
Before the war, the city was very crowded on this day — large-scale concerts took place in the city squares, Kyiv Day events included workshops and festivals, and since 1994, a charity run called the “Chestnut Run” was added to the official program.
Where to go for Kyiv Day 2025
Charity “Run Under the Chestnuts”
An annual tradition of celebrating Kyiv Day.
Due to the war, participants did not gather at a single location or at the same time. For safety reasons, the “Run Under the Chestnuts” was held again in an online format (as it was last year).
The organizing team invited everyone interested, both from Ukraine and around the world, to go for a run or walk and complete the traditional distance — 5 kilometers.
To join the event, participants had to register and pay a charitable contribution of 300 hryvnias, then download and print an online race bib.
On Kyiv Day, May 25, 2025, participants wore their race bibs and went for a run or walk, posting photos or videos on social media with the hashtags #probig2025 and #RunningForLittleHearts.
The funds raised went to the restoration of the building of the Center for Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery at the “Okhmatdyt” hospital, which suffered significant damage during a missile attack in July 2024.
Museums:
Museum and Exhibition Center of the Museum of the History of Kyiv
May 21 – Exhibition “Shadows of Old Kyiv” (paintings and graphics by Vasyl Krychevsky, Serhiy Shyshko, Lyudmyla Morozova, Hryhoriy Svitlytskyi, Fedir Konovalyuk).
Museum and Exhibition Center of the Museum of the History of Kyiv, 7 Bohdan Khmelnytsky Street, 4th floor.
Exhibition hours: Wed–Sun: 12:00–19:00, Mon–Tue: closed. Until August 31.
Ticket prices: 140 / 70 UAH.
May 25 – Walking quest “In Search of Volodymyr’s City”.
Meeting point: Sofiyska Square, 12:00.
Duration: 1.5–2 hours.
Participation required mandatory registration via a Google form.
May 25 – Masterclass on Petrykivka painting “Bird” inspired by the work of Liubov Panchenko.
For adults and children from 7 years old, 16:00. Duration: 1.5 hours.
Mandatory registration via Google form.
Also planned:
Until August 20 – Exhibition “Guarding St. Sophia.” During the exhibition, visitors can play the board game “Ukrainians vs. Moskals.”
Until December 31 – Single exhibit exhibition “Kyiv Traditions Come to Life: Coffee Culture.”
Throughout the month – Virtual tour “Khreshchatyk in 1913.”
Exhibition: “Tempo Primo” — about the musical life and culture of music-making in Kyiv
Tickets: 120 UAH, discounted — 60 UAH
Duration: available until May 31
Registration by phone: +380507644351
Exhibition: “Under the Sky of Kyiv” by artist Lidiya Selyanko
Opening: May 22 at 17:00
Address: Kyiv, 40-b Knyaziv Ostrozkykh Street
Literary and Memorial Museum-Apartment of P.H. Tychyna
May 25 – Thematic tour “Kyiv stretches behind me in dreams” (the life and work of poet Pavlo Tychyna through the lens of his connection to Kyiv).
12:00, Kyiv, 5 Tereshchenkivska St., apt. 1, 3
Cost: 200 UAH
Registration by phone: (044) 234-43-27 or by email: tychynafm@gmail.com
May 25 – Concert by the National Philharmonic of Ukraine “To you, my Kyiv!”
15:00 – 16:10
Free seating. Ticket price – 200 UAH
May 24 – Interactive lecture “Kyiv – the city of Maria,” about the role of Kyiv in the life and work of M. Zankovetska;
16:30 – 18:00
(Kyiv, 121 Velyka Vasylkivska Street)
May 25 – Walking tour “Maria Zankovetska and Kyiv.”
The tour route went from the M. Zankovetska House-Museum to the Kyiv National Academic Operetta Theatre.
Museum of Ukrainian Sound Recording
May 24, 25 – Vinyl collection of Ukrainian music “Kyieve miy” (My Kyiv).
Kyiv, Lavrska St. 41 (Spivoche Pole Park, building behind the main stage)
Libraries:
T. H. Shevchenko Central Library for Children of Kyiv
(Kyiv, Beresteiskyi Avenue, 25A, Politekhnichnyi Institut metro station)
May 23 – City open-air children’s drawing contest “Kyiv and Kyivans through the eyes of children”;
May 23 – “Chestnut Party” at the library for Kyiv Day.
(Kyiv, Entuziastiv St., 29)
May 24 – Local history day: “Kyiv Photo Chronicle in Vintage Postcards”
May 24 – Open discussion: “Talking about Kyiv through the Language of Cinema”
Other:
May 23 – Lecture “We Walk Across Bridges”
Time: 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Where: Vcentri Hub: Shevchenkivskyi (51B Volodymyrska St.)
Participants learned about the history of legendary bridge crossings, heard fascinating facts, and enjoyed breathtaking views of the capital.
Registration was available via a link.
Tags: History history of ukraine kyiv Kyivan Rus Ukraine ukraine history
