In 2026, the capitals of China and Russia will host special festival celebrations under the theme “Welcoming Spring”. Beijing will, for the first time, introduce the Moscow Winter Farewell Festival, while Moscow will hold a Spring Festival celebration, showcasing the rich cultural traditions of both countries.

Spring Festival Celebration Set to Kick Off

From February 16 to March 1, Moscow will host a major Spring Festival celebration, an important part of the city’s “Winter in Moscow” project, in synchrony with the Chinese New Year period. The event is hosted by the Moscow City Government, with support from the Russian Foreign Ministry, the Chinese Embassy in Russia, the China Cultural Center in Moscow, and the General Chamber of Commerce of China in Russia.

During the event, more than 30 artists from Beijing, organized by the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, will join performers from Guangdong, Hainan, Henan, Zhejiang, Inner Mongolia, and other regions to form a troupe of over 100 performers. They will present a wide array of traditional Chinese performances, including Chinese opera, folk dance, acrobatics, and martial arts for residents and visitors in Moscow. The event will also feature interactive sessions and hands-on workshops to further highlight the cultural charm and tourism resources of Beijing and China as a whole.

Moscow Winter Farewell Festival to Make Its Beijing Debut

To promote mutual learning between the two capitals, Moscow will, for the first time, bring its traditional celebrations of the Winter Farewell Festival to Beijing, thanks to active coordination by the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism. Echoing the Spring Festival celebrations taking place simultaneously in Moscow, the event will be held from February 19 to 22 at Chaoyang Park, offering the Chinese public a unique opportunity to experience this important traditional Russian festival. The event, supported by the People’s Government of Beijing Municipality and the Russian Embassy in China, underscores the deepening cultural ties between the two capitals. The Winter Farewell Festival, as one of the oldest folk festivals in Russia, symbolizes the welcoming of spring. In many respects, its essence resonates with that of the Spring Festival. It is a time for family reunions, lively street festivities, traditional delicacies, and joyful rituals. The Beijing edition of the festival will feature folk games and dances, open-air markets, and the opportunity to savor Russian dishes such as blini. A variety of interactive workshops will also be offered, inviting Chinese people to explore contemporary Moscow and discover a different side of Russia.