"We believed until the last moment that we would get permission." Another music festival canceled
A year ago, Belarusians rejoiced at the massive return of big music festivals to the country, but, as it turned out, this is the kind of good that will be "a little at a time." The wave of open-air cancellations continues: following "Solstice," Wostrau, and Lidbeer, Festiwow announced sad news. The reasons are still the same, "beyond the organizers' control," writes "Onliner."
"We believed until the very last moment that we would get permission to hold our festival, but unfortunately, law is law. We very much hope and believe that we will meet with you again! Thank you for being with us these two years," states Festiwow's social media.
The organizers also said that the festival was canceled literally at the last moment: contracts with artists had already been signed, and ticket sales were supposed to start any day.
Festiwow took place at the Minsk "Dynamo" stadium in 2024 and 2025 — many popular artists from CIS countries performed on stage: Saluki, Zoloto, Toxi$, Cream Soda, "Moya Mishel," "Tri Dnya Dozhdya" (Three Days of Rain), and others.
This is already the fourth major Belarusian festival to announce its cancellation in 2026. Earlier, the organizers of the Nesvizh open-air Wostrau, explaining the reasons, referred to resolutions of the Council of Ministers "On the Register of Organizers of Cultural and Entertainment Events" and "the inability to bring foreign artists independently."
"Onliner" contacted the organizers of Wostrau and Lidbeer, but they declined to comment on the festival cancellations in detail.
Among the remaining major music festivals, dates have only been announced for Viva Braslav and belbet fest (the latter has even announced its first artists). The VULITSA EZHA picnic also announced the return of its music program with foreign headliners. There is no news from Stereo Weekend, which returned to Loshitsa Park last year after a seven-year break, regarding either its cancellation or its dates and venue.
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