Arsenal of Ideas Festival

25.09.2026 — 27.09.2026

On September 25–27, 2026, the Arsenal of Ideas Festival will take place at Mystetskyi Arsenal (28–30 Ivan Mazepa St.).

The Arsenal of Ideas Festival is dedicated to engaging, educational leisure and play-based learning for families with children and teenagers. The festival makes art, creativity, and self-expression accessible to everyone, regardless of age or educational needs, while serving as Ukraine’s unique platform for edutainment and museum education.

Despite the damage to the Mystetskyi Arsenal building caused by a Russian attack in June, 2026 we are adapting the festival venue to accommodate the ongoing roof restoration works on the left part of the Old Arsenal building. It is important for us to create a space where children and teenagers can rebuild their resilience, share their reflections, and support each other.

Prior to the festival opening, the Professional Program will feature a series of webinars for Ukrainian educators and cultural professionals.

An open call for festival participants is currently underway. The Mystetskyi Arsenal team invites representatives of private, public, and civil society organisations engaged in educational activities in the fields of culture and the creative industries to participate. The festival provides a platform for networking and exchanging experience with colleagues from across Ukraine, including those who promote science and technology and implement social and charitable initiatives for children and teenagers.

The Arsenal of Ideas Festival promotes resilience through culture, encouraging social integration and professional development in the face of the ongoing challenges of war.

In 2025, the festival was honoured with one of the most prestigious European awards in heritage — the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards 2025 in the category Citizens’ Engagement & Awareness-raising.

In 2026, museums and organisations from across Ukraine will present interactive stands featuring games, ongoing activities, unique toys, and unconventional quests.

This year, we will present our Mobility Program for the second time — a professional development initiative for staff of organisations that create educational programs for children and teenagers, including museums, libraries, cultural NGOs, youth centres, and others. Selected participants will receive financial support for travel and accommodation, enabling them to present their work at a festival stand or within the event program.