In Lviv, the 35th anniversary of Ukraine’s Independence will be celebrated over three days — from 23 to 25 August. The city has planned ceremonial, cultural, artistic and educational events: from the raising of the State Flag and concerts to lectures, guided tours and commemorations of the fallen Defenders of Ukraine, both men and women. A special gift for Lviv residents and visitors will be a performance by the Lviv Municipal Choir “Homin”.
Most events are free of charge, although some require advance registration. The programme spans various locations across Lviv and offers events for both adults and children.
On 23 August, the city will begin with a formal ceremony of raising the State Flag of Ukraine at the crossroads of Stryiska and Heroiv Maidanu streets. On the same day, the City Museum (1 Rynok Square) will open an exhibition of the Naval Forces of Ukraine entitled “Loyalty. Courage. Strength”, dedicated to the continuity of the Ukrainian maritime tradition. The exhibition will run from 23 August to 1 October, with free entry upon prior registration at the Tourist Information Centre.
On the square in front of the Lviv Opera House there will be an open chess tournament “Move of Independence” for adults and children. Near the “Territory of Terror” museum on Chornovola Avenue, a concert “This is how Independence sounds” is planned, featuring music by Ukrainian composers, an interactive route through the museum spaces and a symbolic performance.
In the afternoon, the Memorial to the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred will host an Independence Lecture by writer and veteran Artur Dron. This is already the sixth such lecture in Lviv; its theme is the choices Ukrainians have made in difficult historical periods and their ability to move forward despite the absence of easy solutions.
In the evening, on Angels’ Square, near the Garrison Church of Saints Peter and Paul, an installation entitled “Columns of Memory” will be unveiled, dedicated to the service personnel buried within the Lviv territorial community. The work is by Vasyl Odrekhivskyi. The surfaces of the structures are cut with the names of the fallen, while empty spaces are left for future names, underscoring that the story of the war is not yet over. The installation is temporary and mobile, and is intended to be moved between different locations in the city.
On 24 August, the day will begin with a commemoration of the fallen Defenders of Ukraine, both men and women, at Lviv’s Fields of Honour. At Lychakiv Cemetery, events are planned at Field No. 76 (A. Vakhnyanyna Street), Field No. 67 (I. Mechnykova Street), Field No. 86a (Mechnykova Street) and Field No. 87 (Pasichna Street). At Holosko Cemetery, the commemoration will take place at Field No. 34-V (I. Mykolaychuka Street).
In the afternoon, on the north side of Rynok Square, the orchestra of the Hetman Petro Sahaidachnyi National Army Academy will perform — the event is open to all. There will also be two guided tours, “The Path of Independence: Culture and Identity”, led by Halyna Vyliika and Yurii Tsybukh. They will trace Ukraine’s path to independence through culture and the urban space of Lviv — from princely times to the present day, with a focus on language, literature, art, music, theatre, memory and cultural heritage.
In the evening, a concert by the Lviv Municipal Choir “Homin” is planned on Rynok Square. At the same time, the Klymentii Sheptytskyi Museum of Folk Architecture and Rural Life (“Shevchenkivskyi Hai”) will host the programme “Independence Day in the Hai”: at 19:00 — a performance “Live set NevertheLes”, at 20:00 — a concert by the ethno band “Eteriia”. Admission to these events is charged, but current service personnel, veterans, widows and children of fallen service personnel, pre-school children and people with disabilities in groups I–II are entitled to free entry.
In the courtyard of the City Hall (1 Rynok Square) at 20:00 there will be a stand-up evening “Stand up on Independence Day” featuring Tymoshenko, Martyniuk, Teren and Luzanov. All proceeds from ticket sales and the auction will be directed to the needs of the Joint Defence Forces of Ukraine. Service personnel can attend free of charge upon prior registration.
On 25 August, at the Hnat Khotkevych Municipal Palace of Culture (1 Kushevycha Street), Tetiana Prodan will give a lecture entitled “Dignity and Citizenship: a conversation about rights and responsibilities”. It will explore the relationship between human dignity and citizenship, their importance for a democratic society, and how these concepts have evolved in the Ukrainian context, particularly under the influence of the Revolution of Dignity and the full-scale war. Entry is free upon prior registration.
Other cultural institutions in Lviv will also join in marking Independence Day. They will offer concerts, creative meetings, lectures, workshops and themed events for children, so residents and visitors to the city will be able to choose the format of celebration that suits them best.