Every year at the end of summer, Red Square is turned into a vast open-air arena for the "Spasskaya Tower" international military music festival — ten evenings of military bands, drum lines, honour guards and pyrotechnics, staged against the floodlit walls of the Kremlin. In 2026 the festival officially runs from 21 to 30 August, with shows starting at 20:00. This guide covers the dates, tickets, timings and the practical things a foreign visitor needs to know to actually get in.
What the festival is
Despite the name, this is not about visiting the Kremlin's Spasskaya clock tower — for that, see our guide to the Spasskaya Tower itself. The festival is a large evening show: military and police orchestras, massed pipes and drums, cavalry, folk and dance ensembles, and a light-and-fireworks finale, all performed on a temporary grandstand-ringed stage on Red Square. It regularly features ensembles from Russia's regions and invited groups from abroad.
Dates and start times for 2026
The 2026 edition — the XVIII international festival — officially runs from 21 to 30 August 2026. Performances take place daily at 20:00 and last about 2 hours 15 minutes, ending with a light-and-fireworks finale. The separate children's brass-band strand, "Spasskaya Tower for Children," is held on Red Square on 24-26 August.
| Detail | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 21 - 30 August 2026 |
| Location | Red Square, Moscow |
| Show time | Daily, 20:00 (~2h 15m) |
| Children's festival | 24 - 26 August 2026 |
| Highlights | Military bands, drum shows, cavalry, light & pyrotechnic finale |
Tickets and prices
Tickets are sold by grandstand sector and by date, so prices vary a good deal. Sales for 2026 were due to open around April 2026 on the official festival site (spasstower.ru), the primary seller; exact 2026 prices have not been confirmed, but seats have historically ranged from a few thousand roubles in standard sectors to considerably more for VIP sectors and the closing gala. Because foreign Visa and Mastercard cards do not work on Russian payment sites, buying online from abroad can be difficult — the same obstacle travellers hit everywhere in Russia. Our guides on paying with a foreign card and how to pay in Moscow as a tourist explain the workarounds. A simple option for visitors is to book through a local tour operator; a guided experience including tickets can be arranged via GetExperience.
Getting there and timing your evening
Red Square is served by several metro stations — Okhotny Ryad, Teatralnaya, Ploshchad Revolyutsii and Kitay-Gorod are all a short walk away; see our Moscow public transport guide. During the festival, expect security checks and road closures around the square, so arrive well before 20:00. Evenings in late August can be cool, so bring a layer. If you would rather not deal with the metro after a late finish, book a GetTransfer ride back to your hotel in advance.
Make a day of it
Because the show starts in the evening, you have the whole day for central Moscow. Red Square, the Kremlin, GUM and Zaryadye Park are all on the doorstep, and a Moscow Pass can bundle entry to several nearby attractions. When you plan the rest of your trip, our seasonal guide to visiting Moscow helps with what else is on at this time of year.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Spasskaya Tower festival in 2026?
The festival officially runs from 21 to 30 August 2026 on Red Square, with performances daily at 20:00. The children's strand takes place on 24-26 August.
Is the festival the same as visiting the Spasskaya Tower?
No. The festival is an evening military-music show staged on Red Square. The Spasskaya Tower is the Kremlin's famous clock tower — a separate sight you view from the square rather than enter.
How much do tickets cost?
Prices depend on the sector and the date. Standard grandstand seats start at a few thousand roubles, while VIP sectors and the closing gala are considerably more expensive. Buy from the official festival site or through a tour operator.
Can I buy tickets with a foreign card?
Usually not directly — Russian ticketing sites do not accept foreign Visa or Mastercard cards. Many visitors book through a local tour operator that includes the ticket, or arrange payment via the workarounds covered in our payment guides.
What time do the shows start and how long are they?
Performances begin at 20:00 each evening and last about 2 hours 15 minutes, ending with a light and fireworks finale. Arrive early to clear security around Red Square.
Festival dates, programme and ticket prices are set by the organisers and can change; confirm the current schedule on the official festival site before booking flights or accommodation. Last reviewed July 2026.
