Moscow opens its doors to Indian visitors for a month-long Christmas festivities

This year, Manezhnaya Square will delight visitors with the “City of Christmas Tree Ornaments” — an enchanting market inspired by the warm, nostalgic aesthetic of early 20th-century cotton toys.

From December 12, 2025, to January 11, 2026, Moscow will once again host its annual “Journey to Christmas” festival, transforming the city into a grand winter stage where cherished traditions, beloved fairy tales, and festive surprises come to life. The festival is part of the “Winter in Moscow” project. For an entire month, Russia’s capital will be immersed in the magic of the season.

Here, visitors will find not only the iconic figures of the Russian New Year — Ded Moroz and Snegurochka but also dozens of other vintage fairy-tale characters. Guests can take photos among decorations that look as though they’ve just been lifted from an old holiday coffer, take part in mini performances inspired by fairy tales, and sample traditional dishes of Soviet New Year celebrations.

Young visitors of the festival will enjoy a wide range of workshops, from metal stamping and crafting Christmas trick-objects to painting glassware, making candles and creating Soviet-style ornaments. New Year cooking studios will open for the smallest guests. Numerous theatrical performances based on classic Russian fairy tales will captivate visitors, while fans of active recreation can enjoy sports zones, a curling school and more than 170 festive ice shows, including Swan Lake, Snow White, The Twelve Months and other winter stories. The quest “Journey for the Dream Gift” will introduce visitors to traditions of Russia’s many regions as participants collect stamps in their traveller’s passport and exchange them for prizes.

“Journey to Christmas” will be the key event of the “Winter in Moscow” project, a major celebration that brings together tradition, modern culture and the warm spirit of the holiday season for residents and guests of all ages. For Indian travellers seeking an authentic winter experience, this festival offers a perfect blend of culture, entertainment, and festive charm, making it an unforgettable family getaway or solo winter adventure.