Ukraine's first festival of young Ukrainian academic composers. Debut edition 14-16 May 2026 at Kyiv Composers' House.
Kyiv Composers' House and Composers' Union of Ukraine announced on 14 January 2026 the founding of festival 'New Voices 2026' — Ukraine's first specialized festival of young Ukrainian academic composers. Festival curator — Nikita Moiseiev (24 years old, the youngest curator of an official academic festival in Ukrainian culture history). The debut edition runs 14-16 May 2026 at Kyiv Composers' House (350 spectators each of three concert halls). Debut edition lineup: 18 young Ukrainian composers aged 20-32 (from 86 applications submitted in December 2025). Among selected — Anna Timchenko (Kyiv), Maxim Shakhrai (Lviv), Yulia Hrechanyk (Kharkiv), plus 15 others. Each composer presents a new 6-12 minute work written specifically for the festival. Performers of all works are special ensemble 'Sounds Today 2026' — 14 professional musicians from Kyiv Conservatory plus other universities. Festival programme — 3 days with 18 concerts (6 per day, 3-4 performers in each). Total concert duration — about 22 hours of festival programme. Special form of the final day — 'Master Class' with Shmurak, Sylvestrov, Zahaikevych, Stankovych for audience and participating composers. Recording of all 18 new compositions will be included in 4-CD compilation set 'New Voices 2026' (release November 2026 on Mukha Records label). In 2027 the festival plans to expand to 24 composers and an additional international block.
