Where You Can Celebrate Ukraine’s 2025 Independence Day If You’re Not in Ukraine

The Ukrainian Parliament adopted the Act of Declaration of Independence of Ukraine on August 24, 1991. More than 90% of citizens supported this decision.

“On August 24, 2025, Ukraine marks its Independence Day not with quiet reflection, but with fierce resolve,” says the UWC , calling on “freedom-loving people around the globe to stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine.” Here’s where celebrations are taking place over the weekend of August 22-24, 2025.

Europe

Warsaw, Poland

Poland has been Ukraine’s steadfast partner since the start of the full-scale invasion, sheltering almost 1 million refugees. 

On Sunday at 5 p.m., residents and refugees will gather at Castle Square, where the Ukrainian Folk ensemble and singer Pianoboy will perform—culminating in a multimedia freak-cabaret spectacle by Dakh Daughters. 

“Independence Day is a reminder of the price of freedom,” says Euromaidan-Warszawa . “But we're fighting on! We are in this together.” 

Berlin, Germany

Germany hosts close to 1.2 million Ukrainian refugees, more than any other EU country, underscoring its vital humanitarian support. 

The programme kicks off on Friday with the VOLIA art festival, where theatre, performance, visual art, dance, fashion, literature—and even stand-up comedy by YeStandUp Berlin—explore the meaning of independence amid war. On Sunday at 4 p.m., the NGO Vitsche will lead a march to the Brandenburg Gate under the banner “Future Needs Memory.” As Vitsche states: “Independence was not a gift—we restored it. Memory helps prevent the repetition of past mistakes.”

London, UK

London has emerged as a center of solidarity with Ukraine—from rallies filling Trafalgar Square to the rare honour of Westminster Hall opening its doors for President Zelenskyy’s historic address. 

On Sunday at 3 p.m., join the march, starting at Downing Street and walking together to the St Volodymyr statue to lay flowers in honour of Ukraine’s heroes. Afterwards, gather at Ole Kyiv to share a bowl of their beloved red borshch before dancing to the songs of Eurovision 2022 winners Kalush Orchestra. “Your presence matters. Your voice matters. Your solidarity matters,” says the march organisers, Support Ukraine.

Other events around the UK include a festival in Swindon, a family day in the park in Glasgow, a craft fair in Brighton, traditional dances in Swansea, and a presentation at the Museum of Liverpool.

Prague, Czechia

Czechia hosts one of Europe’s largest Ukrainian refugee populations—over 350,000 people, a presence that has reshaped Prague’s cultural and civic life. 

On Sunday at 4 p.m., a march will proceed from Náměstí Václava Havla to Rudolfinum, where the Embassy of Ukraine will host a commemorative gathering at 5 p.m. Participants are invited to bring whistles—symbols of survival under bombardment—to sound them together as a collective act of solidarity and remembrance. 

“We will raise that sound in the streets of Prague,” says Anastasiia Sihnaievska, co-founder of the Voice of Ukraine initiative. “It is a gesture of solidarity—and a message: Hear us.”

Paris, France

Paris has turned its landmarks into symbols of solidarity, including the recently dedicated “Jardin de Kyiv” on the Champs-Élysées. 

On Sunday at 2 p.m., gather at Place de la République for a march toward the “Ukrainian village” on Place de la Bastille. In the evening, meet at Trocadéro to watch the Eiffel Tower illuminate in blue and yellow. Independence today is not just the right to have your own state. “It is a fight for existence itself,” says Centre Culturel d'Ukraine en France.

Antalya, Türkiye

Antalya’s Ukrainian community is vibrant and deeply rooted, with 279 Ukrainian-founded companies active in the city. 

On Sunday at 11 a.m., this year’s celebrations will begin with a solemn liturgy and prayer for Ukraine, followed in the evening by a concert at Olbia Meydanı Town Square featuring Ukrainian artists and guests from friendly nations. Visitors can enjoy traditional delicacies, browse souvenirs and handmade crafts, and join a colorful unity flashmob, which promises to be the highlight of the day. The Consulate of Ukraine in Antalya stated: “On this day, we have to show the whole world that Ukraine is strong, the only and indestructible!”

Around Europe

Don’t miss a charity concert in Helsinki, a rock concert with Skai (СКАЙ) in Vienna, singer Antonina Matviyenko at the Pulse of Freedom Festival in Dublin, and a charity festival in Hamburg. See the gratitude procession in Tallinn, a 70m flag unfurling in Krakow, and come in embroidered clothes to a procession in Stockholm. Join 1000 others in a race in The Hague, a 3.4 km run to mark 34 years of independence in Barcelona, and look out for a special surprise at the end of the day in Brussels. 

Americas

Washington, DC

As the seat of US policy, Washington has been a focal point for solidarity and advocacy since 2022. 

On Sunday at 4:30 p.m., the day centers on a rally and march. Gather on the north side of the White House for official remarks and a musical interlude, then march with a giant Ukrainian flag to the Taras Shevchenko Memorial for music, dance, and poetry that caps the city’s commemoration. “Come together to honor Ukrainian Independence, Liberty, Heritage, and Culture,” say organizers.

New York City

Anchored by East Village’s “Little Ukraine” and institutions like the Ukrainian Institute of America, New York has repeatedly lit its landmarks blue and yellow in solidarity. 

On Sunday at 6 p.m., “24.FREEDOM” presents an immersive charity performance that turns freedom into music, movement, and visual art, anchored by a large-scale bird installation—a symbol of resilience, flight, and memory—alongside a lineup of Ukrainian and American artists, including the Dumka chorus. “To honor the fallen. To inspire the living,” say the organizers.

Chicago, Illinois

Home to Ukrainian Village and one of the nation’s largest diaspora communities, Chicago has long been a hub of culture and community support. 

On Friday at 1:30 p.m., a flag-raising ceremony at Daley Plaza opens the weekend. On Sunday at 2 p.m., gather in Congress Plaza Garden to set off on a parade through downtown to the Riverwalk’s west end, where the program continues with live music, a collective moment of silence, and the national anthem. “The presence of each of us is exceptionally important,” say organizer partners.

Around the US

Catch singer Oleh Skrypka in Lakewood, Colorado, electro-folk-pop sensation KAZKA in Sacramento, California, and folk singer Oksana Mukha in Raleigh, North Carolina. Don’t miss the silent auction in Phoenix, Arizona, a craft market in West Palm Beach, Florida, an exhibit of over 1,000 pysanky  in NYC, and yard games in Indianapolis, Indiana. There will also be a documentary screening in Washington DC and watch a film about the daring rescue of zoo animals behind enemy lines in cinemas across California. Witness city landmarks turn blue and yellow in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and join in the vyshyvanka  run in Jersey City, New Jersey.

Toronto, Canada

Home to one of North America’s largest Ukrainian communities, the city keeps support visible—from City Hall flag-raisings to year-round cultural showcases. 

On Saturday, Centennial Park hosts the 34th annual commemoration: an outdoor stage from 1 p.m. with dancers and musical acts, a food court and beverage gardens, a marketplace, a children’s zone, and evening live sets featuring special guest Kozak Siromaha. “Разом наша сила” (“Together we are strong”), say the organizers.

Across Canada 

There will be a charity run in Winnipeg, a charity concert in Edmonton, a BBQ fundraiser in Saskatoon, and a Day in the Park in Calgary. Gear up for a car rally from Montreal to Ottawa and the Burrard Bridge rally in Vancouver. 

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Shaped by major waves of Ukrainian immigration in the 20th century, Buenos Aires stands today as a cultural and social hub.

On Sunday at 11 a.m., a Divine Liturgy will be held at the Ukrainian Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Patronage with the participation of Argentine veterans of the war in Ukraine. Later, at 4 p.m., a ceremony will take place at the Taras Shevchenko monument in Tres de Febrero Park. “We look forward to honoring Ukraine together—its freedom, and all those who fight for it,” say the organizers.

São Paulo, Brazil

Brazil is home to the largest Ukrainian community in Latin America, with São Paulo as a central hub of diaspora life.

On Sunday at 11 a.m., the community gathers on Avenida Paulista, 1313, in front of FIESP, for a public rally, inviting both Ukrainians and friends to join in the demonstration. “We invite everyone to show solidarity with the Ukrainian people,” say the organizers.

Australia

Sydney

Sydney’s civic heart has repeatedly centered acts of solidarity—from fundraisers at Town Hall to community rallies—making it a dynamic hub of public support for Ukraine. 

On Saturday at 6 p.m., attend Spirit in Colour at the NIDA Parade Theatre for an evening of dance, performance, and music featuring Julia Sanina from The Hardkiss. Then gather at noon on Sunday, as the world’s largest Ukrainian flag unfurls at Barangaroo Reserve, a striking symbol of unity and resilience. 

“This is more than a concert—it’s a celebration of resilience and identity,” say the event’s organizers.

Melbourne

Melbourne has been home to a large Ukrainian community since the post-WWII migration.

On Sunday at 10:30 a.m., visit the Essendon market, where stalls will offer traditional food, embroidered clothing, and jewellery. At 4 p.m., the Hoverla Choir will host a celebration alongside community cultural groups. The day culminates at Federation Square with a rally at 5 p.m., uniting the wider public in remembrance and solidarity. As the Association of Ukrainians in Victoria puts it: “It is a time to stand together, honour those who have died, support those who are suffering, and speak the truth.”

Across Australia

There will also be a festival in Brisbane, a market in Tasmania, a luncheon in Perth, a concert in Adelaide, and a rally in Canberra.

Asia

Tokyo, Japan

Japan has become Asia’s strongest backer of Kyiv, providing billions of dollars in aid and consistently aligning with NATO partners. 

On Saturday at 1 p.m., a charity event at Plaza Mare, near Shin-Urayasu Station, will feature performances by cellist Gryb Tolmachev and violinist Oleksandra Holbulova. On Sunday at 4 p.m., a peaceful demonstration will take place at Shibuya Station to mark the 34th anniversary of independence and, as Stand with Ukraine Japan states, “remind the world about the price Ukrainians pay every day for freedom.”

Across Asia

There will be an immersive exhibition “Echo of Light: Ukrainian Heritage” in Dubai, a peaceful protest in Seoul, prayers at the Church of the Sacred Heart in Singapore, plus home-cooked Ukrainian food and an auction in Bangkok.

A global torch for independence

While the largest Independence Day celebrations once filled the streets of Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, those mass gatherings have not gone ahead since the full-scale invasion in 2022, suspended under the constant threat of Russian attacks. Abroad, diaspora communities and their allies carry the torch through marches, concerts, and vigils. 

This year also sees a global call for unity through initiatives like Free World Gathering, which seeks to connect people across borders in a shared stand for freedom and resilience. Wherever they are held, these commemorations affirm a simple truth: Ukraine’s independence endures.

Fundraiser For Peaceful Nights

$1,500,000 towards 10 Ukrainian AI-Controlled Turrets.

Donate