The «D Day» festival 2026
Once a year St Petersburg throws Dovlatov a birthday party the size of a festival. In 2026 «D Day» was held for the tenth time — on 29 and 30 August, for the writer’s 85th anniversary. The heart of the celebration was our apartment 34 at 23 Rubinstein Street. The festival days are over, but the flat is open every day: what’s on at the museum and the next dates.
What «D Day» is
«D Day» is a city festival in memory of Sergei Dovlatov: late summer, St Petersburg, talks, plays and walks around Dovlatov’s addresses. In 2026 the festival was held for the tenth time and marked the writer’s 85th anniversary. The dates were 29 and 30 August, and the programme had more than seventy events: lectures, plays, concerts, tours, workshops, readings and quests.
This year’s festival slogan is Dovlatov’s own: «— What would you like? — I would like, — I say, — for everyone to be kind, modest and courteous.»
The heart of the celebration is apartment 34 at 23 Rubinstein Street: the very communal flat where Dovlatov lived and where our museum now operates. The full city programme is on the festival’s official website, dovlatovday.ru.
The programme at 23 Rubinstein Street
On both festival days apartment 34 and the courtyard at 23 Rubinstein Street operate as a «D Day» venue. Below is the schedule according to the festival’s official programme. Tickets and booking for festival events are handled by the organisers at dovlatovday.ru; «D Day» tickets are not sold on our website.
The full city programme — more than seventy events at ten or so venues from New Holland to Sevkabel — is on the festival’s official website, dovlatovday.ru.
The eve of the festival: the flat performs
Right before «D Day» the flat hosts the chamber play «What have I earned?» based on The Suitcase — a house of 23 guests, with the next dates and booking on the play’s page. On Sunday evenings the flat performs the immersive tour «No goodbyes — call me!» — see what’s on for the dates.
If you want to catch the flat in silence, before the festival bustle, the museum tour runs daily at 11:00, 993 ₽.
How to get into the museum on festival days
As always — by prior booking only: the house is residential, and the front entrance cannot be opened from the street. On the festival weekend demand peaks and places go early, so the best plan is to book now: it is a request, not a payment, and you can reschedule or cancel free of charge.
The meeting point depends on the format — the exact address comes with your booking confirmation, and all the points are listed on the «Visit» page.
Moving out is not the done thing in this house.
While you wait for the festival
Dovlatov’s St Petersburg is open all year round: a route around the writer’s addresses, the page of apartment 34 itself and a short guide to his life and books — so you arrive at the festival prepared.
The essentials in brief
When is the «D Day» festival held in 2026?
Where is the centre of the «D Day» festival?
How do I get into the museum on festival days?
What is the museum preparing for «D Day»?
The festival is two days a year. The flat is open all year round — by appointment.
Upcoming performances, immersive formats and tours — in the museum’s listings
Tours — pay at the meeting point, theatre — online · or call: +7 931 109-12-35