How the Tutaka festival is held in Bialystok Region
On Friday, July 17, the "Tutaka-2026: Free" festival kicked off in the Baryk tract in Podlachia. It will last for three days. "Belsat" reported what happened on the first day of the festival and what events still await participants.
Performance by the band Rima at the Tutaka festival. July 17, 2026. Photo: Raul Duke / Belsat
This is already the sixth Tutaka festival. One of the main changes this year is the paid entrance. In Belarusian rubles, it costs approximately 120 rubles. Entrance remains free for children and people over 65 years old.
The organizers were widely criticized for this innovation, but they explain that they consider this decision very important, as such an approach gives every participant the opportunity to feel their involvement in building and maintaining Belarusian culture.
"Thanks to this, we gained a strategic partner, and all those who bought tickets became this strategic partner. It is very important that we, as a society, understand the responsibility for how we create our culture, how we support it. This is a fairly easy brick that can simply be paid for, and thanks to this, the festival will continue to develop," explained Pavel Stankevich, the festival organizer, in a comment to Belsat.
Those who cannot or do not want to pay for admission can join as volunteers, he added, because "there is a lot of work."
Master class on making straw horses at the Tutaka festival. July 17, 2026. Photo: Raul Duke / Belsat
In addition to the music program, the festival constantly hosts master classes, lectures, and discussions. Belarusians also brought many different shops to the festival where Belarusian symbols can be purchased. For example, human rights activist Nastya Bazar "re-qualified a bit," made T-shirts with "Pahonia" and sells them.
Nastya Bazar at the Tutaka festival. July 17, 2026. Photo: Raul Duke / Belsat
Hanna Fiodaronak, head of the "Prytulyai mianie" fund, director and founder of the shelter for Belarusian political prisoners, brought Belarusian souvenirs made by the hands of the fund's workers and shelter residents to the festival.
"We don't sell all of this, but exchange it for donations and thus raise money for the shelter," Ms. Hanna explained to Belsat.
Hanna Fiodaronak at the Tutaka festival. July 17, 2026. Photo: Raul Duke / Belsat
On the first day of the festival, one could listen to a lecture by gender researcher Iryna Sidorskaya titled "Not from scratch: what it really means to start life in emigration after forty," participate in a discussion organized by the Kosciuszko Institute for Security Studies "How many Belarusians in Europe," ask questions to singer Anastasiya Rydlevskaya, learn how to make straw horses, and sing ditties with Volha Baryshnikava.
Iryna Sidorskaya giving a lecture at the Tutaka festival. Photo: Raul Duke / Belsat
Informal meeting with Anastasiya Rydlevskaya at the Tutaka festival. Photo: Raul Duke / Belsat
Discussion about the possibility of a round table between the authorities and the opposition at the Tutaka festival. July 17, 2026. Photo: Raul Duke / Belsat
The first day ended with a music program. It was opened by the local music band Rima, after which participants could enjoy listening to Anastasiya Rydlevskaya.
Politician Pavel Seviarynets surprised the audience by reading rap.
Pavel Seviarynets reading rap at the Tutaka festival. July 17, 2026. Screenshot: Pavel Seviarynets/TG
Performance by Anastasiya Rydlevskaya's band at the Tutaka festival. July 17, 2026. Photo: Raul Duke / Belsat
People listening to Anastasiya Rydlevskaya's band at the Tutaka festival. July 17, 2026. Photo: Raul Duke / Belsat
The Saturday festival program includes a tournament in memory of the outstanding Belarusian artist Ales Pushkin; a screening of Mary Tamkovich's feature film "Under a Gray Sky," inspired by the story of journalists Katsiaryna Andrejeva and Ihar Ilyash; a discussion on who can unite Belarusians; a meeting with former political prisoner Maksim Znak and democratic leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, as well as Belsat stars in the format of the popular program "Here and There."
Performance by the band Rima at the Tutaka festival. July 17, 2026. Photo: Raul Duke / Belsat
The musical culmination of Saturday evening will be performances by the original folk-hip-hop project Chornabrova, rapper Vinsent, and the Hrodna punk rebels band "Dzietsiuki."