Almost fifteen hundred artists representing ten countries from all around the world, over six thousand people on the stands and some of the most outstanding music and dance pieces: the Seventeenth Spasskaya Tower International Military Music Festival grand finale pounded the cobblestones of Moscow’s Red Square.
Celebrating the 80th anniversary of the end of the Great Patriotic War, this year’s show acted as a melodic melting pot that mixed together an array of outstanding music sketches. Wonderfully varied cast from abroad, and homegrown acts paid tribute to one of Russia’s most prominent hallmarks as well as honoured all the Defenders of the Motherland. Some of the best Russian military and law enforcement ensembles wowed the packed crowds with the world-renowned Katusha, Road to Berlin, the Victory and other songs. Meanwhile, the tattoo’s guests from abroad blended in a plethora of the iconic war-years compositions. The Band of the Sharjah Police Science Academy performed the vibrant Smuglyanka, while the Presidential Orchestra of Burkina Faso sang the Sacred War song in Russian. However, the major highlight of the night was the roaring performance showcased by the Spasskaya Tower Festival combined band. To the crowds standing ovations, and solemn sounds of the Victory Day song the musicians left the stage, calling it a day.
‘The Seventeenth Spasskaya Tower Festival stands out due to its leading theme, the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory, which was masterfully reflected in both foreign and homegrown acts. In 2025 we welcomed a lot of guests from abroad, the majority of whom have never been part of the Spasskaya Tower Festival. We were also happy to see some of our old friends, including the flag-wavers from Italy. People in Europe know and love the Spasskaya Tower Festival which is an excellent diplomatic means uniting nations. Every year on Red Square we construct a tent camp where artists from all over the world meet, share experience and ultimately become good fellows. There are no barriers. Neither language, nor cultural differences can impede the universal passion for music to triumph’, highlighted Major General Timofey Mayakin, Music Director of the Festival. ‘The feeling of excitement is strong not only among the participants, but the audiences as well. The stands are packed every night, with many people coming from other regions just to enjoy the show. However, I’d like to draw your attention that we receive a lot of excellent feedback from our dear veterans and participants of the special military operations. They find the Festival important and coping with its patriotic mission. It’s very gratifying’, shared Major General Mayakin. ‘Thus, I have the right to declare that the 2025 Festival was a success’.
Every year the Spasskaya Tower Festival is recognized as the most prominent international cultural event in Russia, and enjoys the unwavering support of the government institutions and some of the biggest Russian companies. As per Mr Sergey Smirnov, Head of the Spasskaya Tower Festival Directorate, the participation of the world-renowned opera singers was possible due to the support of the Russian Ministry of Culture. ‘The stands had an opportunity to enjoy the beautiful voices of Albina Shagimuratova and Vasily Ladyuk, Agunda Kulaeva and Alexey Tatarintsev who performed some of the best-loved songs together with the Central Military Band of the Russian Ministry of Defense’, shared Mr Sergey Smirnov. Besides, he pointed out the invaluable support by the Festival's good friends, including the Rostec state corporation, the ROSOBORONEXPORT company, the Transneft and FOSAGRO companies. ‘This upscale international celebration of music and peoples’ friendship would be impossible without their contribution’.
Arriving on Red Square and taking their seats on the stands the crowds witness a breathtaking spectacle, featuring a dazzling array of military bands, cultural performers, and intricate choreography. They follow the show in one sitting, feeling its lightness and flowyness. However, this seamless blend of tradition and innovation is a production created by the hard work of an extensive team of high-end professionals. The stage director of the Festival claims that the very next day is the timeframe when the subsequent show is started to be created.
‘The Spasskaya Tower Festival is a state significant event as it unfolds on Red Square. This year we celebrate the 80th anniversary of the end of the Great Patriotic War. However, we wanted to omit being repetitive and honor our heroes, parents and grandparents with some twists as well as fresh, creative elements. And we coped with the task, with the leading theme running through the whole production as a binding ribbon’, said Mr Yuriy Markholia, the stage director of the Spasskaya Tower International Military Tattoo. ‘The Festival is a complex production that may be easily transformed on the spot. As a living organism, it adapts to the sketches that participants have prepared, to the script and precise timing. However, the most important thing has always been the atmosphere translated to the crowds. People witnessing the show always confess that it is gorgeous and they feel happy and joyful. Our Festival is the best tattoo production in the world, an internationally recognized fact’, pointed out Mr Markholia.
Unfolding in the very heart of Moscow, this international celebration of peoples’ friendship and unity is adorned by the gasp-inducing building of Saint Basil’s Cathedral, red brick walls and towers of the Moscow Kremlin as well as the ancient cobblestones of Red Square. Thus, the Festival venue is unique not just in terms of the historical hallmarks, but also sound-wise. According to the tattoo’s sound engineers, though challenging, their task on the venue is very exciting.
‘The layout of the speakers and microphones is thought out to the smallest detail. We managed to organize everything in such a way that the equipment does not impede the stands to watch the show, providing the artists with high-quality sound. No matter where you sit, you’ll perfectly hear everything’, explained Ms Daria Rudakova, the sound producer of the show. However, every year the sound engineering team of the Festival tries to innovate, because the technologies never stop developing. ‘There are over 60 loudspeakers on Red Square, we employ 86 radio channels and about a hundred microphones. The participants are very different, for example some of them have folk instruments and others play only brass instruments. Here is another example, some teams bring big choirs, while others have just a single vocalist. Therefore, each act’s dynamic is special and we need to adapt individually for every sketch unfolding on the square, so that the stands can distinguish between a drum and some folk instrument’, she said.
Whenever you decide to visit the Spasskaya Tower Festival, you will always feel welcome and attended by the tattoo’s amazing and caring volunteers. They are always happy to assist the visitors who may get lost, accompany the ones who have physical disabilities and answer all the questions concerning the Spasskaya Tower Festival. Along with the interns, the volunteers also have an opportunity to assist the organizers of the Festival with their routine tasks.
‘‘The Volunteers’ Union’ is the organization responsible for recruiting and coordinating the volunteering team of the Festival. In 2025 we have selected 350 individuals out of an enormous number of applications forwarded by people who know and cherish the Festival’, pointed out Ms Daria Andreeva, the volunteers and interns coordinator of the Spasskaya Tower Military Tattoo. As per her, all the selected individuals underwent special training. She shared that in 2025 the youngest volunteer was 15, while the oldest one was 79.
In an awe-inspiring display of music, dance, precision, colour and lights, the show merges the traditional elements the tattoo is loved and known for, with modern twists. However, it would be pale without a wonderfully varied cast from around the world. Audience members are always looking forward to embarking on new adventurous journeys. As for the Russian ensembles, they use the opportunity to share experience and establish cooperation. The Festival production and managing team features a plethora of skilful specialists responsible for meeting, hosting and assisting the foreign guests during their stay in Moscow and on Red Square.
‘We have been with the Spasskaya Tower Festival since its inception. This year our team includes almost one hundred people who translate, accompany, assist, perform administrative duties, etc. We welcome artists from nine countries, in total about five hundred people. I dare say that everything is proceeding smoothly, except for the cold weather at the beginning. We have three teams from Africa and one from the UAE. They are not used to such temperatures, and the cold came to them as an unpleasant surprise. Nevertheless, we managed everything and coped with the weather’, shared a few details Mr Dmitry Khmelnitskiy, head of the hosting, management, logistic and coordination department of the Festival. While staying in Moscow members of the Festival’s international cast have a lot of side events organized specifically for them. ‘They do not only perform on Red Square’, highlighted Mr Khmelnitski. ‘They go sightseeing, learn about the city’s hallmarks, etc. Through all those years the feedback has always been positive. The Spasskaya Tower Festival is an unparalleled event, especially in terms of patriotic values, with music being the ultimate unifying power among nations’.
According to Ms Yulia Shagina, the deputy head of the hosting, management, logistic and coordination department, the real heart of the Festival everyday life is the tent camp constructed on Vasilievsky Spusk or Basil's Descent beneath the Kremlin walls. Each team has a tent of its own where the artists get ready and may relax. The camp is a spot where cultures bridge together through dialogue and friendship.
‘Well, as for the tent camp life, our guests from Africa prefer to stick together. Nevertheless, the Zimbabwean musicians are always ready to talk and interact. The young Suvorov cadets as usual try to make as many new friends as possible. While our guests from Kazakhstan enjoy playing a footbag game. Foreign participants eagerly share their stories and emotions. Thus, the Ethiopian and Zimbabwean folk are truly impressed by Moscow. Our Italian guests spent nearly two hours exploring the Memory Lane museum complex and visited the Main Cathedral of the Russian Armed Forces, confessing that it was a mind-blowing experience’, said Ms Yulia Shagina.
The Spasskaya Tower Festival is an emotionally charged spectacle that is cherished in various regions of Russia as well as all over the world. The Festival has become both global and viral due to the extensive media and social media coverage and the assistance of the Festival Press Center team.
‘This year’s production is being broadly covered by some of the most renowned Russian and foreign media. Eye-catching photos, gripping TV stories, engaging news articles and attractive Internet coverage draw huge numbers of spectators, ultimately turning them into big fans of the Festival and wind music. We appreciate all the media representatives working at the Festival and covering. We are happy to see old friends and eagerly welcome new faces’, said Ms Evgenia Astakhova, Media and PR Deputy.
The last chord of the Seventeenth Spasskaya Tower International Military Music Festival has faded. Tomorrow, guests from other countries will embark on their journeys back home. The stands hosting in total over 60 thousand people are soon to be dismantled. Hence, the team of the Spasskaya Tower Festival would like to say a fond farewell to all the organizers, participants and the dearest guests and is looking forward to meeting everyone soon.
