For 2026, we confirmed 5 Christmas events for kids in Odesa. The season opens on December 13 with New Year Musical “Three Nuts for Cinderella” (Try horishky dlia Popelushky) and runs until January 5 with Winter Adventures (Zymovi pryhody). Every listing links straight to the host. This page is part of our guide to Christmas events for kids in Ukraine.
The short version
- Kids’ Christmas events confirmed for 2026 in Odesa: 5
- First: New Year Musical “Three Nuts for Cinderella” (Try horishky dlia Popelushky), Odesa, December 13
- Free events: None confirmed yet
Below is every event we could confirm, grouped by town, with the date, time, cost and the small things parents ask about (registration, ages, what is included).
At a glance: Christmas events for kids in Odesa
- Kids’ Christmas events
- 5 confirmed for 2026
- Towns
- Odesa
- Season
- December 13 to January 5
- Free events
- None confirmed yet
- Last checked
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Ticketed and paid Christmas events for kids in Odesa
Admission, tickets or a fee apply. Where a host has not posted a price yet, the listing says so.
Christmas show
New Year Musical “Three Nuts for Cinderella” (Try horishky dlia Popelushky)
- When: Sun, Dec 13, 2026, 12 pm to 2 pm
- Where: Odesa Ukrainian Theater named after V. Vasylko (Odeskyi ukrainskyi teatr imeni V. Vasylka), вул. Пастера, 15, Odesa 65000 (opens in maps)
- Cost: From UAH 340
Expand to see the parent tip
The musical “Three Nuts for Cinderella” takes place on Sunday, Dec 13, 2026 at 12 pm at the Odesa Ukrainian Theater named after V. Vasylko. According to the schedule on the ticket page, the show runs until about 2 pm.
The theater is at Pastera Street 15. Tickets are sold online, from UAH 340. The list of dates on the ticket site also shows one more show on Jan 3, 2027.
Parent tip: Sunday at 12 pm is a good fit for a family outing after breakfast. Expect it to be in Ukrainian.
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Rally’s Christmas research
Rally the corgi has 4 more Odesa events researched for you.
- New events every week We research new events daily and send you one email a week with the new ones we find in Odesa.
- Exclusive access to free events Be first to hear about new free events in Odesa.
- Unlock the filters Find Santa visits, free events and weekend plans in one tap.
- Rally’s Christmas Eve Express and a free advent calendar Get early access to Rally the corgi’s Christmas Eve tracker, plus a free digital advent calendar to count down to Christmas.
- One-tap add to calendar Save any event to your Google, Apple or Outlook calendar so you never miss it.
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Christmas show
The Nutcracker (Luskunchyk)
- When: Dec 17, 2026 to Jan 10, 2027, next shows: Dec 17 at 5 pm, Dec 18 at 11 am and 5 pm, Dec 19 at 11 am
- Where: Odesa Academic Theater for Young Audiences (Odeskyi akademichnyi teatr yunoho hliadacha), вул. Грецька, 48а, Odesa 65026 (opens in maps)
- Cost: From UAH 250
Expand to see the parent tip
The Nutcracker is one of the best-loved Christmas stories, and the Odesa Academic Theater for Young Audiences shows it throughout the winter holidays. The first shows are on Dec 17 at 5 pm, Dec 18 at 11 am and 5 pm, and Dec 19 at 11 am, and in all the listings have twenty events through Jan 10, 2027.
The theater is at Hretska Street 48a. Tickets are sold online, and the cheapest start at UAH 250. The 11 am morning shows suit families with younger children, and the 5 pm evening shows suit school-age kids.
Parent tip: Popular shows usually sell out ahead of time, so it is best to buy tickets in advance. Expect it to be in Ukrainian.
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Christmas show
Winter Adventures (Zymovi pryhody)
- When: Dec 25, 2026 to Jan 5, 2027, 20 shows
- Where: Beit Grand (Jewish Cultural Center), вул. Ніжинська, 77/79, Odesa 65000 (opens in maps)
- Cost: From UAH 100
Expand to see the parent tip
“Winter Adventures” is a children's New Year show that will run at the Beit Grand cultural center from Dec 25, 2026 to Jan 5, 2027. The schedule has twenty events, so you can pick a convenient day during the break.
The center is at Nizhynska Street 77/79. Tickets are sold online from UAH 100, which makes it one of the most affordable New Year shows in the city.
Parent tip: See the event selection page for the dates and times of individual shows. Expect it to be in Ukrainian.
- Host
- Beit Grand (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Beit Grand (Jewish Cultural Center), вул. Ніжинська, 77/79, Odesa 65000 (opens in maps)
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
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Christmas show
New Year Mission of the Mega Puppies Rescuers (Novorichna misiia Mehashchenat-Riativnykiv)
- When: Dec 26 and 27, 2026
- Where: Odesa Academic Theater for Young Audiences (Odeskyi akademichnyi teatr yunoho hliadacha), вул. Грецька, 48а, Odesa 65026 (opens in maps)
- Cost: From UAH 200
Expand to see the parent tip
The New Year Mission of the Mega Puppies Rescuers is a show based on a children's cartoon. It will be shown at the Theater for Young Audiences on Dec 26 and 27, 2026, the weekend after Christmas.
Tickets are sold online from UAH 200. The theater is at Hretska Street 48a. The start time of each show appears when you choose the event on the ticket sales page.
Parent tip: Check the start time when you choose the date. Expect it to be in Ukrainian.
New events in Odesa every week
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Christmas show
The Snow Queen (Snihova Koroleva)
- When: Tue, Dec 29, 2026, two shows
- Where: Odesa Musical Comedy Theater named after M. Vodianyi (Odeskyi teatr muzychnoi komedii imeni M. Vodianoho), вул. Пантелеймонівська, 3, Odesa 65026 (opens in maps)
- Cost: From UAH 250
Expand to see the parent tip
The fairy-tale show “The Snow Queen” takes place on Tuesday, Dec 29, 2026 at the Odesa Musical Comedy Theater named after Vodianyi. The schedule has two shows, so you can choose a morning or afternoon time.
The theater is at Panteleimonivska Street 3. Tickets are sold online from UAH 250. The start time of each show appears when you choose the event on the sales page.
Parent tip: Buy tickets in advance, because New Year shows sell out quickly. Expect it to be in Ukrainian.
- Host
- Odesa Academic Musical Comedy Theater named after M. Vodianyi (Odeskyi akademichnyi teatr muzychnoi komedii imeni M. Vodianoho) (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Odesa Musical Comedy Theater named after M. Vodianyi (Odeskyi teatr muzychnoi komedii imeni M. Vodianoho), вул. Пантелеймонівська, 3, Odesa 65026 (opens in maps)
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
New events in Odesa every week
Rally looks for new Christmas events in Odesa every day and adds them to this page. Enter your email for one weekly update with the latest finds.
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More Christmas events for kids in Ukraine
A story for the trip home
Our picture book follows Rally the corgi on his first train ride to see his grand-paw-rents. It is a cozy story to share on the way home after a big day out.
A bedtime story after seeing SantaRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first train ride, hand-painted in real watercolor. Ages 0 to 8.
Buy on Amazon.com (opens in a new tab)Christmas events for kids in Odesa: questions parents ask
What are the 2026 Christmas events for kids in Odesa?
For 2026, we confirmed 5 Christmas events for kids in Odesa, each on its host’s own page: The Nutcracker (Luskunchyk), New Year Musical “Three Nuts for Cinderella” (Try horishky dlia Popelushky), The Snow Queen (Snihova Koroleva) and 2 more. Each one is listed above with times, cost and a link to the host.
How do you confirm these events?
We list an event only after we find this season’s date on the host’s own website or an official city, library or tourism calendar. We last checked every listing on November 9, 2026. Hosts change details, so always confirm on the host’s page before you go.
Event names belong to their hosts. Rally Takes the Train is a family picture book and is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by any host listed here. Confirm dates, times and prices on each host’s own site before you go.
Christmas events for 2026 are coming in late November
More Christmas events arrive in late November. We add them here as soon as we confirm them.
The story of Christmas in Odesa
Christmas in Odesa is about big city trees, children's theater and old family customs such as Saint Nicholas and caroling. Here is what the traditions mean, how the city's first Christmas tree arrived and how to plan a family visit.
How Odesa celebrates Christmas
Odesa's celebration centers on big trees and children's theater. The main city tree stands on Duma Square, and it is traditionally set up just before Saint Nicholas Day. There are other city trees too, on Derybasivska Street and in neighborhoods around town.
For a visiting family, the season is easy to enjoy. Evenings are for the lights, and theater shows for children fill the days in December and early January, including a Nutcracker at the Odesa Youth Theatre.
Traditions your kids will meet
Saint Nicholas brings gifts to children on the night before December 6. The main tree in Odesa is lit close to that date.
Christmas Eve is December 24. The festive meal begins with the first star, with a candle and twelve meatless dishes on the table, and kutia in the middle. A sheaf of grain called a didukh stands in the house at Christmas as a reminder of summer, harvest and plenty.
Children and teenagers sing carols and shchedrivky and get sweets in return.
The first New Year tree in Odesa came in 1811 from the Potocki park in Uman. The party took place in a house on Sofiivska Street that still stands today. Guests included Richelieu, Langeron and Potocki with his wife.
Planning a Christmas visit to Odesa with kids
Most events on this page are theater shows, and they start in mid-December. A Sunday musical based on Cinderella is on December 13. The Nutcracker at the Odesa Youth Theatre runs from December 17 into January, with many performances. There are shows for the youngest, such as a rescue-puppies show on December 26 and 27, and The Snow Queen on December 29.
A winter show at the Beit Grand cultural center runs from December 25 to January 5, with tickets starting at 100 hryvnias. Most events are in Ukrainian, so check with the host if you need English. All the events listed here are ticketed.
The Nutcracker tree on Duma Square
In December 2019, the main tree on Duma Square was more than 20 meters tall and 9 meters wide. It had a metal frame and artificial needles made from Italian raw material. About 4 kilometers of garlands and duralight and 100,000 LEDs in green, blue and warm white decorated it.
Next to it, the city set up a scene from The Nutcracker, with the Mouse King, his throne, a ballerina and the Nutcracker himself. The opening was planned for December 19 at 4 p.m.
Traditions today
- The main tree on Duma Square: It is traditionally set up just before Saint Nicholas Day, and the opening takes place in December.
- The tree on Derybasivska: City trees stand not only on Duma Square but also on Derybasivska Street and in neighborhoods.
- Christmas Eve in Odesa: The festive meal on December 24 begins with the first star. There is a candle, kutia and twelve meatless dishes on the table.
- Carols: Children and teenagers sing Christmas songs and shchedrivky and get sweets.
- Saint Nicholas: On the night before December 6, Saint Nicholas brings gifts to children, and the main tree is lit around then.
- The didukh: A sheaf of grain stands in the home at Christmas and reminds the family of summer, harvest and plenty.
A fact for kids
Odesa's first Christmas tree came all the way from Uman in 1811, and home trees then were decorated with Crimean apples, almonds and nuts.
Questions about Christmas in Odesa
Is Odesa worth visiting at Christmas with kids?
Yes, if your kids enjoy city lights and theater. Odesa has big trees, Saint Nicholas traditions and several children's shows, including The Nutcracker, from mid-December into January.
When do the Christmas events in Odesa start?
The first event on this page is the Sunday musical Three Nuts for Cinderella on December 13. The Nutcracker begins on December 17, and shows run into early January.
Where can kids see The Nutcracker in Odesa?
At the Odesa Youth Theatre, from December 17 to January 10, with many performances. The first shows are on December 17 at 5 p.m. and December 18 at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Tickets start at 250 hryvnias.
Are there free Christmas events in Odesa?
The events listed on this page are ticketed, with prices starting at 100 hryvnias. City trees on Duma Square and Derybasivska Street are part of the public celebration. Check with hosts for any free options.
Are Christmas events in Odesa in English?
Most events are in Ukrainian. Theater shows for children are often easy to enjoy through music and costumes, but check with the host if you need English.
Where can kids meet Saint Nicholas or Santa in Odesa?
This page does not list a Saint Nicholas house in Odesa. Saint Nicholas brings gifts on the night before December 6, and the main city tree is lit around that date. Check with theater hosts about Santa characters in the children's shows.
When is the main Christmas tree set up in Odesa?
The main tree on Duma Square is traditionally set up just before Saint Nicholas Day, and the opening is in December. In 2019, it was put together on December 17 and opened on December 19.
What is the main tree in Odesa like?
In 2019 it was more than 20 meters tall and 9 meters wide, on a metal frame with artificial needles. It was decorated with about 4 kilometers of garlands and duralight and 100,000 LEDs.
What is the Nutcracker scene near the Odesa tree?
In 2019, the city placed a Nutcracker scene next to the tree on Duma Square. It had the Mouse King, his throne, a ballerina and the Nutcracker.
Who made the tree on Derybasivska Street?
A company called Lumiere Ukraine from Chornomorsk made it. The frames are modular, and one element takes 20 to 30 minutes to put together. The tree was bought once, and each year only lights and decorations change.
When was the first Christmas tree in Odesa?
The first New Year tree was brought in 1811 from the Potocki park in Uman. The party was held in a house on Sofiivska Street that still stands, with guests including Richelieu, Langeron and Potocki and his wife.
How were Christmas trees decorated in old Odesa?
Home trees were decorated with Crimean apples, almonds and nuts, because glass toys cost up to 20 rubles. Decorating trees for the holidays became common in the city in the middle of the 19th century and caught on among ordinary people in the early 20th century.
What do Ukrainians eat on Christmas Eve?
Families begin the meal when the first star appears. A candle is lit, twelve meatless dishes are served, and kutia stands in the middle of the table.
What is a didukh?
A didukh is a sheaf of grain placed in the house at Christmas. It reminds the family of summer, harvest and plenty.
What are Ukrainian Christmas carols for kids?
Children and teenagers sing carols and shchedrivky and receive sweets. It is a tradition that kids enjoy today.
When does Saint Nicholas bring gifts in Odesa?
Saint Nicholas brings gifts to children on the night before December 6. The main tree on Duma Square is lit close to that date.
Which Odesa shows are best for young children?
The rescue-puppies New Year show at the Odesa Youth Theatre is for young children and runs on December 26 and 27, with tickets from 200 hryvnias. The Snow Queen fairy tale on December 29 is also a family option.
What is Winter Adventures at Beit Grand?
It is a children's New Year show at the Beit Grand cultural center with many performances from December 25 to January 5. Tickets start at 100 hryvnias.
What is Three Nuts for Cinderella?
It is a New Year musical based on the Cinderella story at the Odesa Ukrainian Theatre. It is a Sunday daytime show on December 13, from noon to 2 p.m., with tickets from 340 hryvnias.
Is there a Snow Queen show in Odesa?
Yes. The Snow Queen is performed twice on Tuesday, December 29, at the Odesa Musical Comedy Theatre. Tickets start at 250 hryvnias.
Which Odesa dates have the most Christmas shows?
December 17 to 19 is busy with The Nutcracker. December 25 to 29 has many options, including the Beit Grand show, the rescue-puppies show and The Snow Queen.
Sources
- Біля головної міської ялинки Одеси поселять персонажів з «Лускунчика», Главком
- Як на Одещині виготовляють новорічні прикраси, Суспільне Одеса
- Цікаві факти про те, як святкували Новий рік в Одесі 200 років тому, Новини.live
- Дідух, вечеря та вертеп: як традиційно відсвяткувати Різдво в Україні, ТСН
- Хто такий Святий Миколай: легенда про походження свята та його значення, ZAXID.NET