2025 Victory Day Parade rehearsals: dates, schedules, street closures in Moscow

Victory Day in the Great Patriotic War (WWII) is celebrated annually in Russia on May 9. This significant date is dedicated to the heroic deeds of Soviet soldiers who fought with dignity against the Nazi invaders from June 1941 to May 1945. In memory of this event, Victory parades are held in many Russian cities, the main one being on Red Square in Moscow. In 2025, the Parade will be dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the victory. Shortly before May 9, march rehearsals are being held on the streets of the capital, which is why some streets in the center of Moscow are being blocked. The schedule of rehearsals and the scheme of road closures are in the Izvestia material.

The 2025 Victory Day Parade Rehearsal: schedule — when and at what time

The Victory Day Parade on the main square of the capital is considered one of the most important symbols of the memory of the Great Patriotic War. However, its history was not continuous: after 1945, the events were temporarily stopped — parades were not held in 1946 and 1947, and in 1948, the tradition was completely interrupted for almost two decades. Only in 1965, on the 20th anniversary of the Victory, the solemn procession was returned. Further parades were held in 1985 and 1990, and after the 50th anniversary of the Victory they are held annually.

On the occasion of the anniversary, Izvestia launched a special project "80 days to Victory." It publishes articles published during the war, the full list of which can be found in the electronic archive. A virtual museum dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Victory has also been created, featuring photographs of the war years and war heroes. Now you can see them, including on media facades in different cities of Russia.

In 2025, the parade will traditionally take place on Red Square on May 9th. It starts at 10:00 a.m. and ends at noon. This year, the anniversary parade is expected to be attended by the leaders of 20 foreign countries.

Traditionally, military equipment will be involved in the parade, and all branches of the Russian Armed Forces, representatives of various law enforcement agencies and cadets of military academies will take part. The total number of participants will be more than 10 thousand people.

The first rehearsal of the Victory Day parade with the participation of foot columns took place in March in the Moscow suburb of Alabino in the Naro-Fominsk district. During the training, the soldiers practiced the drill step and movement synchronization.

The first rehearsal took place on April 29 on Red Square in Moscow, the next preparatory event is expected on May 3 at 16:30, and the dress rehearsal will take place on May 7 at 5:00.

Where to see military equipment during the rehearsal of the May 9 Parade

The route of traffic during rehearsals and at the beginning of the Victory Day Parade has remained virtually unchanged for many years. Military equipment traditionally moves from Zvenigorodskoye highway to Barricade, then through Triumfalnaya Square it goes to Tverskaya Street, passes Manezhnaya and heads to Red Square.

After the completion of the solemn event, the columns leave the city center by another route — through Vasilyevsky Descent and Kremlevskaya Embankment, then along Mokhovaya Street they leave for Novy Arbat, pass through Barricade again and return to the gathering place in the Nizhny Mnevniki area.

The aviation part of the parade is most conveniently observed from Kremlevskaya and Sofiyskaya embankments, as well as from Leningradskoye Highway and near Belorussky Railway Station. Tverskaya Street is one of the best points for observing military equipment.

Overlap in Moscow for the Parade rehearsal: map, dates

Temporary traffic restrictions are being introduced in the center of Moscow amid the rehearsals of the parade, the authorities of the capital recalled. Parking will be prohibited in areas of overlap, and pedestrian crossings will be closed in some areas. The restrictions will be lifted after the end of the event.

Between 16:30 and 19:00 on May 3, streets will be closed in the Russian capital: 1st Tverskaya Yamskaya, Volgogradsky Prospekt, Novinsky Boulevard, Oruzheyny Lane.

During the dress rehearsal, early in the morning on May 7, traffic restrictions will affect Gasek Streets, Kadashevskaya and Kotelnicheskaya embankments, Armory Lane, Petrovka Street, Solyanka, Mokhovaya, Prechistenskaya Embankment and Tverskaya Boulevard.

Underpasses on Volgogradsky Prospekt, Kremlevskaya Embankment, Marxistskaya, Novy Arbat, Sadovoye Koltse and Tverskaya streets will be closed to pedestrians on May 3, 7 and 9. The only underground pedestrian crossing on Tverskaya Street will be at the Mayakovskaya metro station.