Where to watch "Scarlet Sails" – 2026 today

The main alumni celebration "Scarlet Sails" will be held in St. Petersburg on June 27. On this day, millions of viewers across Russia and abroad will be able to watch the legendary passage of the Brig Rossiya and a large-scale live water and pyrotechnic show. Where to watch the broadcast of the holiday and when it starts is in the Izvestia article.

The Scarlet Sails program consists of two parts. The first one takes place on the Palace Square, where a big concert awaits graduates. Performances by youth groups will begin at 20:00, and Russian pop stars will take the stage at 22:00. A ceremonial passage of the brig Rossiya with scarlet sails and a large-scale water and pyrotechnic show will take place in the Neva River at 00:40.

The best way to see the main alumni celebration remains the TV broadcast of Channel Five, which starts at 22:00 Moscow time. You can also watch the concert on Dvortsovaya Street and the water pyrotechnic show in the Neva River live on the Fifth Channel's website and on its official social media accounts.

The concert part of the "Scarlet Sails" in 2026 will be dedicated to dreams that arise in childhood and accompany a person throughout his life. A "City of Dreamers" will be built on the Palace Square, where the most cherished desires of graduates will be fulfilled. Yelka, Tatiana Kurtukova, Julianna Karaulova, Lucy Chebotina, Alex Lim, Alyona Sviridova, Filatov & Karas, TRITIA group, Julia Peresild and other artists will take the stage.

"Scarlet Sails" – 2026: what time is the start and who will perform at the main graduation ceremony in Russia

The festive program will begin at 20:00, and from 22:00 Russian pop stars will take the stage.

The theme of the water pyrotechnic show is Russian folk tales. The Brig Rossiya will repeat the route of last year: it will depart from the Senate Square, pass under the Palace Bridge, make a 360-degree turn opposite the Winter Groove and continue moving towards the Troitsky Bridge. The return route will run from Troitsky to the Palace Bridge along the Palace Embankment.

The history of the Scarlet Sails dates back to 1968, when more than 25,000 graduates saw the ceremonial passage of the yacht Metallist, decorated like the legendary ship from the novel by Alexander Green. Until 1979, the holiday was held annually, but then the tradition was interrupted. Scarlet Sails was revived in 2005 on the initiative of ROSSIYA Joint Stock Bank, the Government of St. Petersburg and Channel Five. Today it is one of the largest cultural events in Russia.

Earlier, Izvestia reported on the Scarlet Sails Alumni holiday program.