City on the Neva, city of white nights, city of three revolutions and bridges. Saint Petersburg. It is unlike other Russian cities. Straight lines, strict facades, grille of quays. The city's birthday is celebrated on May 27. In 2026, Saint Petersburg will turn 323 years old. The celebration will be grand: concerts, fireworks, festivals. But the main thing is not this. The main thing is that the city lives and changes, remaining itself.

History: from marshland to empire

On May 27, 1703 (May 16 according to the old style), Peter the Great laid the foundation of the Peter and Paul Fortress on Zayachy Island. This is considered the founding day of the city. The location was chosen poorly from a military point of view (marshland), but convenient for trade. The first inhabitants were soldiers, workers, Swedish prisoners. The city was built on bones — thousands of serfs died from malaria, hunger, cold.

By 1712, Petersburg had become the capital of Russia. It remained the capital until 1918. Over 200 years of the capital, palaces, cathedrals, theaters, factories, railway stations were built. The city survived floods, fires, revolutions, blockade. In 1991, the city was returned its historical name (Leningrad during the Soviet era).

Today, Saint Petersburg is the second largest city in Russia (5.6 million residents), the largest cultural center, port, scientific center. Although the capital functions have moved to Moscow, Petersburg remains the "cultural capital". This proud unofficial title it confirms every day.

How to celebrate the Day of the City

Traditionally, the celebration lasts two days — May 27 and 28. In 2026, Wednesday and Thursday. Many enterprises declare only May 27th as a holiday, but they celebrate both days.

The central event is the festive concert on Palace Square. Stars of the music industry, symphony orchestras, ballet perform. Admission is free. In the evening, there will be fireworks and a light show on the Palace Bridge. In 2026, an especially grandiose fireworks display is expected — 3,000 shots.

Fairs with handicraft goods, food courts, amusement parks are held in parks and squares. In exhibition halls — open days: you can visit the Hermitage, the Russian Museum, Peterhof (only in the city, not in the suburbs) for free. On Nevsky Prospect, street musicians and mimes perform.

Boats on the Neva are decorated with flags. You can ride on small steamers for free on the canals and rivers (but you need to register in volunteer groups in advance).

What to see on the Day of the City

Must-see: the bridge crossing. Although the bridges are opened every night during navigation, the show is especially colorful on the Day of the City. The best spot is on Palace Bridge (crowded, but atmospheric) or on Lieutenant Schmidt's embankment (more spacious). In 2026, light installations are expected on the bridge supports.

Peter and Paul Fortress. Admission to the island is free. You can see the cathedral, the Trubetskoy Bastion prison, the mint. At 12:00 there is a cannon shot — a tradition since the 18th century.

Nevsky Prospect — the main street. Walk from the Admiralty to the Rebellion Square. See the houses where Gogol, Dostoevsky, Tchaikovsky lived. Along the way, visit the Kazan Cathedral (admission is free for Orthodox Christians).

Rubinstein Street — a gastronomic cluster. Enjoy delicious food, listen to jazz on open terraces.

The cruiser Aurora — moored permanently. On the Day of the City, excursions are conducted with a story about the 1917 revolution.

Eliseevsky shop on Nevsky — magnificent interiors, you can buy famous Petersburg chocolates "Mishka na Severe".

Not only the center: where else to go

If you are tired of crowds (and the center will be crowded on May 27), you can go to the suburbs, but the suburbs will also be crowded. It is better to choose parks in the city. For example, Catherine's Park (metro "Pushkinskaya") — spacious, a lot of greenery, you can have a picnic. Or the 300th anniversary park (near metro "Begovaya") — a view of the bay and the Ohtinsky Bridge.

The Museum "Nevskaya Zastava" — little-known but interesting. There you can see the life of workers' outskirts before the revolution. Admission is free on the Day of the City.

Krestovsky Island — a renovated embankment, bicycle paths, observation decks. Not as crowded as the center.

Another option is the Vasileostrovsky Market. There they hold a tasting of local products: herring (the spring king), smoked herring, Petersburg gingerbread.

Herring — the symbol of the festival

Herring is a small fish that smells of fresh cucumbers. In spring, in May, it spawns in the Neva. Petersburgers catch it in packages, fry it on pans, eat it with potatoes. On the Day of the City, herring is sold everywhere — in tents, cafes, restaurants. It costs 300-500 rubles per kilogram (in season). It is considered that those who do not eat herring on the Day of Saint Petersburg are not Petersburgers.

The herring festival takes place separately (usually in May, but it is tied to the Day of the City). In 2026, the festival will be held on the Vasilevsky Island tip. Chefs compete to see who can fry the fish better. There is soup, smoked herring, and even herring pate.

The symbol of herring is a monument on Malaya Sadovaya Street. On the Day of the City, flowers and coins for luck are laid at it.

Weather on May 27: what to expect

The weather in Petersburg is unpredictable. In 2026, meteorologists promise +15...+18 degrees, sunny with clouds, a brief rain is possible. This is normal for May. But you need to be prepared for the fact that in the morning it will be +8, in the afternoon +20, and in the evening it will rain. Therefore, take an umbrella, a warm sweater, and waterproof shoes. Petersburgers know: you need to walk in rubber boots on the Day of the City.

The wind is up to 10 m/s, stronger on the Neva. If you go to the embankment, wear a windbreaker. The sun can be bright — don't forget cream and glasses.

Due to white nights, it gets dark only after 22:00, the fireworks at 23:00 are visible even without complete darkness. But photography is difficult — the flash won't help.

Transportation on the Day of the City

The metro is the best friend. The metro works as usual (until 1:00 am), but stations in the center may close at the entrance due to overcrowding. Trains are crowded, especially in the evening.

It's better not to venture out for drivers. The streets in the center are closed, there are no parking spaces. Paid parking spaces cost 200-300 rubles per hour. There is a risk that your car will be towed.

Taxis become twice as expensive. In 2026, prices are expected from 1000 rubles for a ride within the center. It is more reasonable to take a subway to the outskirts and then take a taxi there.

Water transport (aquabuses) runs according to schedule, but there are few seats. You need to buy tickets in advance online.

Safety and etiquette

On the Day of the City, there are hundreds of thousands of people in Petersburg. The risk of pickpocketing increases. Do not carry valuables in a backpack, keep money and a phone in an inside pocket. Do not drink from the hands of strangers — they may sprinkle something.

Do not jump into the water from bridges and embankments. The Neva is cold (+10), with strong currents. Every year people drown while drunk. Don't risk it.

Respect the city: don't litter, don't pick flowers in the parks, don't write graffiti on monuments. Fines are huge (up to 100 thousand). Do not use drones — prohibited over the center.

Photography is allowed everywhere. But if you take a close-up photo of people, ask for permission — it's polite.

And at home: an online festival

If you can't come to Petersburg on May 27, don't be sad. The festival will be broadcast on the "Saint Petersburg" channel (TV) and in social networks. You can watch the concert, fireworks, the bridge crossing. Many museums conduct virtual tours. For example, "Peterhof online" — a 3D tour of the fountains.

The "Culture of Petersburg" website will publish the schedule of events on May 27, 2026. You can watch lectures about the city, cooking shows with herring, concerts.

At home alternative: buy herring (it's available in large supermarkets in May), bake in the oven. Make a "postcard to Petersburg" — draw a view of the Neva or the Hermitage. Post it online with the hashtag #деньспб.

The future of the city: what has changed and is changing

In 2026, Saint Petersburg looks different than 10 years ago. Many facades in the center have been restored. New public spaces have appeared — "New Holland", "Svekabiel Port", "Fort Island" (Kronstadt). Residential quarters with parks are being built on the site of industrial zones.

A new metro section (from "Spasskaya" to "Gorny") has been launched. The Great Smolensk Bridge across the Neva has been opened — it is a drawbridge with two levels.

Ecology: the Neva is cleaner than in the 2000s thanks to purification facilities. The city has banned the felling of old parks. But the problem of traffic jams and smog remains.

The spirit of the city has not changed. It is still "the most reading", "the most intellectual", "the most depressive", and "the most beautiful" at the same time.

Conclusion: happy birthday, city

Saint Petersburg is not just a city. It is a destiny. Pushkin walked here, Dostoevsky suffered, Blok wrote poems, Shostakovich created music. Every stone breathes history. On the Day of the City, this stone comes to life, sings, dances. And we, Petersburgers and guests, become part of its eternity.

If you are in Petersburg on May 27, go out on the street. Feel the wind from the Neva. Hear the roar of voices. Smile. And say: "Happy birthday, my beloved city." It will hear it.

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