"Art in Sensations", the Hermitage's sixth inclusive festival, runs 16-28 November 2026 in two buildings: Peter I's Winter Palace and the General Staff Building. Its key event is a free open programme on 22 November.
Decide early: only the 22 November programme, or a full day around both buildings? Get the ticket online and budget time for the walk between them.
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What happens in each building
Peter I's Winter Palace is the quiet half: tactile copies of Petrine-era monuments, shown here for the first time — a model of the palace of 1716-1723, carnival sleighs, a bas-relief with the emperor's handprint. You are meant to touch them.
The General Staff Building is the stage: on 22 November its Atrium hosts the open programme — brass band, signed lecture, deaf actors of the U Theatre, dances of Peter's era.
The buildings face each other across Palace Square but belong to one museum. Budget real time for the crossing, and check the map online before picking your starting side.
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How to get your free ticket
Entry on 22 November is by free tickets: online in advance or at the box office on the day. Take the online one.
The free programme is not the whole museum: the main collections are ticketed separately. Recheck the event page before leaving; line-ups sometimes change.
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Two ways to shape the day
Long day: main galleries in the morning, tactile copies in the afternoon, then the Atrium programme. Keep a lunch break — it is a full day.
Light day: come for the Atrium programme and skip the rest. Sensible with children, for repeat visitors, or if you prefer one strong event to a marathon.
Book a room near the centre if the festival anchors your trip: two daily cross-town rides to Palace Square are tiring. Compare apartments and hotels here: посмотреть жильё.
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Who should go
The festival is inclusive: art can be seen and felt, and the formats widen the audience rather than narrowing it.
For families, "do not touch" becomes "see how it is made". For first-timers, a way into the Hermitage without a race through endless halls.
Get the ticket early and let the festival anchor the day.
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What to book in advance
Three things: the free 22 November ticket, a museum ticket if you choose the long day, and a room near the centre, booked before prices climb towards the date.
A free programme ticket is not entry to the permanent galleries, and the exact line-up is published on the museum website.
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Fix the shape of your day first: programme only, or the whole museum. Take the free ticket online, and avoid a long ride home — after two buildings you will want a short walk to your room.
Cover photo: Nikolai Bulykin, CC BY-SA 4.0, Викисклад
