On 26 October the Russian Museum opens its Benois Wing for an art evening built around the exhibition "Ivan Shishkin: The Russian Forest." The programme pairs a lecture with a guided viewing of dozens of landscapes, studies and drawings by one of Russia's most recognisable painters.
What you'll see
The Shishkin show fills several halls in the Benois Wing. Beyond the famous "Morning in a Pine Forest," the exhibition includes rarely displayed oil studies and graphic work. The evening lecture adds context that a daytime walkthrough misses — and the crowds are thinner after 18:00.
Practical details
The art evening starts at 18:30. Tickets are available on the Russian Museum website; evening-event pricing may differ from a standard entry ticket, so check when you buy. Arriving early avoids the queue at the entrance.
Getting there
The Benois Wing is at Griboyedov Canal Embankment 2. The nearest metro stations are Nevsky Prospekt and Gostiny Dvor — from either, walk along Mikhailovskaya Street through Arts Square. Street parking in the centre is scarce; try paid spots on Inzhenernaya Street.
Who should skip it
If you've already seen the exhibition during the day and have no interest in the lecture, the art evening won't add much — the paintings are the same. Late evening timing may not suit young children.
Nearby
After the event, walk Arts Square, look into the Mikhailovsky Garden (if still open) or continue to the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood. To plan more culture in St Petersburg, you can choose an excursion in advance.
Good to know
Buy your ticket in advance and arrive twenty to thirty minutes early, as coats and bags are checked at the cloakroom and the entrance queue can build in the evening. Large backpacks are usually not allowed in the galleries. Wear comfortable shoes, since the halls involve a lot of standing and walking. Photography rules differ by exhibition, so look for the signs. After the lecture, Arts Square is only a short stroll from several cafes where you can talk the paintings over.
Verified 23 October 2026
