Peterhof Palace hosts Happiness festival on 26-27 September
Published on 09/27/2026 at 10:30 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Peterhof Palace hosts the Happiness autumn fountain festival in its Lower Park on 26 and 27 September 2026, with Peterhof as the local name. The programme links installations, performances and a multimedia finale to the 200th anniversary of nearby Alexandria Park.
Happiness festival brings two days to Peterhof Palace
The festival runs on Saturday 26 September and Sunday 27 September from 10am to 9pm, with entry permitted until 8.20pm. The museum describes the event as a journey into childhood, with themed installations placed across the Lower Park.
Each day includes activities around the gardens and fountains, children’s workshops near the Shtandart restaurant and theatrical performances at the Chess Mountain Cascade. A formal launch of the Samson Fountain is scheduled for 11am on both days, while the programme also includes a multimedia performance and fireworks at the Grand Cascade.
The evening finale starts at 8.30pm, according to the official festival programme. The organiser places installations beside named features including the Adam and Eve fountains, the Lion Cascade, the Sun Fountain, the Hermitage Pavilion and the Grand Orangery.
Alexandria anniversary shapes the fountain programme
The festival’s theme is tied to Alexandria Park, which the organiser says became a seaside residence 200 years ago. The programme uses that anniversary as a link between the park landscape and stories of childhood, while its installations occupy existing fountain, pond and pavilion areas.
That arrangement makes the event more than a single performance at the palace. Visitors encounter a route through the Lower Park before reaching the Grand Cascade for the closing show, while the Samson Fountain receives a specially timed musical launch on both festival dates.
The museum reserve identifies Peterhof as a historic water landscape built around channels, ponds and hydraulic structures. Its official site records 96 kilometres of channels, 16 ponds and 135 water-management structures, although those figures describe the wider museum reserve rather than the festival route.
Access changes affect the palace and gardens
Preparations alter access to several familiar features during the event. The Grand Cascade and its grottoes are closed from 23 to 28 September, while the Upper Garden is open only until 1pm on 26 and 27 September.
The Grand Palace has a restricted schedule during the festival, with entry from 10.30am to noon on 26 September and from 10.30am to 3pm on 27 September, including a midday break on the second day. The museum’s event listing confirms the dates, venue and programme in the same notice, while regional coverage of the festival also identifies the Lower Park as the venue.
Visiting Peterhof Palace: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The Happiness autumn fountain festival takes place in the Lower Park on 26 and 27 September 2026, from 10am to 9pm. Entry is allowed until 8.20pm.
- The main access change is the closure of the Grand Cascade and grottoes from 23 to 28 September. The Upper Garden closes at 1pm on 26 and 27 September.
- Bus routes 200, 204E and 210 run from Avtovo, while routes 103 and 343E run from Prospekt Veteranov to stops serving the parks. Trains from Baltic Station reach Novy Peterhof, where buses continue towards the entrances.
- The Lower Park has five festival entrances, including approaches from Palace Square, Razvodnaya Square, Morskogo Desanta Street and the pier.
- Russia’s official language is Russian and its national currency is the rouble.
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Frequently asked questions about Peterhof Palace
When does the Happiness festival take place at Peterhof Palace?
The festival runs on 26 and 27 September 2026 in the Lower Park, from 10am to 9pm each day.
What can visitors see during the Happiness festival?
The programme includes themed installations, workshops, theatrical performances, the Samson Fountain launch and an evening multimedia show with fireworks at the Grand Cascade.
Where is Peterhof Palace and how do you get there?
The palace and Lower Park are in Peterhof near Saint Petersburg. Visitors can travel by bus from Avtovo or Prospekt Veteranov, or by train from Baltic Station to Novy Peterhof followed by a local bus.
