Forty years have passed since the catastrophic explosion at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant on April 26, 1986, but the memory of that fateful night—and its far-reaching consequences—continues to reverberate across the globe. In 2026, Belarusians at home and abroad are marking the disaster’s 40th anniversary with a sweeping array of commemorative events, echoing both the pain of the past and the hope for a nuclear-free future.
According to the Office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, a prominent Belarusian opposition leader, this year’s campaign is being held under the slogan “For an independent nuclear-free Belarus.” The message is clear and urgent: while time has moved on, the threat of nuclear catastrophe still looms, and the current authorities in Belarus remain, in the words of Tsikhanouskaya’s office, “as irresponsible and unaccountable to society as they were then. This is absolutely unacceptable.”
To honor the victims and raise awareness about the enduring dangers of nuclear energy, Belarusians are organizing marches, charity events, concerts, lectures, and discussions in cities around the world. The scope of these events is impressive, stretching from Warsaw and Vilnius to Zurich, Copenhagen, Prague, and even New York.
One of the central events is the traditional “Charnobylski Shliakh” (Chernobyl Way) march, which will take place in Warsaw on April 26, 2026, starting at 2:00 PM near the Copernicus Monument. As reported by Belsat, participants will walk through the heart of the Polish capital, ending their journey at the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Monument—a poignant route that underscores the scientific and human legacy of nuclear power.
Vilnius, too, will play host to a series of significant commemorations. On April 26, a rally and concert are scheduled for 1:00 PM at Vinco Kudirkos aikštė (Vincas Kudirka Square), while a flower-laying ceremony will take place at the “Mother Chernobyl” monument in Sapieginės miško parkas at noon. The city will also see a running and cycling race dedicated to the memory of the Chernobyl liquidators, beginning at Sapieginės miško parkas and concluding at Vinco Kudirkos aikštė at 1:00 PM—an athletic tribute to those who risked everything in the immediate aftermath of the disaster.
In Białystok, the “Charnobylski Shliakh” march is slated for 5:00 PM on April 26 at Skwer Wolnej Białorusi (Free Belarus Square). The event promises to be both a remembrance and a rallying cry for continued vigilance against nuclear risks.
The commemorations aren’t limited to Eastern Europe. In Zurich, a concert program titled “Songs of the Lost Villages” will be performed by Siarzhuk Douhushau on April 26 at 5:30 PM at Josefstrasse 102, offering a musical reflection on the communities erased by the disaster. Meanwhile, in Copenhagen, Associate Professor Tine Rosen will lead a lecture and discussion on Sviatlana Alexievich’s acclaimed book “Chernobyl Prayer” on April 27 at Frederiksberg, Peter Bangs Vej 30. The book, a powerful oral history of the catastrophe, remains a touchstone for many seeking to understand the human cost of Chernobyl.
Prague will host a conference titled “The Shadow of Chernobyl 40 Years Later: Securing the Future of Belarus and Ukraine” at CEVRO Univerzita on April 27 at 3:00 PM. This gathering aims to address not only the historical legacy of the disaster but also the ongoing political and environmental challenges facing the region.
Across the Atlantic, New York will see a rally near the UN headquarters building in Manhattan (1st Avenue at East 43rd Street) on April 26 at 1:00 PM. The choice of location is no accident—organizers hope to draw international attention to the unresolved issues of nuclear safety and governmental accountability.
Beyond these headline events, the 40th anniversary is being marked by a host of additional activities. An online discussion of “Chernobyl Prayer” is set for April 22 at 8:00 PM Minsk time, providing a virtual space for reflection and dialogue. On April 27, an online lecture titled “Chernobyl — a nuclear disaster 40 years ago” will take place from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, inviting participants to revisit the technical, environmental, and societal dimensions of the catastrophe.
Running from March 30 to May 8, the information campaign “After Chernobyl: 40 days of reflection on health, memory and the future” offers both online and offline events designed to foster collective remembrance and forward-looking discussion. According to the Office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, these efforts are meant to “bring communities together, honor the memory of those affected, and build momentum for a safer, cleaner future.”
Warsaw will also feature a charity event, “Belarus Outside Sound System,” on April 24 from 11:30 PM to 5:00 AM at Klub Mechanik, ul. Narbutta 87. The Belarusian Youth Hub will host a meeting titled “The Legacy of the Chernobyl Movement 40 Years Later” on April 25 at 2:00 PM, creating space for intergenerational dialogue about activism, memory, and resilience.
What’s striking about this year’s commemorations is their global reach and diversity. From academic conferences and book discussions to concerts and athletic events, the anniversary is being marked in ways that reflect both the gravity of the disaster and the enduring spirit of those who survived it. As Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s office notes, “Time has passed — the threat remains.” The campaign’s call for an “independent nuclear-free Belarus” is as much a warning as it is a vision for the future.
At the heart of these efforts lies a deep sense of responsibility—not only to remember the past, but to ensure that its lessons are not forgotten. The Chernobyl disaster, after all, was not merely a technical failure; it was a tragedy compounded by secrecy, denial, and the failure of those in power to protect their citizens. Today, as Belarusian communities gather in cities across Europe and North America, they do so with a renewed commitment to transparency, accountability, and the pursuit of a safer world.
For many, the anniversary is a time to honor the “liquidators”—the firefighters, engineers, and volunteers who risked their lives to contain the fallout. For others, it is an opportunity to reflect on the ongoing health and environmental challenges that linger in the affected regions. And for all, it is a reminder that the legacy of Chernobyl is not confined to history books; it is a living issue, demanding vigilance and action from each new generation.
As the world pauses to remember Chernobyl’s 40th anniversary, the message from Belarusians is unmistakable: the past cannot be changed, but the future is still ours to shape.