UkraineFest 2025 draws record crowds in Swindon with powerful message of unity

Swindon, 24 August 2025 – Over 4,000 people gathered in Swindon’s Town Gardens on Saturday for UkraineFest 2025, making it the most successful celebration of Ukrainian culture in the town to date.

The free festival, held on the eve of Ukrainian Independence Day, featured an afternoon of 35 different acts from across the South of the UK, spanning music, dance, and performance. Alongside the packed programme, food and drink vendors sold out completely as visitors enjoyed authentic Ukrainian dishes such as borscht and varenyky, as well as Slavic specialities.

But beyond the colour and celebration, UkraineFest carried a clear message. During his keynote speech, Kris Talikowski, Vice-Chair of Swindon Welcomes Ukraine, told the crowd:

“We face a world where some leaders will divide, some will vilify, and some will manifest the very tensions that create the foundations for war.”

watch a section of the speech here:

Anastasiia Banatska, Chair of Swindon Welcomes Ukraine, added:

“This year’s UkraineFest was bigger, brighter, and braver than ever. More than 4,000 people came together to say: Ukrainian culture belongs here and it is thriving. The people of Swindon have opened their arms to us, and this festival was our way of giving something back, through food, music, and friendship. It was a day we will never forget.”

UkraineFest 2025 was supported by Swindon Borough Council’s Warm Welcome team, and South Swindon Parish Council, with backing from dozens of volunteers and local partners. Organisers said the event proved how far Swindon’s Ukrainian community has come since the first families arrived in 2022, and how the message of solidarity remains as urgent as ever.

Galleries

Photos from Anastasiia Moskalenkoo