Zelenskyy granted national status to the Dnipro Opera and Ballet Theater
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has granted the Dnipro Opera and Ballet Theater the status of a national theater.
The corresponding decree No. 277/2026 was signed by the head of state.
“Taking into account the significant contribution of the Dnipro Opera and Ballet Theater to the development and popularization of national musical and choreographic art, and to the cause of national cultural revival, I hereby grant national status to the Dnipro Opera and Ballet Theater,” the document states.
The theater is currently headed by Rostislav Karandeev, who assumed the position of director on April 7, 2025. Previously, he served as acting Minister of Culture and noted that he agreed to lead the institution at the invitation of Mykola Lukashuk, Chairman of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Council.
The theater highlighted the importance of obtaining this new status for the troupe and the entire cultural sector.
“This is not just a new status. It is recognition of decades of work, creativity, bold decisions, and a deep love for the stage. We sincerely congratulate the entire theater troupe. And we thank everyone who has been part of this journey,” the institution’s press service reported.
Earlier, the Lviv Academic Regional Puppet Theater announced its refusal of the honorary titles “Honored Artist” and “People’s Artist.” The theater’s collective called these titles an “outdated colonial mechanism” and called for the Soviet system of awards to be abolished at the state level.
March 27 marks International Theater Day. Since 1993, Ukraine’s prestigious “Kyiv Pectoral” theater award has been presented on this day for the best achievements in Kyiv’s theatrical arts. The award has not been presented for the past few years. Kyiv theater troupes celebrate this day at their respective venues.
