New reports indicate that large crowds gathered at Russian museums during the New Year holiday period. Visitors encountered long lines in several major cultural venues, signaling a strong rebound in public interest after holiday closures.
In St. Petersburg, the Hermitage drew sustained attention. Reports from kp.ru described extended queues in the Great Courtyard on January 3, the first day the museum resumed operations after the New Year break. The museum had paused admissions on January 1 and 2, but the surge of visitors led to a decision to expand visiting hours. By January 7, the Hermitage was open from 11:00 to 20:00 to accommodate the larger-than-usual crowd and to manage the flow of guests more effectively.
Meanwhile, in Moscow, the State Tretyakov Gallery also faced notable turnout. Life.ru documented two separate queues: one for those with pre-purchased electronic tickets and another for visitors buying tickets on site, reflecting a dual demand channel and a keen interest in experiencing the gallery’s extensive collection.
Historically, Russian museums have seen varying attendance levels, with a marked increase reported in 2022. For instance, the first half of 2022 saw Hermitage attendance exceed 2.7 million visitors, while the entire year of 2021 recorded about 1.6 million visitors. By October 2022, the Tretyakov Gallery had already surpassed 1.9 million visitors, compared with 1.6 million for all of 2021. These figures illustrate a broader trend of growing public engagement with major cultural institutions, a pattern that continued into the ensuing years and appears to be reinforced by renewed interest during holiday periods and peak travel times. (Source: various media coverage including kp.ru and Life.ru)
What these developments suggest is that major museums in Russia remain important anchors for cultural life, drawing not only local residents but also domestic travelers and international visitors who are eager to reconnect with renowned collections, temporary exhibitions, and the historical settings that house them. The reported queues are more than just lines; they reflect a reassessment of leisure time and cultural consumption in the post-pandemic era, as well as the impact of holiday travel patterns on museum operations. (Attribution: kp.ru; Life.ru)