The grand reopening of the Dinamo Stadium on Bolshaya Pokrovskaya Street in Nizhny Novgorod after major renovation took place on August 21, 2026. On the same day the renovated arena hosted the "My Strength" sports-and-patriotic festival, with free admission for everyone.[1]

Renovation and preparation

The Dinamo Stadium is one of the Nizhny Novgorod Region, with a history going back to the 1930s. By the mid-2020s the facility needed a serious overhaul. Preparations for the major renovation began in spring 2025, when the arena was closed to visitors.[1] The work covered the entire infrastructure: the entrance area, the stadium building, the stands, the football pitch, the athletics core, the running tracks, and the jumping sectors. Funding came from the regional budget.[3]

At the same time a large-scale renovation was under way in the building of the former Dinamo swimming pool at 67 Bolshaya Pokrovskaya Street: following reconstruction, a new sports complex was planned to open there in the coming autumn of 2026.[3]

Opening ceremony and festival

The official opening ceremony began at 11:00. News of the upcoming event was published by Dmitry Kabaylo, Minister of Sport of Nizhny Novgorod Region, on his channel on the MAX service.[1]

As part of the "My Strength" festival, the stadium hosted more than 40 activity zones run by sports federations and various disciplines. The program included competitions in traditional national sports, fire-and-rescue sport, the "Backyard Football," "Backyard Volleyball," and "Backyard Basketball" tournaments, mass 3x3 basketball competitions called "Orange Ball", as well as a padel zone, a sports quest, and masterclasses.[2][3] The festival concluded at 17:00 with a friendly football match between the Dinamo veterans' team and a select team from the government of Nizhny Novgorod Region.[2]

Sources

  1. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" — Date announced for reopening of Nizhny Novgorod's Dinamo Stadium after renovation (archive)
  2. GiperNN — Nizhny Novgorod's Dinamo Stadium to reopen after major renovation on August 21 (archive)
  3. Vremya N — Nizhny Novgorod residents invited to the reopening of the renovated Dinamo Stadium (archive)