Franklin Graham Preaches to 15,200 in Minsk as Belarus Festival of Hope Closes

Franklin Graham concluded a three-day Festival of Hope in Minsk, Belarus, on May 17, 2026, drawing more than 15,200 people to the Chizhovka Arena.

The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association organized the event, which ran from May 15 to 17. Local evangelical leaders called it the largest gathering of evangelicals in Belarus history.

"It was an amazing night here in Minsk," Graham wrote on social media. "Many of the Christians here say that God did a miracle."

Graham also met with President Aleksandr Lukashenko during the visit. He thanked the authoritarian leader for allowing evangelical churches to hold the event.

The festival was organized by a coalition of Belarusian evangelical networks, including the United Church of Christians of the Evangelical Faith and the Union of Evangelical Christian Baptists.

Religious liberty monitors offered a cautious response. They noted that authoritarian governments can selectively permit large gatherings while maintaining restrictions on everyday religious life.

Belarus has strict regulations on religious activity. The small evangelical community there has long operated under government scrutiny.

Local church leaders said the event gave their congregations a sense of legitimacy and visibility they rarely experience. Many attendees traveled from outside Minsk to attend.

Graham is continuing his international ministry schedule. His grandson Will Graham preached in Uijeongbu, South Korea, on the same weekend, continuing the family's 50-year connection to Korean evangelism.