On May 16 and 17, the Protestant "Festival of Hope" took place at the Chyzhouka Arena in Minsk. The event featured a choir of 1,300 members, a symphony orchestra, performances by both foreign and Belarusian artists, opportunities for personal prayer, and support for all attendees. A key highlight of the festival was the participation of renowned American preacher Franklin Graham, who met with Alyaksandr Lukashenka the day before the event.