In honour of the 70th anniversary of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Dubna will host the Roads of Friendship international retro transport festival on 27–31 August 2026. The rich programme features cultural and educational events for the city’s residents and guests. The event will br organized by the JINR Museum of History of Science and Technology with the support of the GDR History and Technology Club (DDR Club).
JINR’s anniversary is an excellent occasion to bring attention to the unique history of international scientific collaboration, with road transport as its essential element in the 1960s–1980s. The cooperation made Dubna remarkable in terms of the number and variety of European cars, a rare sight for the USSR at the time. The Czechoslovakian Tatras, German Trabants, Polish Fiats, and Romanian Dacias rode the science city’s streets.
To recreate the spirit of the second half of the 20th century, rare transport will be exhibited in the square near the JINR Mir Cultural Centre on 29 August. Visitors will see more than 30 automobiles, including such models as Tatra 613, Škoda 120, Trabant 601, IFA W50, Barkas, ZIM (GAZ-12), GAZ-M20 Pobeda, and Moskvich-408. In addition, on display will be around 20 bicycles and mopeds, including those of German and Polish manufacture.
The festival programme will include photo exhibitions, lectures, film screenings, creative master classes, intellectual games, and retro bicycle test drives. A special area will be designated for the young guests to ride Soviet pedal cars, Moskvich. Live performances of retro music will add to the era’s authentic feel.
JINR invites all employees of the Institute, national group representatives, and Dubna residents and guests to be part of this celebration and travel back together to the 1960s-1980s.
The admission is free. Vintage dress code is welcome!
