Abstract. The article is devoted to an overview of Soviet theater festivals as a cultural aspect of the country, as well as the influence of these festivals on the Chekhov International Theater Festival. The author's goal is to identify the continuity of traditions, thanks to which the Chekhov International Theater Festival is one of the leading theater festivals in the world, despite all social and political challenges. This work will be of interest to a range of people who are engaged in research in the field of culture and theater in particular, as well as students, undergraduates and postgraduates in the fields of «Cultural studies and socio-cultural projects», «Theater Studies», «Theatrical Art».

Key words: Chekhov International Theater Festival, Soviet theater festivals, theater, culture, art, continuity of traditions.