Winter Fairytale for HSE Graduate School of Business Students
Every year, the HSE GSB Ball creates a special cultural space. It helps strengthen connections within the student community and gives students a chance to express themselves outside of academic life. The 2026 Ball was no exception. It took place in a classic, festive atmosphere. The evening featured live music and a light show. Guests also wore elegant outfits, which added to the feeling of a traditional formal event. A strict dress code was an important part of the concept and it helped make the evening feel even more special.
The preparation for the Ball started long before the event. A team of more than 80 organizers managed all processes, worked with partners and performers and ran rehearsals for the debutant dancers for 2.5 months. In total, 150 couples were trained for the final dance performances.
The program was very rich. Guests enjoyed a performance by the HSE orchestra, debutant dances, creative acts, competitions and stage surprises. Throughout the evening, there were also workshops from student organizations, partner activity zones, photo areas and relaxation spaces. The official part ended with free dancing, accompanied by student DJs.
The special atmosphere of the Ball came from its theme. Lighting, decorations and the overall story of the event created a true winter fairytale. The concept was present in every detail, from the venue design to the final stage performance, which referenced The Snow Queen.
One of the main highlights of the evening was the “King and Queen of the Ball” competition. Participants prepared video presentations and dance performances to impress the audience and the jury. The winners were Polina Ryzhkina, a second-year student in the “Business Administration” programme and German Khamkov, a second-year student in the “Marketing and Market Analytics” programme.
Партнерами мероприятия выступили Альфа-Банк, Ozon, СберМобайл, КРОК и AppScience. Компании создали интерактивные зоны и фотопространства, а также подготовили ценные призы для участников Бала. Благодарим партнеров за поддержку события и создание возможностей для студентов ближе познакомиться с корпоративной культурой и брендами компаний!
The event was supported by partners including Alfa-Bank, Ozon, SberMobile, CROC and AppScience. The companies created interactive zones and photo spaces and prepared prizes for participants. We are grateful for their support and for helping students learn more about company culture and brands.
The event would not have reached such a scale without the initiative and involvement of student organizers and volunteers with more than 100 people in total during the preparation period. The Ball was bright and memorable. It once again showed how important this tradition is for the HSE Graduate School of Business.
Deputy Director, HSE Graduate School of Business
The Ball is becoming an important yearly event that brings together students, professors, staff and alumni. Each year it grows, attracting more participants and creating unforgettable experiences. The level of organization and the atmosphere show that talented, creative, and proactive people study and work at the HSE Graduate School of Business. We believe this format will continue to grow and create new opportunities for students.
Head of the HSE GSB Student Affairs Office
The HSE GSB Ball is always a special event that we look forward to and prepare for carefully. This year we created a truly fairytale atmosphere that brought everyone together. It is great that students are so interested in these beautiful formal events and are ready to put effort into making them happen. I want to thank the student organizers who worked for several months, our colleagues from the Student Affairs Office for coordination and our partners for their support and gifts for the guests.
manager of the HSE GSB Student Affairs Office
For me, as the coordinator of the 2026 Ball, this was a very special experience: months of preparation, dozens of organizers, 300 debutants, 2.5 months of rehearsals and finally the evening itself, which passed in a moment. Seeing teams work together and ideas become reality was the biggest reward. Special thanks to the Ball team: we put in a huge amount of work to make this event happen. Thank you to everyone involved for this unforgettable evening and for believing in what we do!
Sofia Kuzmina
4-th year student of the "Business Administration" programme
This year’s Ball felt new: bigger scale, a different theme and new participants. But the fairytale atmosphere stayed the same. Once you enter the atrium, you feel like you are in another world. For me, the Ball has always been like a dream come true, where a gentleman in a formal suit can spin you in a dance to live orchestra music.
Maria Lichagina
Our StudTeamGSB took part in organizing the Ball for the first time. We handled operations and the overall program, while HSE Dance led all dance preparation. The teamwork between the two groups made the event strong and well organized. The debutant dances and live singing were especially emotional and gave me goosebumps. I was personally moved to goosebumps by the debutantes’ dances and the live vocals!
Elizaveta Egorova
2-nd year student of the "Business Administration" programme
This year’s Ball was very large in scale. We had more than 800 registrations, five partner companies, a team of over 30 organizers and even a live orchestra. It was my first major event as the lead program organizer. I can say that about 85% of everything went smoothly. The team worked well, the atmosphere was amazing and we received many positive reviews. Thank you to the performers, partners and my HSE Business School family for their trust and support.
Polina Ryzhkina
2-nd year student of the "Business Administration" programme, the winner of the “King and Queen of the Ball” title
I was lucky to be part of this beautiful event — the Winter Ball of the HSE GSB. Last year I attended as a guest and this year I helped create the atmosphere. Together with other debutants, we prepared several dances with choreographers and supportive organizers. We also took part in the “King and Queen of the Ball” competition, prepared a video introduction and performed on stage. The dances, workshops, live music and performances made the evening truly magical.
German Khamkov
2-nd year student of the "Marketing and Market Analytics" programme, the winner of the “King and Queen of the Ball” title
I only have positive impressions. This year’s Ball was clearly different from last year’s. The atmosphere changed — last year it focused on elegance, while this year it was about winter themes, calmness, coziness, and a cold aesthetic. The dances were impressive in scale and the storyline felt deeper and more meaningful. This Ball was different and that made it unique and authentic. Huge thanks to the organizers for this event!
