What's On Kyiv
What's On Kyiv was an English-language Kyiv city guide and magazine covering Ukrainian culture, society, business, politics, entertainment, travel, restaurants, nightlife, and local events.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
What's On Kyiv, also known as What's On Kiev or simply What's On, was an English-language city and country magazine focused on Kyiv and Ukraine. It began publication in 1999 and developed from a weekly publication into a monthly magazine and, later, an online-only publication. Its editorial and commercial role was similar to that of an international city guide such as Time Out, but its audience was particularly associated with Kyiv's expatriate, diplomatic, business, tourism, and English-speaking communities. The magazine combined practical city information with broader journalism. Its coverage included news, Ukrainian society, culture, politics, history, business, show business, interviews, travel, nightlife, restaurant reviews, and comprehensive listings of entertainment and cultural events in Kyiv. In its print period, copies were distributed free of charge through bars, hotels, newsstands, embassies, airlines, businesses, and tourism and entertainment venues. The distribution model helped it reach visitors and residents who used English-language information about the capital, as well as Ukrainians who read English. What's On was initially associated with CPL Group and later with Euromedia, also referred to as Euro Media Ukraine Ltd. In the early 2000s, Amanda Pitt was the first editor-in-chief, followed by Peter Dickinson, who edited the magazine from 2001 to 2007. Neil Campbell subsequently became editor-in-chief. The publication's ownership changed during the economic disruption following the 2008 financial crisis. Telegraaf Media Group Ukraine, which owned several publications including What's On, decided to sell the title at the end of 2008. In April 2009, Campbell and Paul Nyland established PAN Publishing and acquired What's On. PAN Publishing also published Panorama, the in-flight magazine of Ukraine International Airlines. Editorial leadership changed again in 2011, when Campbell handed editorial responsibilities to Lana Nicole Niland. The title continued to serve as an English-language source for Kyiv's cultural and social life. It also employed or published contributors connected with international reporting; British journalist Graham Phillips worked at the magazine in 2012. The publication supported the Euromaidan movement, and its regular publication ceased after the 2013–2014 events. In summer 2014, it issued a special publication titled Chronicle of a Revolution, compiling news, photographs, and feature material from the twelve-week Euromaidan period. After a break, What's On returned in September 2017 as a monthly magazine under Outpost Publishing. Lana Nicole Niland was identified as both owner and editor-in-chief during this revival. The magazine later moved online-only in 2019. In late 2020, an announcement on its official website indicated that the publication intended to return, but no subsequent regular publication is documented in the supplied reference material. The title is therefore treated as defunct. Its publication history reflects the changing economics of English-language print media in Kyiv: free physical distribution, dependence on advertising, disruption from the global financial crisis, interruption during political upheaval, a later print revival, and a final transition to digital publication.
History
What's On Kyiv was founded in 1999 as an English-language publication for Kyiv and Ukraine. Amanda Pitt served as its first editor-in-chief. During the early 2000s, the magazine was associated with CPL Group and Euromedia, also known as Euro Media Ukraine Ltd. Peter Dickinson became editor in 2001 and remained in the editorial leadership role until 2007. The magazine's early format was weekly, and it was distributed free of charge through a network of hotels, bars, embassies, airlines, businesses, tourism locations, entertainment venues, and newsstands. The publication was designed to be both a practical guide and a general-interest magazine. It carried Kyiv listings and information about places and events, while also publishing reporting and features on Ukrainian society, culture, politics, history, business, show business, travel, and nightlife. Restaurant reviews and interviews broadened its appeal beyond a basic events calendar. Its English-language editorial approach made it particularly useful to expatriates, diplomats, foreign visitors, international businesses, and English-speaking Ukrainians. In 2007, Peter Dickinson left to join Business Ukraine, and Neil Campbell became editor-in-chief. The 2008 financial crisis affected the Ukrainian publishing sector and prompted Telegraaf Media Group Ukraine, which owned several publications including What's On, to sell titles in its portfolio. In early April 2009, Campbell and Paul Nyland responded by founding PAN Publishing and purchasing What's On. PAN also published Panorama, the in-flight magazine of Ukraine International Airlines. Campbell continued to lead the editorial operation until 2011, when Lana Nicole Niland assumed editorial duties. What's On's regular publication was interrupted around the period of the Euromaidan protests in 2013 and 2014. The magazine supported the movement, and in summer 2014 it published Chronicle of a Revolution, a special edition assembled from the magazine's reporting, photography, and feature coverage of the twelve-week period. The special edition represented a shift from the title's usual city-guide role toward documentary coverage of a major national political event. After a break, the magazine returned in September 2017. The revived title was published monthly by Outpost Publishing, with Lana Nicole Niland described as owner and editor-in-chief. This second print phase lasted until the publication moved online-only in 2019. In late 2020, the official website stated that the magazine intended to return, but the supplied reference material records no later regular issues. The title is consequently considered defunct by the early 2020s. Its trajectory illustrates the pressures faced by local English-language media: dependence on advertising, ownership changes, disruption by economic and political events, and migration from print to digital publishing.
- 2020
Last known return announcement
[1]The official website stated that the publication intended to return, but no subsequent regular publication is documented in the supplied sources.
- 2019
Transition to online-only publishing
[1]What's On moved from print to an online-only format.
- 2017
Monthly publication resumes
[1]The magazine returned in September under Outpost Publishing.
- 2014
Chronicle of a Revolution special edition
[1]What's On published a special edition documenting the Euromaidan period.
- 2011
Lana Nicole Niland assumes editorial duties
[1]Campbell handed editorial responsibilities to Lana Nicole Niland.
- 2009
PAN Publishing acquires What's On
[1]Neil Campbell and Paul Nyland founded PAN Publishing and bought the magazine.
- 2008
Telegraaf Media Group Ukraine decides to sell the title
[1]The 2008 financial crisis contributed to a portfolio-sale decision affecting What's On.
- 2007
Neil Campbell becomes editor-in-chief
[1]Neil Campbell succeeded Peter Dickinson as editor-in-chief.
- 2001
Peter Dickinson becomes editor-in-chief
[1]Peter Dickinson took over editorial leadership after Amanda Pitt's initial tenure.
- 1999
Publication founded
[1]What's On began publication as an English-language magazine serving Kyiv and covering Ukraine more broadly.
Products and positioning
A free English-language city guide and magazine for Kyiv's expatriate, diplomatic, business, tourism, and English-speaking audiences, combining practical listings with journalism about Ukraine.
City magazine · 1999
What's On Kyiv magazine
The core publication was an English-language Kyiv city magazine that combined local journalism with practical information. It covered events, nightlife, restaurants, travel, culture, business, politics, history, and interviews, and was distributed free through hospitality, diplomatic, aviation, business, and entertainment channels during its print period.
Digital publication · 2019
What's On Kyiv online edition
The online edition extended the publication's city-guide and editorial model after the magazine moved online-only in 2019. It was intended to provide information and features for Kyiv residents, visitors, expatriates, and other English-language readers.
Special edition · 2014
Chronicle of a Revolution
Published in summer 2014, this special edition compiled What's On reporting, photographs, and feature articles from the twelve-week Euromaidan period. It documented the political crisis and protest movement rather than following the magazine's normal listings-led city-guide format.
Brand decisions
2019
Shift from print to digitalStrategyBackground
The publication had returned as a monthly magazine in 2017 but later faced the changing economics and distribution environment of local print media.
Action taken
What's On moved to an online-only format.
Aftermath
A late-2020 website announcement suggested a possible return, but the supplied sources record no further regular publications.
2017
Restart under Outpost PublishingStrategyBackground
After a publication break following the Euromaidan period, the title returned to the Kyiv media market.
Action taken
Outpost Publishing relaunched What's On as a monthly magazine in September 2017, with Lana Nicole Niland as owner and editor-in-chief.
Aftermath
The title later moved online-only in 2019 and subsequently ceased regular publication.
2014
Publication of a Euromaidan documentary special editionOtherBackground
Regular publication stopped around the 2013–2014 Euromaidan period, which the magazine supported.
Action taken
What's On issued Chronicle of a Revolution, bringing together its reporting, photographs, and feature material from the twelve-week protest period.
Aftermath
The special edition preserved the magazine's coverage of a major political event, although it did not restore regular publication at that time.
2008
Sale of the publication after the financial crisisM&ABackground
The global financial crisis placed pressure on the publishing portfolio of Telegraaf Media Group Ukraine, which owned What's On among other titles.
Action taken
Telegraaf Media Group Ukraine decided to sell the publication at the end of 2008.
Aftermath
Neil Campbell and Paul Nyland established PAN Publishing and acquired What's On in April 2009.
Recent events
- 2019
What's On moves online-only[1]
Product generation
The publication shifted from monthly print production to an online-only format.
- 2017
What's On returns as a monthly magazine[1]
Product launch
After a publication break, the title returned in September 2017 under Outpost Publishing.
- 2014
What's On publishes Chronicle of a Revolution[1]
Product launch · Other
The magazine released a special edition documenting the twelve-week Euromaidan period through previously published reporting, photography, and feature articles.
- 2009
PAN Publishing acquires What's On[1]
M&A
Neil Campbell and Paul Nyland founded PAN Publishing and purchased What's On in early April 2009.
- 2008
What's On sold after Telegraaf Media Group Ukraine's portfolio review[1]
M&A · Other
Following the 2008 financial crisis, Telegraaf Media Group Ukraine decided to sell several publications, including What's On.
Sources2 sources
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