The anniversary V International Children’s Cultural Forum has opened at the Moscow Palace of Pioneers. The Forum is organized by the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, ROSCONCERT, and the Russian Cultural Foundation.
Over the course of two days, August 20–21, 2026, the Forum will bring together more than 1,800 participants aged 12 to 17. All of them took part in the official opening ceremony. To the song “And I Walk Through Moscow”, groups of participants marched across the square in front of the Moscow Palace of Pioneers. Later, to the melody of “My Motherland” (“You and Me, Him and Her”), the participants joined national performing groups for a large-scale dance flash mob.
Tatyana Golikova, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, addressed the participants with a welcoming speech:
“This year, the International Children’s Cultural Forum is celebrating its first anniversary — the Forum turns five. Today, thousands of talented young people from every region of our country and from 17 countries around the world have gathered here. Ahead are two days of educational, cultural, and creative meetings, where everyone will have the opportunity to demonstrate their talents and receive valuable professional advice from outstanding mentors. The Forum takes on particular significance during the Year of Unity of the Peoples of Russia: each of you will represent a part of your people’s culture. I am confident that these will be bright and unforgettable days. I wish you every success on the journey ahead!”
During the opening ceremony, the hosts also introduced the curators of the Forum’s creative tracks. The Music track is curated by Olga Khomova, Director General of the State Academic Capella of St. Petersburg and Honored Worker of Culture of the Russian Federation; Choreography by Egor Druzhinin, choreographer and Honored Artist of the Russian Federation; Theatre and Circus by Sergey Bezrukov, Artistic Director of the Gorky Moscow Art Theatre and People’s Artist of the Russian Federation, and Edgard Zapashny, Director General of the Great Moscow State Circus on Vernadsky Prospekt and People’s Artist of the Russian Federation; Literature and Journalism by Dmitry Bak, Director of the Vladimir Dahl State Museum of the History of Russian Literature; Museums and Visual Arts by Kristina Trubinova, Director General of the Bakhrushin State Central Theatre Museum; and Film and Animation by Gavriil Gordeev, General Producer of Okko and President and founder of the Medvezhonok International Festival of Children’s and Family Film and Animation.
Over the two days of the Forum, the curators and invited experts will hold meetings, practical workshops, and open discussions. Participants will be able to ask questions, learn more about different creative professions, and receive advice from established professionals working in culture and media.
The Forum programme features more than 60 events in total.
