“Many Traditions, One Culture”International Youth Festival concluded in Yekaterinburg
From 11 to 17 September, Yekaterinburg hosted the International Youth Festival , which brought together 10 000 participants from 191 countries. The cultural program, organized by the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, showcased classical and folk arts, museum collections, Russian cinema, contemporary design, circus arts, and new technologies. Projects created with the participation of young cultural figures held a special place in the program.
The multimedia concert Symphony of Innovations was one of the key events of the program. In this production, the music of Sergei Rachmaninoff, Alexander Scriabin, and Sergei Prokofiev entered into a dialogue with 21st-century technologies including generative graphics, holograms, robotics, and artificial intelligence. This large-scale project featured the Moscow State Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Honored Artist of the Russian Federation Ivan Rudin, alongside leading Russian musicians and laureates of prestigious international competitions: Vasily Stepanov (cello), Ivan Bessonov (piano), Arseny Tarasevich-Nikolaev (piano), Filipp Kopachevsky (piano), Mikhail Usov (violin), Polina Shabunina (soprano), and Gleb Peryazev (bass).
The festival’s main stage hosted solo concerts by leading Russian performing groups: the State Don Cossack Song and Dance Ensemble named after A. Kvasov; Nadezhda Babkina and the Russian Song (Russkaya Pesnya) Ensemble; the M. Pyatnitsky State Academic Russian Folk Choir; and the Omsk State Academic Russian Folk Choir.
Nadezhda Babkina, People’s Artist of the Russian Federation, Artistic Director and General Director of the Moscow State Academic Russian Song Theatre:
“The International Youth Forum in Yekaterinburg made a very strong impression on me. Together with the soloists of the Russian Song ensemble, we presented a program that sent the audience into raptures. It was more than just a concert; it was a genuine spectacle that united people from very different countries.
It reaffirmed my belief that folk song as one of the subjects of ethnography is wonderful, however we cannot limit ourselves to that aspect alone. Our mission is to spark interest and captivate audiences, demonstrating that folk art can be both modern and relevant. We speak to the audience in a language they understand, offering contemporary rhythms and arrangements while preserving the very essence of the tradition. Judging by the reaction of the audience which comprised young people from various nations—we succeeded. It shows that our performance was truly worthwhile.”
The International Youth Festival, held as part of the Youth and Children national project, took place in Yekaterinburg from 11 to 17 September 2026. Participants included outstanding representatives from the creative industries and the arts, public administration, science and education, sports, entrepreneurship, media, digitalization and IT, and public activism — individuals who are already shaping the future of their countries and the world.
The project was implemented with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation and Federal State Budgetary Institution of Culture ROSCONCERT.