With Broad International Participation.. St. Petersburg Prepares to Launch the 12th United Cultures Forum

With Broad International Participation.. St. Petersburg Prepares to Launch the 12th United Cultures Forum

President Putin’s Vision for Promoting Civilizational Diversity: Combining International Efforts to Protect and Preserve Cultural Identity

Tatyana Golikova, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation and Chairperson of the Forum Organizing Committee: The Forum Serves as a Platform for Direct International Dialogue Based on Respect for Cultural Diversity and Historical Memory

The Event Brings Together Leaders in Culture, Cinema, and Technology Under the Theme "United Cultures, Common Values"

A Roadmap for Fostering Creativity, Preserving Heritage, and Exploring the Horizons of Artificial Intelligence in the Arts

 Amr Yehia

The 12th St. Petersburg International United Cultures Forum will take place from September 24 to 26, 2026, under the theme “United Cultures, Common Values.” The complete business programme for the forum has been published, featuring the list of confirmed speakers, details of panel discussions, and diverse sectoral tracks bringing together elite cultural leaders, artists, government officials, creative sector representatives, and experts from around the world. The forum Organized by the Roscongress Foundation with the support of the Government of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, and the St. Petersburg City Administration, this year's edition provides a dedicated venue for professional exchange and actionable initiatives.

Russian President Vladimir Putin set out the general features and core tasks governing the forum’s work, emphasizing the critical importance of combining international efforts to protect and preserve cultural identity amid rapid global transformations.

In his address, President Putin stated: “Let me stress once again: our task in the modern world is to combine efforts in safeguarding cultural identity and diversity, traditions, and worldviews whilst moving forward, fostering innovation, and jointly creating genuine art – uplifting creativity that elevates humanity’s finest qualities. We must counter threats to minority cultures’ survival, advance principles of justice and equality in interethnic relations, and free the world from prejudice, double standards, and attempts to cancel this or that culture.”

Tatyana Golikova, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation and Chairperson of the Forum Organizing Committee, explained that the forum has evolved into a primary platform for direct international dialogue rooted in respect for cultural diversity, historical memory, and traditional values. She noted that the business programme spans a broad spectrum of issues, ranging from heritage preservation and the development of theatre, cinema, music, and museum practices to analyzing the opportunities and risks associated with adopting modern technologies.

Tatyana Golikova, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation and Chairperson of the Forum Organizing Committee

For his part, Anton Kobyakov, Adviser to the President of the Russian Federation and Executive Secretary of the Organizing Committee, stressed that culture remains one of the most sustainable instruments for dialogue between nations. He highlighted that the business programme provides a space to discuss practical issues of international cooperation, preserve cultural identity, and forge new partnerships among creative industry players.

The agenda is divided across ten primary thematic tracks: ‘Musical Culture’, ‘Film’, ‘Media Culture’, ‘Museums’, ‘United Cultures and Technologies towards the Cultural Code of the Future’, ‘Cultural Sovereignty in the 21st Century’, ‘Cultural Heritage: Tradition and Modernity’, ‘Circus’, ‘Theatre’, and ‘Education in Culture’, alongside a dedicated youth track and specialized session topics.

Among the cornerstone events included in the forum are the closing session chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova, the Meeting of the Coordinating Council for Culture under the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, and the Hermitage Prize Award Ceremony.

In the ‘Musical Culture’ track, sessions will address strategies to engage younger generations with classical music, the role of international music competitions in facilitating long-term collaboration between musicians and audiences, and a dedicated meeting marking the 10th anniversary of the Valery Khalilov Wind Society. Pianist and "People’s Artist of the Russian Federation" Denis Matsuev will moderate discussions on international music competitions alongside fellow pianists Freddy Kempf and Justus Frantz.

The ‘Film’ track will explore the dynamic relationship between movie theatres, television, and digital platforms, the "Transcontinental Film Train" joint production project, and the application of artificial intelligence in live-action cinema. This track will also host panel sessions titled “Russia Minus Hollywood, and Hollywood Minus Russia” and “How to Form a Unified Film Space in the CIS.” Participating industry leaders include Minister of Culture Olga Lyubimova, CEO of Channel One Russia Konstantin Ernst, director and producer Fyodor Bondarchuk, Gazprom-Media Holding CEO Alexander Zharov, and director Karen Shakhnazarov.

In the ‘Media Culture’ track, Director General of the TASS news agency Andrey Kondrashov will moderate a session titled “Fathers in Russian and Global Multinational Culture and Media.” Speakers include Deputy Chairperson of the State Duma Anna Kuznetsova, Director of the Eurasian Bureau of China Media Group Wang Bin, and Chief Correspondent of the Moscow Bureau of the Turkish Anadolu Agency Ali Cura.

The forum allocates substantial focus to cultural heritage and cultural sovereignty, featuring sessions on postcolonial restoration ethics, cultural sovereignty in civilizational dialogue between East and West, and cultural heritage in the Arctic. Participants include General Director of the State Hermitage Museum Mikhail Piotrovsky, Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for International Cultural Cooperation Mikhail Shvydkoy, and Director General of the State Historical Museum Alexey Levykin.

The intersection of technology and artificial intelligence with the arts will also be highlighted through specialized sessions examining the impact of AI algorithms on copyright protection, drafting regional cultural codes, and the future of digital mechanisms in preserving heritage.

Minister of Culture Olga Lyubimova affirmed that the forum places top priority on opening a direct professional dialogue that connects heads of major cultural institutions with emerging young talent to address industry challenges and shape the future cultural landscape.

The ‘Theatre’ track features delegations and theatre association leaders from Russia, India, Vietnam, Türkiye, Colombia, Tunisia, and other countries. Sessions will be moderated by Chairman of the Union of Theatre Workers Vladimir Mashkov, Artistic Director of the State Theatre of Nations Yevgeny Mironov, and Artistic Director of the Alexandrinsky Theatre Valery Fokin, focusing on international theatre cooperation and the development strategy for Russian theatre leading up to 2035.

In the ‘Circus’ track, General Director of the Great Moscow State Circus Edgard Zapashny will moderate sessions examining the circus as a bridge between cultures and the impact of technology on arena performance, joined by Artistic Director Askold Zapashny, General Director of the Russian State Circus Company Sergey Belyakov, and circus artists from France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and Guatemala.

The Youth Programme will feature panels on the ethical principles of young artists working with artificial intelligence, alongside direct mentorship sessions with cultural luminaries such as Vladimir Mashkov and Mikhail Piotrovsky.

In the Special Topics track, an open session titled “Besogon and Culture” hosted by director Nikita Mikhalkov will focus on the values of the Diamond Butterfly Open Eurasian Film Award, running alongside sessions dedicated to digital heritage preservation and inclusive culture.