Events Under the "Kazan – Cultural Capital of the Islamic World 2026" Programme Get Underway in Kazan
Events Under the "Kazan – Cultural Capital of the Islamic World 2026" Programme Get Underway in Kazan
14 May
The programme of events for "Kazan – Cultural Capital of the Islamic World 2026" was officially opened by Olga Lyubimova, Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation, on the stage of the Galiasgar Kamal State Academic Theatre.
"The conferral of the status of Cultural Capital of the Islamic World for 2026 marks an important recognition of Kazan's special role as a centre of international humanitarian co-operation and a meeting point for Western and Eastern cultural traditions. Russia attaches the utmost importance to cultural engagement with the countries of the Islamic world. Our nations possess an inexhaustible potential for developing and strengthening cultural ties. The large-scale events taking place in Kazan these days are a vivid testament to this," the Minister noted.
The cultural programme opened with an evening of one-act ballets by Michel Fokine, presented by the State Academic Mariinsky Theatre on the stage of the Galiasgar Kamal Tatar State Academic Theatre. The bill featured "Chopiniana" and "Scheherazade", two of the defining ballets of Sergei Diaghilev's "Ballets Russes".
Olga Lyubimova, Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation, held bilateral meetings with Tariq Ali Bakhit, Assistant Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation for Humanitarian, Cultural and Social Affairs; Dr. Salim bin Mohammed AlMalik, Director-General of ICESCO; Dr. Gihane Zaki, Minister of Culture of the Arab Republic of Egypt; and Adil Karimli, Minister of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
During her talks with Tariq Ali Bakhit, Olga Lyubimova thanked the Organization of Islamic Cooperation for its comprehensive support of the initiative to grant Kazan the status of Cultural Capital of the Islamic World for 2026.
Russia's cultural engagement with the countries of the Islamic world has been developing at a dynamic pace of late. In February this year, the Days of Russian Culture in Qatar drew over 6,000 visitors over three days. A special programme is being planned for this year's St. Petersburg International United Cultures Forum to mark the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia.
Tariq Ali Bakhit expressed his gratitude to the Russian side for the warm welcome in Kazan and noted the positive momentum in OIC–Russia relations in the cultural sphere, while also proposing that work in this area be continued.
The parties also discussed the possibility of delivering joint exhibition projects on the history of Islam.
At her meeting with Dr. Salim bin Mohammed AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the Minister of Culture underscored the profound significance of ICESCO's contribution to the conferral of this honorary status upon Kazan.
The two sides devoted particular attention to the preservation of cultural heritage and the need to exchange experience in this field. Russia is actively engaged in this area and is home to 34 UNESCO World Heritage sites; Russian specialists in cultural heritage preservation are in demand across numerous countries. The meeting participants also noted the scope for employing modern technologies in this domain, in co-operation with the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
At her meeting with Dr. Gihane Zaki, Minister of Culture of Egypt, Olga Lyubimova thanked her counterpart for supporting the events in Kazan. The parties discussed energising the full range of bilateral co-operation: student exchanges, participation in film festivals, and unique museum projects. A major exhibition of Coptic art is set to open in Russia as early as December.
Olga Lyubimova also held talks with Adil Karimli, Minister of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The two sides reaffirmed their mutual interest in continuing co-operation and stressed the importance of developing the Russian–Azerbaijani dialogue, both within the framework of multilateral cultural events and through bilateral exchanges.
"The conferral of the status of Cultural Capital of the Islamic World for 2026 marks an important recognition of Kazan's special role as a centre of international humanitarian co-operation and a meeting point for Western and Eastern cultural traditions. Russia attaches the utmost importance to cultural engagement with the countries of the Islamic world. Our nations possess an inexhaustible potential for developing and strengthening cultural ties. The large-scale events taking place in Kazan these days are a vivid testament to this," the Minister noted.
The cultural programme opened with an evening of one-act ballets by Michel Fokine, presented by the State Academic Mariinsky Theatre on the stage of the Galiasgar Kamal Tatar State Academic Theatre. The bill featured "Chopiniana" and "Scheherazade", two of the defining ballets of Sergei Diaghilev's "Ballets Russes".
Olga Lyubimova, Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation, held bilateral meetings with Tariq Ali Bakhit, Assistant Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation for Humanitarian, Cultural and Social Affairs; Dr. Salim bin Mohammed AlMalik, Director-General of ICESCO; Dr. Gihane Zaki, Minister of Culture of the Arab Republic of Egypt; and Adil Karimli, Minister of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
During her talks with Tariq Ali Bakhit, Olga Lyubimova thanked the Organization of Islamic Cooperation for its comprehensive support of the initiative to grant Kazan the status of Cultural Capital of the Islamic World for 2026.
Russia's cultural engagement with the countries of the Islamic world has been developing at a dynamic pace of late. In February this year, the Days of Russian Culture in Qatar drew over 6,000 visitors over three days. A special programme is being planned for this year's St. Petersburg International United Cultures Forum to mark the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia.
Tariq Ali Bakhit expressed his gratitude to the Russian side for the warm welcome in Kazan and noted the positive momentum in OIC–Russia relations in the cultural sphere, while also proposing that work in this area be continued.
The parties also discussed the possibility of delivering joint exhibition projects on the history of Islam.
At her meeting with Dr. Salim bin Mohammed AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the Minister of Culture underscored the profound significance of ICESCO's contribution to the conferral of this honorary status upon Kazan.
The two sides devoted particular attention to the preservation of cultural heritage and the need to exchange experience in this field. Russia is actively engaged in this area and is home to 34 UNESCO World Heritage sites; Russian specialists in cultural heritage preservation are in demand across numerous countries. The meeting participants also noted the scope for employing modern technologies in this domain, in co-operation with the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
At her meeting with Dr. Gihane Zaki, Minister of Culture of Egypt, Olga Lyubimova thanked her counterpart for supporting the events in Kazan. The parties discussed energising the full range of bilateral co-operation: student exchanges, participation in film festivals, and unique museum projects. A major exhibition of Coptic art is set to open in Russia as early as December.
Olga Lyubimova also held talks with Adil Karimli, Minister of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The two sides reaffirmed their mutual interest in continuing co-operation and stressed the importance of developing the Russian–Azerbaijani dialogue, both within the framework of multilateral cultural events and through bilateral exchanges.
