Iranian Culture Week to Be Held in Russia in 2026
WANA (Sep 11) – The meeting between Iran’s Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance and Russia’s Minister of Culture in St. Petersburg resulted in new agreements, including the organization of Iran’s Cultural Week in Russia in 2026.
Seyyed Abbas Salehi, who traveled to St. Petersburg at the official invitation of his Russian counterpart, Olga Lyubimova, referred in the meeting to the recent encounter between the presidents of the two countries on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit in China.
Salehi noted that the meeting between Masoud Pezeshkian and Vladimir Putin was one of the longest bilateral talks held during the summit, describing it as a sign of both countries’ commitment to strengthening relations.
The meeting, attended by the Deputy Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Moscow, also saw the Russian Minister of Culture express her appreciation for the successful organization of Russia’s Cultural Week in Iran, and welcomed her Iranian counterpart’s presence at the International Forum of United Cultures.
Lyubimova also pointed to Kazan’s nomination as the Capital of Islamic Culture in 2026 and called for the support of the Islamic Republic of Iran for this event.
The two ministers reviewed the outcomes of their previous meeting in Tehran last June as part of the implementation of the Comprehensive Strategic Agreement and discussed several new proposals.
During the talks, it was proposed—and mutually agreed—that Iran’s Cultural Week in Russia will take place in 2026.
Commenting on the matter, the Russian Minister of Culture said: “After the successful hosting of Russia’s Cultural Week in Iran, we are now preparing for Iran’s Cultural Days in Russia in 2026.”
Iran’s Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance arrived in St. Petersburg on Wednesday afternoon to attend the 11th International Forum of United Cultures and to hold consultations on the expansion of Iran-Russia cultural relations.
The forum will be held on Thursday and Friday (September 11–12, 2025) with the participation of culture ministers and senior representatives from over 40 countries and international organizations. The opening session on Thursday is scheduled to be attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
