The Soul of Russia project will tell about the culture of the indigenous peoples of Russia

On National Unity Day in Russia, decrees of the President of the Russian Federation established the Day of the Indigenous Peoples of Russia, which will be celebrated on April 30, and the Day of Languages of the Peoples of the Russian Federation, which will be celebrated on September 8. The documents are posted on the website of the official publication of legal acts. The holidays were approved in order to preserve the "traditional way of life, economic activities, crafts and distinctive culture" of the country's indigenous peoples.

Special attention is paid to the richness and cultural diversity and preservation of the indigenous languages of the peoples of Russia at the largest congress and exhibition events of the Roscongress Foundation: the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, the Eastern Economic Forum and others. The Roscongress Foundation's "Soul of Russia" initiative, which unites the unique heritage of our country into a common space of dialogue and cooperation, acquires additional relevance in connection with the decrees issued.

"Soul of Russia" is an umbrella project for more than 190 peoples of Russia. It embodies the country's civilizational mission and aims to adapt traditions and heritage to a modern language that is understandable to children and young people through creative industries and new socio-cultural technologies.

"At key business venues in Russia, their traditions and modern creativity are revealed through the richness of the national culture of the country's peoples. Within the framework of the Soul of Russia project, regions are actively involved in representing cultural identity, demonstrating their diversity through socio-cultural and humanitarian initiatives at the largest forums in the country. The idea of getting to know the culture of Russia at congress and exhibition events is of great interest, including from foreign guests and forum participants," said Anton Kobyakov, Adviser to the President of Russia.

At the Eastern Economic Forum in September this year, the Soul of Russia catalog was presented, in which objects reveal the features of multinational Russia through the creative cluster. The concert "The Soul of Russia. Russia to the World" became a synthesis of great masterpieces of poetry, painting and music, bearing the cultural code of the peoples of Russia in the language of classical art understandable to the whole world.

The stands of the regions that took part in the SPIEF Investment & Business Expo at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in June this year were united by a single concept within the framework of the Soul of Russia project. Each pavilion included elements of national ornament that reflected the cultural code of a particular subject of the Russian Federation, its features and traditions.

The Soul of Russia Pavilion at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, with the support of the Presidential Foundation for Cultural Initiatives, has become a showcase of iconic historical brands based on the traditions of the peoples of Russia translated into the modern language of creative industries. In particular, it featured the works of Gennady Raishev, a Ugra painter and a representative of the indigenous peoples of the North, who became one of the first artists from the regions of the country to embody ethnic culture in artistic images.

At SPIEF 2026, the Soul of Russia pavilion will feature a capsule collection of new Russian brands based on the heritage of Russia's indigenous minorities. The works will be included in the Soul of Russia brand catalog, designed to become an aggregator of the best Russian creative brands focused on both the domestic market and export.