Pushkin Competition Winners Honored in Moscow

On September 12, 2026, the award ceremony for the winners of the XXVI International Pushkin Competition for teachers of Russian from near and far abroad took place at the Hotel National in Moscow. The competition is organized by Rossiyskaya Gazeta and the Government of Moscow, represented by the Department for External Economic and International Relations of Moscow. The ceremony brought together representatives from 29 countries.

Sergey Cheremin, Minister of the Government of Moscow and Head of the Department for External Economic and International Relations of Moscow, took part in the event. Addressing the winners, he emphasized that the Pushkin Competition reflects Russia’s cultural diversity. The Minister noted the importance of preserving a tradition that has been bringing together teachers of Russian from different countries for more than a quarter of a century.

“Russian culture is multiethnic. Our unique Pushkin Competition is built from this amazing palette. I am very glad that we are continuing this tradition for the twenty-sixth time. I think it will live on for many years to come,” said Sergey Cheremin.

The head of the Department reminded the audience that Russia is home to about 200 nationalities, and in Moscow its cultural diversity is fully represented. He expressed hope that their stay in the capital would leave the foreign teachers with the warmest impressions. In his remarks, Sergey Cheremin also touched on international recognition of Moscow’s initiatives, mentioning awards for attracting foreign investment and interest abroad in the Moscow Longevity project.

Mikhail Shvydkoy, Special Representative of the President of Russia for International Cultural Cooperation and Chair of the Pushkin Competition’s Board of Trustees, stressed the importance of teachers’ work for children’s moral upbringing: “You help the soul be open to the world. Through the Russian language and Russian literature, you teach children goodness and justice. Russian literature raises the most complex, most important, and deepest questions of human existence. That is why it is so important for a young person.”

This year, participants were given the theme “The Russian Language on Pravda Street. How Is It Faring in Your Country and School?” In their essays, teachers wrote about their professional experience, student motivation, and the status of the Russian language abroad.

According to Yadviga Yuferova, deputy editor-in-chief of Rossiyskaya Gazeta, this year nearly 400 teachers from 39 countries responded to the theme proposed by the competition jury. Among the winners, there are increasingly more representatives from EU countries. Yuferova emphasized: “We received essays from Poland and Finland, the Netherlands and Greece, Serbia and France.”

Fifty teachers became winners of the competition. Their names were announced on June 6, Alexander Pushkin’s birthday and Russian Language Day.

The Moscow program gave the winners an opportunity to continue professional dialogue and exchange experience. At the Rossiyskaya Gazeta editorial office, they met with the competition organizers, writers, and journalists, and at the Pushkin State Russian Language Institute they took part in educational meetings and master classes.

In honor of the winners, the Government of Moscow hosted a gala evening featuring a performance by the Lyubo-Milo ensemble.