The III International Symposium "Inventing the Future" will once again become the main platform for futuristic projects

On 12–13 November 2026, the III International Symposium "Inventing the Future" will be held at the National Centre RUSSIA. Its programme will include more than 35 events featuring leading industry experts from Russia, China, India, Italy, Singapore, the USA, and other countries — together they will design positive scenarios for the development of the future. Almost all events are open to visitors with prior registration on the official website. The International Symposium will bring together more than 7,000 people — both experts and participants. The event is organised on the instructions of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin within the framework of the Decade of Science and Technology.

The programme of the III International Symposium "Inventing the Future" will include three thematic tracks: "People and Values," "Progress," and "Culture and Art." Special attention will be paid to youth formats. During the days of the symposium, there will be interviews, visionary sessions, public talks, trainings, a technology show, the II Museum Congress, the International Pitching of Film Projects, the opening of the Game Lobby "The Rink of the Future," the official ceremony  for the II All-Russian Science Fiction Literary Award, and many other events.

Of paramount importance is the interdisciplinary approach of the programme: science fiction writers and futurists, scientists and artists will together seek answers to questions about the future of the world, design positive scenarios, and create new models. It is also important that, alongside experienced experts, young people will participate in the discussions: schoolchildren, students, and young specialists will be able to propose their projects for the future development of the world.

Public talks and science stand-ups will be held with the participation of high school students: young men and women will determine which areas of science will lead to the most important discoveries for humanity. Students from specialised universities — HSE University, Lomonosov Moscow State University, MGIMO, participants of Movement of the First projects, and shifts at the Artek International Children's Centre — will compete in a diplomatic tournament and formulate the key principles of the diplomacy of the future. For students of aerospace, engineering, and physics and mathematics specialities, a case championship in space competencies will be held: young people will solve specific tasks set by industry experts. The brightest participants will have the opportunity to continue working on their solutions and undergo selection for internships at organisations in the space industry.

The attendees of the Symposium will focus on a wide variety of topics. One of the first is the present and future of the institution of family and marriage. How the family is changing today will be discussed in a talk-show format by TV presenter, media manager, and entrepreneur Svetlana Bondarchuk and her husband — businessman, designer, film director, producer, and composer Sergei Kharchenko; singer, producer, head of the Turetsky Choir and the SOPRANO music collective Mikhail Turetsky and his daughter — singer and blogger Emmanuelle Turetsky, and other participants.

Furthermore, Symposium experts will discuss the continuity of generations, the search for the meaning of life, and paths to happiness. The focus will be on the stories of foreigners who have chosen Russia as their home. An Italian — chef, musician, and host of the culinary and educational programme "Let's Go, Let's Eat!" on the NTV channel, Federico Arnaldi — will share his journey (track "People and Values"). A striking event will be a visionary session on de-extinction — the revival of species: experts will compile a shortlist of promising projects in this field. The heroes of the science and entertainment stand-up will debunk popular myths, fears, and loud predictions about the future (track "Progress").

Visitors will have a chance to attend the recording of a literary podcast about science fiction, a screening of the series "It's Hard to Be a God," a panel discussion about the future of the fashion industry, complemented by a fashion show, and many other events (track "Culture and Art").

Once again, the Open Lecture Hall "Inventing the Future" will be held at the Symposium, exploring the theme "The Audacity of Creators: What Leads a Person to a Dream?" Using the example of personal stories, participants will tell how they moved towards their dream and opened new horizons, how the past inspires bold experiments, and why a happy future is built from the ability to appreciate simple moments. The main theme will be explored through five special sessions.

The Symposium programme will include practical self-development training for all comers: "Back to the Future: Habits for the Brain" and "The Art of Presence: How to Develop Empathy, Intuition, and Manage Anxiety."

At the Symposium, the Game Lobby "The Rink of the Future" will begin its work, introducing participants to the world of Russian computer games. The lobby will host presentations, open dialogues with gaming industry experts, live podcast recordings, and large-scale team competitions. The project will bring together young people, experts, and game developers and will allow participants to look at video games and digital services as an important cultural phenomenon and a strategic and unifying resource.

The experts of the Symposium will include statesmen, scientists, heads of corporations, and representatives of culture, art, media, and public organisations. Among them are Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Alexander Alimov; Director General of the VCIOM Analytical Centre and Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Mass Communications at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation Valery Fedorov; science fiction writer, screenwriter, member of the board of the Union of Writers of Russia, and member of the Civic Chamber of Russia Sergei Lukyanenko, and many others.

Among the foreign experts are science fiction writer, President of the China Science Fiction Writers Association, and co-author of the bestseller "AI 2041" Chen Qiufan; Professor at UTEG University, researcher of strategic foresight, science fiction, and innovation processes Jean-Paul Pinto Morales (Ecuador); Doctor of Biological Sciences, Director General of the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation, and head of the Mauritian part of the project to bring back the dodo, Vikash Tatayah (Mauritius), and many others.

Continuing the traditions of the I and II International Symposia, the concrete practical results of the programme's events will be of particular importance. For example, following the II Museum Congress, a digital booklet dedicated to the most important expositions of the participating museums will be created. The signing of an agreement between relevant science and technology museums and the National Centre RUSSIA is expected, aimed for the implementation of joint projects and the demonstration of Russia's achievements. A festival-format showcase of traditional crafts, "The Power of Craft: Preserving Legacy for the Future," will be held. From among the participants, representatives of craft schools will be selected who will be able to conclude a cooperation agreement with the National Centre RUSSIA Department Store, which will become a logical continuation of the National Centre RUSSIA's work to preserve the country's intangible legacy.

Also, one of the main results of the Symposium will be the formation of a community focused on continuing international dialogue, cooperation, and joint design of positive scenarios for the development of the present and the future. To this end, a special application for communication and networking will be launched during the days of the events.