From museums to the future: museum congress at the III International Symposium "Inventing the Future" to bring together over 100 experts from 15 countries

The II Museum Congress, "The Museum as a Place Where the Future Is Shaped", will bring together more than 100 curators, gallery owners and cultural legacy professionals from over 80 museums in Russia and around the world at the National Centre RUSSIA. Alongside Russian experts, representatives of cultural institutions from China, Vietnam, Italy, Ethiopia, South Africa, India and other countries have been invited to take part. Participants will discuss the prospects for museum development and the role museums play in shaping the future. The State Historical Museum is the congress's official partner. The event will take place on 12 November 2026 as part of the III International Symposium "Inventing the Future" at the National Centre RUSSIA. Registration is open at.

"The II Congress is timely because it reflects the evolution of the discussion about the future of museums. At the first congress in 2024, we discussed the mission of museums and their place in the modern world. This year, the focus will be on practical matters: the role of the curator, staff competencies, mechanisms for international cooperation and joint projects," said Alexei Levykin, Director General of the State Historical Museum.

At the session "A Place of Strength: The Role and Mission of the Museum in the Modern World", experts will discuss the place museums occupy in people's lives amid the accelerating pace of modern life and the powerful impact of information. A museum can offer people a source of inner strength, inspiration and new knowledge, as well as an opportunity for self-discovery. At the same time, there is growing concern that society is losing its sense of the museum as a sacred space. Museums around the world face not only brazen thefts and radical protest actions, but also disrespect for visitor rules on the part of ordinary visitors. How can cultural legacy be protected without turning museums into isolated spaces or losing their openness to the public? Participants will explore these pressing questions in the context of current events.

The discussion "Museums of Progress: A Shared Technological Future" will focus on the work of specialist museums and their role in shaping the future. The ATOM Museum will co-organise the event. Museum exposition spaces dedicated to space, science, engineering and other fields bring together expertise, collections and educational formats to present a coherent picture of technological development. Representatives of natural science museums will explain how they plan displays, engage with young people and spark interest in scientific and technological creativity. Participants will discuss which museum collaborations are likely to shape the future and how joint projects can make the discussion of progress more coherent, tangible and accessible to a broad audience.

The congress will also feature practical workshops on current professional challenges facing museum staff, led by speakers from related fields, including journalism, business and media communications. Following the event, the organisers plan to expand the programme of regular training sessions for museum professionals at the National Centre RUSSIA branches across the regions.

The workshop "The Museum as a Laboratory: How Technology Attracts New Visitors" will explore digital tools that museums of any size can use, as well as cooperation with businesses. The workshop "Museum Chic: How to Develop and Deliver Bold PR Ideas" will address how to turn a museum into a popular destination and develop PR strategies to attract different audiences.

In 2026, the International Symposium "Inventing the Future" will be held for the third time, bringing together more than 7,000 government officials, scientists and researchers, heads of corporations and business alliances, representatives of the creative industries and public organisations, and young professionals from around the world. Approximately 35 events are planned across three thematic tracks: "People and Values", "Progress", and "Culture and Art".

The International Symposium "Inventing the Future" was organised on the instructions of Russian President Vladimir Putin under the auspices of the Decade of Science and Technology, with support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, and the Ministry of Culture. The first symposium took place from 4 to 6 November 2024, bringing together more than 6,000 people from 101 countries. Participants included representatives of government and business, scientists and engineers, futurists and forecasters, public figures, and creative industry professionals from BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The symposium provided a platform for discussing innovative ideas and projects that contribute to the advancement of science and technology.

The II International Symposium "Inventing the Future" took place on 7–8 October 2025. It brought together 7,000 participants from 86 countries, while more than 50.8 million people watched the event's online broadcasts. The expert programme featured over 260 specialists from various fields. Its main outcome was the development and visualisation of practical scenarios for the future.

The International Symposium "Inventing the Future" was the first event to launch the work of the National Centre RUSSIA, established on 1 July 2024 by order of the President of the Russian Federation. The Centre is tasked with preserving the legacy of the International RUSSIA EXPO and showcasing the achievements of the country and its people. Federal government bodies, state-owned companies, corporations and Russian regions all take part in the Centre's work.