Large-scale projects and a focus on youth: the Organising Committee of the National Centre RUSSIA reviews the results of 2025
The most important priority for the National Centre RUSSIA is meaningful content. For the country to exist and develop, it is essential to strengthen national identity. This was the focus of the first in-person meeting of the Organising Committee of the National Centre RUSSIA, where participants reviewed the results of the Centre’s work in 2025 and discussed plans for 2026. The official opening of the exposition "Geography Lessons" also took place.
"The mission of the National Centre is: 'To know and love Russia. To take pride in the past, value the present, and create the future. To inspire the country and lead the world.' Time passes very quickly. Before long, the very children who left the National Centre with shining eyes will be shaping the future of our country," said the First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office of Russia and Chair of the Organising Committee of the National Centre RUSSIA, Sergei Kiriyenko.
Since its establishment, the National Centre has hosted more than 900 events. The space identifies families with children and young people as its primary audience, and the key measure of its success is when visitors leave events with a sense of pride in their country.
The Director General of the National Centre RUSSIA, Natalia Virtuozova, presented the results of 2025 and plans for 2026. She noted that the Centre hosts business, cultural, educational, and international events that are significant on a global scale.
"From 27 to 29 April, the National Centre RUSSIA will host our traditional flagship event — the Open Dialogue. We invited the whole world to write essays about our future and received submissions from 102 countries. We have recently returned from Tashkent, where we took part in the International Industrial Trade Fair 'INNOPROM. Central Asia'. In the near future, we plan to participate in an exposition in Harbin, and in the autumn — in Shanghai. A project in Ethiopia is also planned. We will continue to hold the International Symposium 'Inventing the Future' and a series of Open Lecture Halls dedicated to the future," Natalia Virtuozova shared.
Another major milestone for the National Centre RUSSIA is the construction of a new complex, launched by the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, on 26 March 2026. The future building will become an architectural landmark of global significance and a symbol of modern Russia. Details of the project, which is being implemented in cooperation with the Moscow Urban Development Complex, were presented by the Deputy Director General for Construction and Operations of the National Centre RUSSIA, Ksenia Mayer.
"We have sought to incorporate all modern technologies into the new building of the National Centre RUSSIA. For example, a unified system will include an integrated digital platform for analysing the actions of visitors and staff, which is necessary to optimise operations and improve service quality. A digital visitor passport will be introduced, enabling user profiling, identification, and monitoring of visitor numbers in different areas. The functional centre will analyse visitor preferences, create personalised routes, and respond promptly to requests. A digital twin of the space will also be implemented. Using heat maps, it will regulate queue lengths, manage visitor flows, and monitor the performance of the building’s engineering systems," Ksenia Mayer said.
According to her, the future venue of the National Centre RUSSIA will include robotic delivery systems, and technologies will be integrated across other areas. The Department Store will feature a scanner for quick product selection with subsequent warehouse delivery, while the gastronomic zone will offer an immersive journey through the flavours of the country. The congress centre will be equipped with a smart space system displaying available seating and electrochromic walls that allow flexible configurations and live broadcasts. Ksenia Mayer emphasised that a landscaped park will form an integral part of the complex, creating a unified ensemble with the National Centre.
She noted that the space can operate as a single complex or be divided into several zones (from three to five) for simultaneous events and expositions, with each zone offering additional functions. The congress and concert hall, with a capacity of 3,500, can be transformed within 15 minutes: mobile partitions allow the number of seats to be reduced and the space to be divided into independent venues. The key factor in this transformation is speed, and the design is being developed in line with the current needs of the National Centre RUSSIA.
Following the first in-person meeting of the Organising Committee, the ceremonial opening of the exposition "Geography Lessons" took place. This educational project for the whole family demonstrates how geography has shaped the history and culture of Russia, united peoples, and inspired exploration. The ceremony was attended by the First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office of Russia and Chair of the Organising Committee of the National Centre RUSSIA, Sergei Kiriyenko; the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office of Russia and Deputy Chair of the Organising Committee, Maxim Oreshkin; the Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Chernyshenko; the Director General of the National Centre RUSSIA, Natalia Virtuozova; and other members of the Organising Committee.
The exposition "Geography Lessons" is not only a unique collection of maps and artefacts, but also an invitation to engage in a meaningful dialogue about the land we must preserve for future generations, said Olesya Malevannaya, Head of the Cultural and Educational Projects Laboratory at the National Centre RUSSIA and co-curator of the exposition.
"This is a story about the land where we were born — a land that has always been sincerely respected, protected, and must be passed on to future generations. Geography has always been one of the most engaging school subjects, and our exposition offers a new way to immerse oneself in this field, especially in the world of cartography. We have created a true photo album of Russia: the exposition features rare maps from archival collections that cannot be found in textbooks. Visitors can browse them, study them, and even find their hometown on them. The exposition is divided into eight halls and explores not only geographical but also historical and cultural themes. We want people across the country to feel proud that such a great legacy has been entrusted to us," Olesya Malevannaya said.
The tour was led by participants of the School of Young Guides of Russia — 14-year-old Arina Kaplina, 13-year-old Lev, and 10-year-old Ilya Tishchenko — as well as geography teachers Yekaterina Shuvalova from the Kaluga Region and Vladimir Kosich from the Tula Region. Survival expert Denis Zabelin demonstrated how to pack a backpack for a hiking trip, while scientists together with children from the Young Geologist of Russia movement shared facts about the country’s natural wealth, including Lake Baikal.
Veterans of the special military operation were also present at the opening ceremony. Among them were Yuri Kutsy, a member of the Moscow Association of Veterans of the special military operation; Alexander Knyazev, a recipient of the Order of Courage; and Sergei Vovk, a participant in the presidential programme "Time of Heroes" and a recipient of the Medal "For Courage".
"When I was at school, I thought some knowledge would never be useful in practice. But on the front line, I had to rely on things that I thought I had already forgotten. I recalled how to read maps, navigate terrain, move across it, and recognise plants. Knowledge of the basics of geography, supported by lessons from history, proved critically important — it helped me solve practical tasks. And the drive to achieve victory was grounded in an understanding of our historical legacy," said Alexander Knyazev, recipient of the Order of Courage.
The exposition "Geography Lessons" is available at the National Centre RUSSIA until 9 July. It connects the past and the present — from early maps and expeditions to modern technologies for exploring space and the Earth. Here, geography is revealed as a story about people — travellers, researchers, and pioneers whose efforts helped explore vast territories and expand our understanding of the world. Visitors can trace how perceptions of the world have evolved — from early atlases that recorded unknown lands to satellite images offering a view of the Earth from orbit.
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