Registration opens for the III International Symposium "Inventing the Future"

Registration has opened for the III International Symposium "Inventing the Future", which will be held on 12–13 November 2026 at the National Centre RUSSIA. Organised on the instructions of the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, the event will bring 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 countries around the world. Leading experts will gather at the main international platform to jointly design positive scenarios for the development of the present and the future, continuing the traditions of the I and II International Symposia. In 2024, the project brought together participants from 101 countries, and in 2025, from 86 countries. Registration is open on the future.russia website.

This year, the extensive symposium programme places a particular emphasis on networking and building connections, as well as expanding creative open-format activities. Around 35 events are planned across three thematic tracks. Experts and participants will discuss why it is important to create the future through the unity of shared values, science and culture, and propose relevant mechanisms for adapting to rapid technological, social and cultural change.

The "People and Values" track is dedicated to the key values that should shape people's lives in the present and the future, making them happy, safe and meaningful. The track will explore the family as a value of the future, the search for meaning in life, the ethics of self-fulfilment and global cooperation. The open programme will include public talks, practical training sessions, and a convention of science fiction writers and futurists. The track will also feature a series of inspiring interviews with renowned athletes, scientists, and figures from the worlds of culture and the arts. They will share their success stories and offer practical recommendations and advice that will help participants rethink their own identity and take a fresh look at their role in shaping the present and the future.

The "Progress" track will focus on developments in artificial intelligence, new horizons in scientific research, and technologies that expand human capabilities. The open programme will include formats such as a foresight session, a showcase, a public talk and science stand-up. Devices of the future will also be presented at a technology showcase staged as a catwalk show.

The "Culture and Art" track will explore intangible legacy, the future of cultural institutions, the fashion industry and other areas. The programme will include a podcast about science fiction, a creative meeting with designers, and a session featuring a presentation of clothing designs. Participants in the international film project pitching session will transform anxieties about the future into positive scenarios, while the best project will receive support from the co-organisers. An international creative laboratory will also be held, giving foreign artists an opportunity to explore Russia's cultural context. The II Museum Congress "The Museum as a Place Where the Future Is Shaped" will also take place. Its participants will discuss museums as centres of cross-cultural dialogue and diplomacy.

One of the symposium's major cultural events will be the official presentation of the Russian Science Fiction Literary Award. It is intended to revive broad public interest in the genre as a driver of scientific and technological progress. The award also aims to bring together, support and promote the finest works, inspire people to study and reflect on the future, and establish the genre as a tool for progress, discovery and creativity. Works published in 2025 will compete for victory in eight categories.

The "Match of the Future" gaming lobby will open at the symposium. Visitors will be invited to view video games and digital services as an important cultural phenomenon and a strategic resource that brings people together. The lobby will host presentations of new developments, discussions about the challenges facing the Russian video game industry, game test drives and much more.

The symposium will also introduce the Open Lecture Hall concept. Each thematic area will be presented by an experienced expert and a young professional, who will share their views on what our future will look like and what can be done today to make it a happy one. A space skills case championship will also be held. Participants will develop solutions to real-life cases, while the best teams will have an opportunity to undertake internships and work placements at the country's leading space companies.

One of the symposium's main outcomes will be the formation of a community focused on jointly designing positive scenarios for the development of the present and the future.