About Watch Russia
Business and cultural tourism events in Russia.
The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) is Russia’s main economic event of the year: heads of state sign multi-billion-dollar contracts here that have been prepared for months. It was at SPIEF in 2006 that BRICS was announced. For businesspeople and government officials at all levels, SPIEF is a powerful networking tool and an important communication platform. In 2024, more than 120 high-ranking foreign officials and 8,300 representatives of Russian and international businesses attended the over 300 events. Incidentally, these days are also the peak time for White Nights in St. Petersburg.
The Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) attracts investors interested in developing Russia’s Far East. The Far Eastern Federal District accounts for more than 40% of the country’s territory, with most regions having access to the sea. At EEF, contracts are signed for construction of enterprises in the region, internal challenges and development vectors are discussed. EEF is also a platform for expanding cooperation throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Last year, 74 countries were represented at the Forum, the biggest delegations coming from China, Malaysia, and Myanmar.
Early September in Vladivostok marks the start of the autumn season, though swimming is still possible.
For four days, Kaliningrad Region becomes one big concert hall. Guests can look forward to a series of live concerts and performances in historically significant locations. There will also be lectures, masterclasses, film screenings, and a gala concert under the open sky. The artistic director of Cantata is Christian Knapp, conductor of the Mariinsky Theatre. One of the Festival’s goals is to draw attention to the problem of abandoned historical buildings. All funds raised will go towards restoring culturally important objects in the Kaliningrad Region.
The Festival, which has received the unofficial status of the ballet Oscars, traditionally takes place on the stage of the Bolshoi Theatre. The award ceremony has taken place in Paris, Berlin, Warsaw, Stuttgart, and returned to its home stage, the Bolshoi, in 2002. On 17 June, there will be a gala concert featuring nominees and the award ceremony, while, on 18 June, laureates from different years will perform.
A wonderful opportunity to see the pastoral landscapes of central Russia, Lake Pleshcheyevo, and historic Pereslavl from above. Every day, up to 20 hot air balloons will rise into the sky in the morning and evening. It’s beautiful even from the ground but flying in a balloon at dawn or dusk is an unforgettable experience. The Festival is organized by the Yaroslavl Region Aeronautics Federation.
Two huge screens are set up in a field surrounded by forests and rivers. Over four nights, they will show more than 200 animated films from around the world. During the day, guests can enjoy music performances, workshops, theatrical shows, psychological practices, and yoga classes. The organizers promise a costumed parade with live music and drums. Accommodation is offered in tents.
Four days of musical freedom and diverse cultural programmes against the backdrop of Kaluga landscapes and land art. Signal takes place in Nikola-Lenivets, Europe’s largest art park, bordering on the Ugra National Park, which is included by UNESCO in the Earth Biosphere Reserve.
Since the beginning of the 20th century, Russian avant-gardists and modernists have travelled eastward seeking inspiration, tranquility, research interest or hoping to change their destiny. A term emerged, Turkestan Avant-Garde, denoting a synthesis of Western modernist and Eastern traditional techniques. New Tretyakov Gallery presents an impressive collection of Eastern paintings by Russian modernists, including Pavel Kuznetsov, Beatrice Sandomirskaya, Alexander Volkov, Kuzma Petrov-Vodkin, and others.
An event organized by OZON.ru for business people and those interested in online sales. Online trade today is a key driver of the economy, attracting major Russian marketplaces. Topics for presentations and discussions in 2025 include growth points, interaction between platforms and entrepreneurs, and economies of scale. An online broadcast is planned.
The main event for lovers of Russian literature and book industry professionals, right in the heart of Moscow. Four hundred Russian publishing houses from Kaliningrad to Vladivostok showcase new works of fiction, children’s books, educational materials, and popular science publications. Meetings with poets and writers, lectures, workshops, theatrical performances, and national literary festivals are scheduled. On 6 June, Pushkin’s birthday, young authors and poets receive the Lyceum Prize. A special programme is provided for publishers.
The largest packaging exhibition in Russia and the CIS. Here you can explore and test every stage of packaging production for food, processing, chemical industries, medicine and pharmacy, catering establishments, wholesale and retail trade, logistics, etc. Producers of packaging equipment, ready-made packaging and labels, packaging materials, raw materials, and machinery for manufacturing packaging will attend the exhibition.
“From Field to Shelf and Restaurant Table” is the slogan of WorldFood Moscow. The exhibition brings together producers and suppliers of products with buyers from retail and HoReCa companies. More than 1,100 companies from 30 countries and over 60 regions of Russia participate each year. You can find suppliers, customers and partners, and expand export opportunities here.