Join the international competition for Russian language teachers!

The ‘Rossiyskaya Gazeta’ newspaper and the Government of Moscow have announced the launch of the ‘International Pushkin Competition for teachers of the Russian language’.

The competition is held online. Until April 15, 2026, any teacher of Russian can send an essay of up to 10,000 characters on the topic: ‘The Russian Language on Pravda Street. How does it fare in your country and school?’ 

Essays can be submitted by email at pushkonkurs@rg.ru; it’s important to include personal details.

Pravda Street in Moscow is home to the editorial offices of many periodicals, including the ‘Rossiyskaya Gazeta’ and the ‘Pravda’ newspapers.

“We appeal to all future participants of the competition to write in your essays the truth and nothing but the truth, about how a teacher of the Russian language lives in today's turbulent world, who their support and hope in a particular school and classroom is. Where do they draw the strength to be a strong teacher?” explain the organizers..

The competition will have 50 laureates. The winners’ names will be announced on June 6, 2026, which is also ‘Russian Language Day’ (and, simultaneously, Pushkin's birthday). In December, the winners will be invited to Moscow for an awards ceremony and will receive a cash prize of 20,000 rubles (approx. $260).

This year, the ‘International Pushkin Competition for teachers of the Russian language’ will be held for the 26th time. Over all these years, thousands of teachers have taken part and 1,250 of them have become laureates.

You can read more about the competition terms and conditions here.