How to take part in the Kostomarov Forum, the main event in the world of Russian studies
From November 18 to 20, 2026, the 6th Kostomarov Forum will be held at the Pushkin Institute in Moscow, where leading world experts on teaching Russian as a foreign language will gather.
The annual Kostomarov Forum was established in 2021 in memory of Academician Vitaly Kostomarov. This year, his brainchild – the Pushkin Russian Language Institute – turns 60.
The central theme of this year's Kostomarov Forum is: ‘Teach communication, not language’.
“In the year of the Institute's 60th anniversary, we especially feel pride and responsibility before its founder, whose main request was to teach not simply the Russian language, but communication in Russian. Today, in our age of technological change, this approach is becoming increasingly relevant,” notes Nikita Gusev, Rector of the Pushkin Institute.
What does it mean to teach communication in the era of artificial intelligence? How can students be prepared for communication in real life? Over the three days of the forum, Russian and foreign specialists in Russian studies will reflect together on these and other questions, share ideas and personal teaching experience.
This year, the forum program will naturally place emphasis on digitalization and artificial intelligence. In addition to traditional methods of teaching Russian as a foreign language, experts will also discuss modern approaches to education.
Participants will also have an interesting experiment awaiting them – they’ll be able to develop tasks that a foreign student will perform while wearing an electrode helmet. And a psychophysiologist will comment on their brain activity live.
The discussions will include specialists in Russian studies from countries of Southeast Asia, Europe, Africa, Latin America, the CIS, as well as other regions. Traditionally, experts from more than 100 countries have taken part in previous forums.
And you can take part, too! Registration and a detailed program are available on the forum's official website.
The forum will be held in person and remotely under the auspices of the Commission of the Russian Federation for UNESCO, with the support of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and the International Association of Teachers of Russian Language and Literature.
