‘KazanForum 2026’ Underway, Representatives from 103 Countries Participating, Cultural Capital Status a Special Highlight

Kazan (Russia). The 17th International Economic Forum “Russia – Islamic World: KazanForum” is taking place in Kazan, the capital of Russia’s Republic of Tatarstan. Representatives from 103 countries have registered to attend the forum, which runs from May 12 to 17.

In accordance with an Executive Order of Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, the forum was granted federal status in 2023, becoming Russia’s flagship platform for dialogue and cooperation with the countries of the Islamic world.

The business programme of this year’s KazanForum features 149 events across 21 thematic tracks. It also hosts a number of international exhibitions, including the Russia-Islamic World Cooperation Expo, “Innovations. Investment. Infrastructure”, a real estate exhibition and conference, as well as the Kazan Halal Market trade fair.

A special highlight of 2026 is Kazan’s status as the Cultural Capital of the Islamic World. Cultural cooperation is at the heart of the forum’s humanitarian agenda, with Kazan hosting a Congress of Ministers of Culture from OIC countries and the 15th Session of the ICESCO General Conference.

Additionally, the agenda includes the forum of chambers of commerce and industry of OIC countries, the Young Diplomats Forum, the Young Entrepreneurs Forum, meetings of intergovernmental commissions, bilateral conferences, festivals, culinary projects, and sporting events ranging from the Business on Horseback race to the International Jockey Championship. The KazanForum will culminate in “Izge Bolgar Zhyeny” in Bolgar – a major event dedicated to the Day of the Official Adoption of Islam by Volga Bulgaria.