In 2026, the largest international project of the Government of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, “Russian Seasons,” is hosted by the Kingdom of Thailand. From February to November, the Kingdom will welcome the renowned Russian artistic companies and stars of the Russian stage, thematic exhibitions, film screenings and educational events. Among the participants are State Academic Russian Folk Ensemble “Russia” named after Liudmila Zykina, the unique Boris Eifman St. Petersburg State Ballet, the legendary Igor Moiseyev State Academic Ensemble of Popular Dance, the oldest Russian Museum, Russia’s only State Cinema Museum and the Russian Academy of Arts – the largest artistic and scientific center of the country.
The opening of the “Russian Seasons” in Thailand will be attended by the Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation Olga Lyubimova. According to her, “in recent years, cultural exchanges between Russia and Thailand have been developing dynamically, bringing our peoples closer through the language of art. Holding of the “Russian Seasons” is a sign of high-level trust and mutual understanding, which we have gradually built up through the cross year of cultural exchanges and tourism between Russia and Thailand, Russian Spiritual Culture Days and other joint events. We are happy to present the welcoming Thai public with a bright calendar of cultural events from the country’s best institutions and leading companies of the country – our “icons”. The program includes key genres: classical music, ballet, folk dance, cinema and fine arts.”
The grand ceremony will take place on February 27th in Bangkok at the Kingdom’s largest concert venue, the Thailand Cultural Center. The program of the evening includes a concert by virtuoso pianist, People’s Artist of Russia Denis Matsuev “From classics to jazz” featuring the Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra, Honored Artist of Russia Andrei Ivanov (double bass) and winners of international competitions Borislav Strulev (cello), Sofia Viland (flute), Sofia Tyurina (saxophone), David Tkebuchava (drums), Ekaterina Mochalova (domra). The artists will perform the interlude “Flight of the Bumblebee” from the opera “The Tale of Tsar Saltan” by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, the composition “Sabre Dance” from the ballet “Gayane” by Aram Khachaturian, improvisations on themes by Edvard Grieg from the music to “Peer Gynt” (the drama by Henrik Ibsen), a medley on themes by Alexander Borodin and Paul Desmond and other pieces by famous composers.
On the same day, the opening of the exhibition “Diaghilev. “Russian Seasons.” Dress Rehearsal” of the Moscow Mosaic School inspired by the era of Sergei Diaghilev and his famous ballet productions will take place at the Thailand Cultural Center. The exhibition presents a unique reinterpretation of the theatrical aesthetics of the early XX century through modern mosaic art, created by students and teachers of the school.
The “Russian Seasons” events will continue simultaneously in Bangkok and Phuket. On the first day of spring, an open-air concert by Honored Artist of Russia Andrei Ivanov and winners of international competitions Borislav Strulev, Sofia Viland, Sofia Tyurina, David Tkebuchava, Ekaterina Mochalova accompanied by the Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra will take place in Lumphini Park. They will present their improvisations to the music of Isaac Dunaevsky, George Gershwin, perform pieces by Alfred Schnittke and instrumental compositions jazz fusion style by Chick Corea. The Thailand children’s Russian folk dance ensemble “Katyusha”, which has been operating in the Kingdom for more than 15 years, will host master classes of the dance company of the Karachay-Cherkess republic.
On the same day, the State Youth Song and Dance Ensemble “Altai” named after A.F. Berezikov will perform on Phuket Island with a concert program “Tribute to Rachmaninoff”. The performance of the great master, the famous choreographer Vladimir Vasiliev, choreographed by the winner of international competitions Alexei Rastorguev to the music of Sergei Rachmaninoff’s second piano concerto, tells the story of the life of people in a remote town who solve eternal questions of hope, love and faith.
On March 2nd, at the AKSRA Theater (Bangkok) in the afternoon there will be held a master class for Thailand dancers and choreographers by the members of the State Youth Song and Dance Ensemble “Altai” named after A.F. Berezikov, and in the evening there will be a concert of the dance company of the State Philharmonic of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic. Especially for Thailand, the artists have prepared the best examples of dance art of the peoples of the Caucasus, charming with their distinctive performance and revealing the beauty of the national flavor of southern Russia. The dance company of the Karachay-Cherkess republic will continue their tour on March 4th with a performance in Phuket at the Lotus Arena.
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“Russian Seasons” is the largest international project of the Government of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, which events take place on the territory of one or more foreign countries throughout the calendar year. In 2025, the “Russian Seasons” were held simultaneously in the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Sultanate of Oman.
The project presents Russia as a country that carefully preserves and develops its rich cultural heritage and traditions. “Russian Seasons” is held in the format of a multi-genre cultural festival, the program includes various events from classical music concerts and theatrical productions to art exhibitions, educational projects, lectures and master classes. The events of the “Russian Seasons” have already been attended by more than 13 million viewers.
