From June 4 to 7, the XII Book Festival "Red Square" will take place on Moscow's Red Square. This is the main literary event of the year, bringing together publishers, authors, readers, and cultural institutions. The festival is timed to coincide with Pushkin's Birthday and Russian Language Day, and will also be part of the program for the Year of Unity of the Peoples of Russia, highlighting the diversity of the country's cultural traditions.
The organizers traditionally aim to showcase literature as a living cultural process – from classics to contemporary prose, from popular science publications to children's books and graphic novels. The festival will feature new releases from publishing houses across Russia, from Kaliningrad to Vladivostok.
Festival Venues:
- Festival Info Center
- History of the Fatherland
- Small Stage
- Library
- Non-Fiction
- Children's and Educational Literature
- Fiction Literature
- Regions of Russia
- Main Stage
- LitCafé
- E-Book / Knigabyte
- Museum Line
- Literary Lounge
- Antique and Second-hand Books
- Press Center
Over the four days, hundreds of events will take place on Red Square. Guests will be able to meet writers, poets, artists, and comic book authors, attend performances by musicians and actors, and get acquainted with educational and museum projects. A special emphasis is placed on an interdisciplinary format, where literature coexists with science, history, and art.
This year, special attention will be given to projects dedicated to the Year of Unity of the Peoples of Russia. The festival will host a Festival of National Literatures, featuring works from different peoples of the country, as well as discussions on cultural dialogue through text and the literary word.
The program also includes anniversary events dedicated to writers and poets. In 2026, significant anniversaries are being celebrated: the 200th anniversary of Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin, the 120th anniversary of Agnia Barto, and the 80th anniversary of Mikhail Yasnov. Thematic readings, lectures, and children's programs will be held in honor of these authors.
Traditionally, on June 6, the birthday of Alexander Pushkin, the festival becomes a platform for literary ceremonies. On this day, festive readings and cultural events will take place on Red Square and at the monument to the poet. Also on June 6, the Pushkin Literary Prize "Lyceum" will be awarded for the tenth time – an award for young authors and poets of Russia.
As part of the professional program, publishers and representatives of the book industry will discuss issues of modern book publishing, literature promotion, and the development of literary associations. The results of all-Russian competitions will also be summarized: the young readers' competition "Live Classics," "History of Russia in Verse," the regional and local history literature competition "Small Homeland," and the International Competition of Book Illustration and Design "Image of the Book."
Admission to the "Red Square" festival is free. Some events, such as lectures, master classes, and meetings with authors, may require preliminary registration.
(Organizers: Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media of the Russian Federation; Russian Book Union)