Kazan Digital Week 2026 to Bring Together More Than 19,000 Professionals From 76 Countries
Attendees are expected to take part in more than 170 events, including hackathons, startup showcases and international competitions
Kazan Digital Week will take place at the Kazan Expo International Exhibition Center from October 29 to 31, 2026. This is the seventh time the Republic of Tatarstan has hosted the forum. The event is organized by the Association for the Promotion of Digital Development. Kazan Digital Week 2025 drew 25,828 participants from 61 countries. Of those, 16,540 attended in person, while another 9,288 joined the events online.
The 2025 attendance record looks likely to fall in 2026. The main theme is the practical application of artificial intelligence. “You’ll see how digital technologies are transforming different aspects of everyday life. It’s important to discuss how our forum can help businesses and the scientific community connect, build partnerships and launch joint projects,” said Rifkat Minnikhanov, president of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tatarstan and deputy co-chair of the forum’s organizing committee.
Challenges in Digital Development
The organizers aim to connect developers with potential customers seeking solutions to real-world problems. The forum’s business program covers topics ranging from intelligent systems for government administration to the adoption of IT solutions in agriculture. Speakers are expected to deliver more than 1,200 presentations across thematic sessions and roundtables.
One of Kazan Digital Week’s major events, the plenary session “New Priorities and Challenges in Digital Development,” is scheduled for October 29. It will be chaired by Maksut Shadayev, Russia’s minister of digital development, communications and mass media. Rustam Minnikhanov, head of the Republic of Tatarstan, is also set to attend.
Another key event is the session “The Science and Innovation Domain: A Digital Environment for Managing Scientific and Technological Development.” Andrey Omelchuk, deputy minister of science and higher education of the Russian Federation, will moderate the discussion. Participants will focus on matching companies’ needs with researchers’ expertise.
Overall, the forum’s business program covers 10 thematic areas: “Intelligent Mobility Systems,” “Digital Technologies in Public Administration,” “Digital Industry 4.0,” “Digital Technologies in Education,” “Digital Technologies in Culture,” “Next-Generation Cybersecurity,” “The Fintech Ecosystem,” “Innovations Integrated Into Business,” “Digital Technologies in Healthcare and Medicine,” and “Digital Technologies in Agriculture.”
Supporting the Next Generation of IT Talent
Developing the next generation of IT talent is another major focus of Kazan Digital Week. On October 29, more than 2,000 students from across Russia are set to compete in a nationwide student hackathon to develop solutions on the MAX platform. The total prize pool of 5 million rubles (approximately $62,000) will be split among 15 winners. “We’re encouraging creative thinking so that new applications and services are developed for younger audiences,” said Ilya Nachvin, Tatarstan’s minister of digital public administration, information technology and communications.
Young tech enthusiasts will also compete in Tatarstan’s open mini-robot combat tournament for the Rais of Tatarstan Cup, scheduled for October 30 at Kazan Expo. Children and teenagers ages 8 to 17, organized into 31 teams representing 19 Russian regions, will compete for a total prize pool of 600,000 rubles (approximately $7,500).
HR managers at Russian IT companies looking to recruit young talent may also be interested in the nationwide Best in Profession skills competition. The top performers will share a prize pool of 1.8 million rubles (approximately $22,000).
The forum’s exhibition area will also host a job fair featuring leading employers. Attendees will be able to speak directly with HR professionals, learn about in-demand positions and present themselves to potential employers.
Helping Startups Get Off the Ground
One of Kazan Digital Week’s key goals is to help entrepreneurs get their startups off the ground. The forum will showcase around 60 startups from Russia and 24 other countries, including India, Qatar, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Nigeria, Singapore, Mexico and Italy. The event will feature dedicated areas called the “International and Russian Startup Avenues.” Meanwhile, IT Park Global Startup Accelerator, an international accelerator, has received 218 applications and will select 20 winners to develop their projects with its support. “Our goal is to connect promising products with customers and help the teams behind them bring those products to market,” said Ilya Nachvin, head of Tatarstan’s Ministry of Digital Development.
More than 300 companies have confirmed their participation in the forum. The three pavilions together offer more than 20,000 square meters of exhibition space.
The forum’s livestreams will be available at kazandigitalweek.com.
