Iran takes cultural program to Kazan as part of Russian tour
Iran has taken its cultural showcase in Russia to Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan and the Islamic world’s cultural capital for 2026, bringing Iranian music, cinema and arts to a city that has long linked Russia with the Muslim world.
The program, which began in St. Petersburg and continued in Moscow, opened in Kazan with a performance by Iran’s National Orchestra at the city’s Opera House, IRNA reported on Friday.
The orchestra, conducted by Homayoun Rahimian and featuring vocalist Mojtaba Asgari, performed a selection of Iranian musical pieces for Tatar audiences.
Vasil Shaykhraziev, deputy prime minister of Tatarstan, said the events could strengthen ties between Iran and Russia and bring the two peoples closer together, pointing to their historical links, particularly between Iran and Tatarstan.
In a video message, Mohammad Mehdi Imanipour, head of Iran’s Islamic Culture and Communication Organization, said cultural weeks were more than a collection of artistic and theatrical programs and offered an opportunity for peoples to gain a deeper understanding of one another and build lasting human and cultural ties.
“Iran and Russia has rich historical and civilizational backgrounds and broad potential to deepen cultural interaction and turn mutual understanding into a foundation for wider relations,” he said.
Imanipour also highlighted Kazan’s status as the Islamic world’s cultural capital in 2026, saying the city had historically been a meeting point for different cultures, religions and traditions and an important bridge between Russia and the Muslim world.
He added that the status created an opportunity to expand cultural and civilizational dialogue between Iran, Russia and the wider Muslim world.
Some events in Kazan are being held to mark the 1,500th anniversary of the birth of the Prophet Muhammad (BPUH) and will focus on his life, character and human and civilizational message.
The program also includes an Iranian film week, which opened with Majid Majidi’s Muhammad: The Messenger of God, a seminar on “Artificial Intelligence and Islamic Heritage: Methodology, Ethics and Tools”, a performance called Little Heros of Iran, a visual arts exhibition and an interactive art workshop.
Iranian Ambassador to Russia Kazem Jalali said the two countries had a responsibility to deepen mutual understanding and help create a world based on peace, justice and ethics.
“It is necessary for our two peoples to know each other better,” Jalali said, adding that the cultural caravan had begun in St. Petersburg, continued in Moscow and would next travel to Astrakhan.
Iran’s cultural week in Russia runs from Sept. 25 to Oct. 6, with 168 Iranian artists taking part across 30 fields in programs in St. Petersburg, Moscow, Kazan and Astrakhan.
The program formally opened in Moscow on Sept. 28 at the Bolshoi Theatre with the participation of Iran’s Culture Minister Abbas Salehi and his Russian counterpart Olga Lyubimova. Iran’s National Orchestra performed at the opening ceremony.
Kazan is the third stop on the tour. Astrakhan will host the fourth, with an Iranian music concert and screenings of Iranian films planned there.
The events are being held alongside Salehi’s participation in the 12th International Forum of United Cultures and meetings with Russian officials, adding a broader official dimension to the cultural program.