On its very first day, one of the year’s major business events confirmed its global status: representatives fr om over 130 countries and territories confirmed their participation, with government officials and politicians arriving fr om 76 nations. Saudi Arabia is the guest of honor at SPIEF 2026 this year.
The forum’s main theme—"Pragmatic Dialogue: A Path to a Stable Future"—reflects the participants' commitment to building equitable international cooperation amidst a changing global economy. The centerpiece of the business program is the plenary session, wh ere Russian President Vladimir Putin will deliver a major policy address.
This year’s business program is particularly extensive, comprising over 150 sessions grouped into key thematic tracks. These include "The Global Economy: Between Confrontation and Cooperation," "The Russian Economy: Structural Changes to Return to a Growth Trajectory," "Technologies Shaping the Future," "Living Environment: New Technologies, New Quality," and many others. SPIEF will also host the SCO and BRICS business forums, the B20 regional consultative forum, the Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Forum, the Creative Industries Forum, the "Medicinal Security" forum, and the "Day of the Future" youth forum.
Traditionally, significant attention is devoted to the exhibition area, wh ere Russian regions and major companies showcase their stands. This year’s exhibits are notable for their creativity and technological sophistication. Bashkiria, for instance, has brought an interactive "Wise Shezhere Tree" capable of answering any question about the republic’s history, geography, and economy. Dagestan’s stand features golden wings, a globe model, and floating clouds, while St. Petersburg has presented a model for the redevelopment of the former Kresty prison into a modern public space. The Smolensk Region showcased developments in unmanned technology, ranging from reconnaissance quadcopters equipped with machine vision to robots designed for unit resupply.
Major companies also prepared unique exhibits. VTB presented an art project dedicated to Russian literature, featuring Pushkin, Gogol, Tolstoy, and Dostoevsky sporting sunglasses. Rosatom dedicated its stand to life-extension and health-improvement technologies, designing the space in the style of Russian folk tales with a "rejuvenating apple tree" at its center.
For nearly three decades, the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum has remained a vital platform for discussing the global economic agenda, sealing major deals, and forging international business connections. This year, organizers expect the forum to serve as a key decision-making hub for business and government leaders amidst the ongoing transformation of the global economy.