Published on: 2026-07-20
Source: Government of the Russian Federation –
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The annual All-Russian competition “Best Municipal Practice” has been held since 2017 and during this time has become one of the important nationwide platforms through which the most effective regional management models are identified, encouraged, and replicated. The best solutions set new standards in infrastructure design, construction management, and raise the overall culture of municipal administration. This was reported by Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin.
“The All-Russian contest ‘Best Municipal Practice’ is an effective tool for finding and promoting the best municipal solutions. In five categories, including urban planning policy and housing and communal services development, territory management, branding, smart city, and strengthening interethnic harmony, projects that improve people’s lives for the better are selected. The prize fund of the contest, which will amount to 1 billion rubles, will allow scaling useful and rational initiatives. Currently, applications for the federal stage of the contest are being accepted, and I am confident that this year participants will again demonstrate effective solutions to regional challenges aimed at the comprehensive development of territories. This will largely contribute to improving the quality of the living environment in key settlements by 30% by 2030 within the framework of the national project ‘Infrastructure for Life’,” said Marat Khusnullin.
The competition includes five categories: “Urban planning policy, ensuring a favorable living environment for the population, and development of housing and communal services,” “Modernization of city management through the introduction of digital technologies and platform solutions (smart city),” “Strengthening interethnic peace and harmony, implementation of other activities in the field of national policy at the municipal level,” “Improving the efficiency of municipal territory management,” and “Enhancing the recognition of the municipality (territory branding).”
The Ministry of Construction oversees two categories – in the areas of smart city and urban planning policy.
“The competition raises its status every season, not only becoming a motivating factor for generating new management ideas and tools but also helping to implement the latest approaches in practice. In the previous season, 314 applications were submitted from 60 regions, indicating a steady growth in interest in the event and a serious level of preparation of competition materials. It is worth noting that the best competition solutions form a comprehensive base for regions, contributing to the successful implementation of key federal projects that are part of the national project ‘Infrastructure for Life.’ For example, today it is very important to synchronize the modernization programs of utility networks with improvement projects – this avoids duplication of work and ensures the durability of facilities. Large projects gain additional social value by including elements demanded by residents, while local initiatives are integrated into the spatial development system of cities,” said the Minister of Construction and Housing and Communal Services, Irek Faizullin.
For example, in 2025, the first category laureates in the nomination for urban planning and housing and communal services were Borovichi of the Novgorod region with a ring route, where tourist flow increased 7.3 times; Apastovo in Tatarstan with cycling and pedestrian infrastructure, tripling the number of users; Ruzaevka in Mordovia, which developed the entry zone, transport, and pedestrian connectivity. Among rural settlements, the laureates were Kamensky rural council of Bashkortostan, which renovated the social and cultural center, hockey rink, road, and obelisk; Klyazminskoye settlement of Vladimir region, which developed a mechanism for unclaimed properties and registered nine of them, bringing more than 2 million rubles to the budget; the Yakut village Tyungyulyu, which created a craft cluster.
Winning projects receive recognition at the federal level and the opportunity for replication in any region.
“The ‘Best Municipal Practice’ competition is an opportunity not only to recognize strong managerial decisions but also to share successful experiences between regions and municipalities. We see great interest in the updated nominations and hope that the best projects will help territories work more effectively with investments, urban environment, and the development of local identity,” noted Deputy Minister of Economic Development Svyatoslav Sorokin.
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