Published on: 2026-08-27
Source: Moscow Government – Правительства Москвы –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
On September 12, the first large-scale Wushu festival will take place in the Muzeon Arts Park. It is expected to bring together more than 30,000 participants and spectators of all ages, becoming a citywide celebration of sports, culture, and international cooperation. The organizer of the event is the capital’s Department of Sports with the support of the Moscow City Wushu Federation and the Mayor of Moscow’s project “My Sports District.”
The festival is a unique combination of a mass sports celebration, a professional tournament, and exhibition performances by leading Russian athletes: World Champion in traditional Wushu Radik Zaripov, winner of the 2024 BRICS Sports Games Anastasia Kadenova, as well as other masters of this sport.
“The festival will be an important event for everyone involved in wushu and interested in Chinese culture. Wushu has been developing in Russia for many years; our athletes win at the largest international competitions, and for us, the athletes, the festival is an opportunity to step out of the gyms into the very center of Moscow, to ‘Muzeon,’ to get closer to people. We want to tell its guests that wushu is not inferior to other martial arts, it is accessible, and anyone can start practicing themselves or bring their children to the classes. The festival is a step toward a new philosophy. We do not wait for people to come to us; we ourselves go to the park in the center of the capital to show people what kind of sport this is. And setting the Russian record for the largest group training is a symbol of our unity. Everyone will unite and perform movements that are both beautiful and combative. I believe the festival proves that wushu is accessible and necessary for everyone—both young and adult—for those seeking a balance between strength and calm,” noted Darya Tarasova, vice-president of the Moscow City Wushu Federation, two-time world champion, winner of the Olympic tournament in Beijing, and 13-time European wushu champion.
The main goal of the event is to introduce a wide audience to wushu and make it closer and more accessible to Muscovites of different ages. Guests can expect competitions and demonstration performances, an introduction to Chinese culture, themed zones, and a concert.
Participants will be able to personally witness how developed wushu is not only in the People’s Republic of China but also in Russia, and how organically this sport has taken root in the Moscow community.
The ‘Muzeon’ Park will be transformed into a stylized Wushu city, featuring various themed zones. The main stage will serve as the center for ceremonial events and performances, while tents for workshops will offer participants the opportunity to master traditional Chinese arts. One of the highlights will be demonstration performances by Shaolin monks from the leading Wushu school in the city of Dengfeng, home to the legendary Shaolin Monastery. The masters will showcase traditional fist-fighting techniques, work with cold weapons, and Qigong routines that combine physical strength with concentration and centuries-old traditions of Shaolin Wushu.
The main competitions will take place on the tatami in the sports zone. On the same day, an obstacle course will also be available for children. Additionally, a lecture hall will be open, where educational presentations by experts will be held. The program is scheduled for the entire day. The morning will begin with a mass workout led by the famous Russian freestyle wrestler Tornike Kvitatiani.
Sport will become the central theme of the festival. Guests will be able to watch a tournament where athletes will compete in all Wushu disciplines, see demonstration performances by leading Russian athletes, full-contact fights, a parade of athletes, as well as participate in training sessions and in the setting of the Russian record for “The Largest Wushu Training” as part of the “My Sports District” project.
The festival will delight audiences with a variety of cultural events. The program includes vibrant performances featuring a dragon, which will take place three times throughout the day. Guests will see street plays based on ancient Chinese legends and can watch lion and fan dances. A special impression on guests is expected to be made by a performance about love and travels across Asia, prepared by poet and playwright Nika Simonova and composer Andrey Zubtsov. The evening program will be graced by a concert from the popular singer Klava Koka.
The creative program will include many workshops: making dragon masks, painting Chinese lanterns, crafting fans and talismans. Guests will be able to try their hand at Chinese calligraphy on a special interactive wall.
Wushu is a traditional Chinese martial art. Its global significance is so great that one of the most popular styles of wushu — taijiquan — was included in UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The Wushu festival will be a vivid example of how sport and culture can unite peoples, demonstrating the power of traditions and the importance of a healthy lifestyle.
More information about the festival can be found at link.
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