Published on: 2026-06-26
Source: Government of the Russian Federation –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
On the Historical Stage of the Bolshoi Theatre, the solemn opening of the XV International Ballet Artists Competition took place — one of the most prestigious in the ballet world. With a welcoming speech at the opening ceremony were the Deputy Chairman of the Government Tatyana Golikova and the jury chairman, Rector of the Moscow State Academy of Choreography Svetlana Zaharova. The event and the entire showcase this year are dedicated to the outstanding choreographer Yuri Grigorovich.
Started in the far-off year 1969, this almost legendary competition is rightly considered one of the oldest and most significant events in cultural life. The competition has been running for 57 years, and this is the jubilee fifteenth contest. Over the years, the International Ballet Artists Competition has paid tribute to outstanding figures of Russian and world ballet art. This year it is dedicated to the legendary choreographer Yuri Grigorovich, who has been its permanent artistic director and jury chairman for over 50 years. In 2026, we received 362 applications — young artists from 35 countries tried their hand in the preliminary trials.And 158 of the strongest from 30 countries received the right to take the stage of the renowned Bolshoi Theatre of Russia to demonstrate their mastery. Today, the legendary stage brings peoples closer together, giving participants from different countries the opportunity to showcase their talent, touch great traditions, and gain invaluable professional experience,” said Tatyana Golikova.
The International Ballet Artists Competition is held once every four years on the stage of the Bolshoi Theatre of Russia and is one of the most prestigious ballet competitions in the world. The competition opened a whole galaxy of brilliant dancers who became stars of world ballet in the second half of the 20th – early 21st century. Among them are Mikhail Baryshnikov, Vyacheslav Gordeev, Vladimir Malakhov, German Kornyev, Misa Kuranaga, Thiago Soares, Evgenia Obraztsova, Ivan Vasiliev, Natalia Osipova, and others.
Leading figures of ballet art entered the competition jury. The chairperson of the jury is Svetlana Zaharova, Rector of the Moscow State Academy of Choreography.
As part of the opening of the competition, the Mariinsky Theatre presented an iconic performance – the ballet by Arif Melikov “Legend of Love” in the production by Yuri Grigorovich.
Please note; This information is raw content, received directly from the source. It represents an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.