The final of the "Professionals" championship has started in Nizhny Novgorod.

      On May 28, 2026, at 10:45, a grand opening of the finals of the "Professionals" championship in professional skills took place in Nizhny Novgorod, focusing on the competencies of creative industries and IT. The organizer is the Ministry of Education of Russia with the support of the Russian government, and the federal operator is the Institute for the Development of Professional Education.

      More than 8,000 people, including representatives from 19 friendly countries, will participate in the final events. The competitions will start on May 28. The finalists will showcase their skills in 12 competencies, including "Mobile Application Development," "Neural Networks and Big Data," "Cybersecurity," "Graphic Design," and "Virtual World Development."

      As noted by Dmitry Chernyshenko, Deputy Chairman of the Government of Russia, the finals are part of the national project "Youth and Children" and will bring together contestants, experts, as well as participants in business and educational programs. "In Nizhny Novgorod, the finalists will compete in 12 competencies that are crucial for achieving technological leadership—a national goal set by President Vladimir Putin," he emphasized.

      According to the Minister of Education of the Russian Federation, Sergey Kravtsov, one of the key strengths of the championship remains the support of employers. Currently, more than 10,000 enterprises are partners in the project, participating in the development of competition tasks, providing internships, and job vacancies for participants. "At the end of each championship cycle, we annually update educational programs and standards to meet modern requirements," the minister noted.

      Governor of Nizhny Novgorod Region Gleb Nikitin stated that the region strives to create conditions for the self-realization of youth, and the championship is an important part of the professional education system. According to him, thanks to educational programs implemented in collaboration with enterprises within the framework of "Professionalism," college students receive training that is closely aligned with employers' demands. The governor also emphasized that Nizhny Novgorod Region is among the leaders in the number of clusters of the federal project "Professionalism" within the national project "Youth and Children."

      Deputy Minister of Education of Russia Vladimir Zhelonkin also addressed the finalists. He emphasized that it is the current contestants who will determine the future of the country. "Today, no production can do without digital solutions, and without creative thinking, it is impossible to create a breakthrough product," he said, wishing the finalists success in completing the competition tasks.

      The main events of the finals will take place at the site of the Federal Technopark of Professional Education in "Nizhpoligraf." The business program on May 28 will open with a plenary session titled "Professionals: The Code of Technological Leadership" at the A.D. Sakharov Academy. Representatives from government, business, and the educational community will participate in the program. More than 20 events are planned across four areas: "Educating the Working Person," "Personnel and Education," "Technologies and Innovations," and "International Cooperation."

      In addition, a career guidance zone and an exhibition will operate in the technopark. The "Professionals" championship is considered the largest competition in professional skills in Russia. It is held in the most in-demand competencies, taking into account the requests of the real sector of the economy.

      In 2026, the championship finals will take place in three cities: in May in Nizhny Novgorod for creative industries and IT, in August in Kaluga for industrial competencies, and in November-December in St. Petersburg for competitions in education, services, production, medicine, construction, and engineering technologies. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has channels on Telegram and MAX. Subscribe to stay updated on major events, exclusive materials, and timely information. Copyright © 1999—2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod." When reprinting, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is mandatory. This resource may contain materials for 18+.