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The first meeting of the organizing committee for the preparation and conduct of the XVI All-Russian Rural Sabantuy in 2026 was held at the regional government.
By decision of the Governor of Penza Oblast, Oleg Melnichenko, the organizing committee includes representatives from relevant ministries and structural divisions of the Penza Oblast government, law enforcement agencies, heads of municipal districts with compact Tatar populations, as well as representatives of the business community and the non-profit sector. This structure will allow for efficient and prompt resolution of organizational matters.
The meeting was chaired by Nikolay Simonov, Chairman of the Government of Penza Oblast, and Vasily Shaykhraziyev, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Tatarstan and Chair of the National Council of the World Congress of Tatars.
In 2026, the XVI All-Russian Rural Sabantuy will be held in the village of Maly Truyev, Kuznetsky District, Penza Oblast.
Opening the meeting, Nikolay Simonov emphasized that the region is ready for comprehensive cooperation and will leverage the experience of other regions to ensure the festival is vibrant and memorable.
In his welcoming address, Vasily Shaykhraziyev expressed gratitude to Governor Oleg Melnichenko for supporting the initiative to hold the national Tatar festival in Penza Oblast.
Key areas of preparation for the event were outlined during the meeting.
Traditionally, the Sabantuy will feature sports competitions, including horse races and belt wrestling. The grand prize for the winners is expected to be a car. In addition, an exhibition of agricultural machinery, a fair of folk crafts, artisanal products, souvenirs, and other goods from local producers is planned.
Penza Oblast has previously hosted the All-Russian Rural Sabantuy. In 2017, the festival took place in the largest Tatar village in Europe, Srednyaya Yeluzan, attracting over 30,000 visitors from 35 Russian regions.