The RGS Award recognizes the best. Photo: RGS press service
Applications for the Russian Geographical Society Award opened on August 17. The authors of the best projects in the fields of geography, ecology, and the preservation and promotion of Russia’s natural, historical, and cultural heritage, as well as the most outstanding popularizers of geographical science and education, will receive 1 million rubles along with the coveted statuette.
The RGS Award has been presented since 2014. Over this time, more than 2,500 projects have been submitted to the competition, and over 40 authors and teams have become laureates. Among the projects recognized by the jury in different years are the publication «Atlas of Caves of Russia, ” a program to create a semi-wild population of Przewalski’s horses, a project to revive wooden churches in the Russian North, the geoinformation portal «Russia: From Sea to Sea, ” the medical-geographical atlas «Risk Factors for Oncological Diseases, ” the exhibition «Novodevichy Monastery: Milestones of History, ” as well as the documentary film «Fire Fox, ” which received a special prize in 2025.
The competition for the RGS Award in 2026 includes 10 categories:
• «Geography in School». Educational project: for innovation in school geography education;
• «The Wealth of Russia». Nature conservation project: for a successfully implemented idea to restore natural ecosystems, protect rare species, carry out environmental monitoring, and provide education;
• «Inspiring to Travel». Tourism project: for implemented tourist routes and projects that reveal the unique potential of Russia’s regions and promote the local cultural, natural, and historical heritage through travel;
• «Young Explorers». Children’s project: for projects about exploring Russia through the lens of its nature, culture, history, and geography, created by young authors (aged 8 to 14);
• «The Power of Discovery». Expedition project: for research that yielded outstanding results based on field and lab work;
• «Geographical Cultural Code.» Educational project: for ideas that shape the image of Russia through its nature, culture, history, and geography;
• «Falling in Love with Russia». Educational media project: for the best project on television, in cinema, and on social media about the geography, history, ethnography, and culture of Russia, as well as about outstanding scientists, researchers, and travelers;
• «Falling in Love with Russia». A travel media project: for the best media project about travelling around Russia, offering a new perspective on the country through the lens of its history, geography, and culture — our common heritage;
• «Siberia in Focus». For the best scientific, applied, and educational geographical works devoted to the development of Siberia;
• «Geography of the Future». For a successfully implemented applied IT solution in projects related to geographical, cartographic, environmental, and other related topics.
In addition to the main categories, six special prizes are provided. They will allow the jury to recognize outstanding and socially significant initiatives.
You can apply for the 2026 RGS Award from August 17, 2026, to January 18, 2027, on the RGS website.
The winners in the main categories will receive a personalized certificate, a tabletop arrangement, and a monetary prize of 1 million rubles. The winner of the «Young Explorers» category will be awarded a certificate for a tourist trip around Russia, along with two accompanying persons, instead of a monetary prize. The recipients of the special prizes will receive commemorative certificates.