2026 Bering Strait Festival showcases Chukotka’s tourism potential

The fifth Bering Strait Festival has concluded in Chukotka. A programme of sporting, business, cultural and gastronomic events took place in Anadyr and the settlement of Ugolnye Kopi. TV BRICS served as the festival’s international media partner.

The festival featured a number of landmark sporting events, including the Arctic Run Half Marathon, 1 km and 3 km races, and the Golden Chukotka Ultra trail race over distances of 13 km, 30 km and 40 km. In total, more than 200 participants from 10 regions of Russia took part in the running events.

For the first time in Chukotka’s history, open-water swimming competitions were held in the Anadyr Estuary. On the opening day of the Bering Strait Festival, a 500-metre swim took place as a joint project of the Government of the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug and the Russian Winter Swimming Federation. Athletes from Russia, China, Mongolia and Ireland participated in the event.

On the second day, a historic relay swim was held, with professional athletes crossing the Anadyr Estuary by swimming for the first time. Eight participants from Primorsky Krai, Amur Oblast and Ireland completed the 4,600-metre course in 56 minutes.

To further develop this sport in the region, the Government of the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug and the Russian Winter Swimming Federation signed a cooperation agreement.

“We are seeing tremendous interest in sports tourism. This year, many visitors from different regions of Russia and abroad travelled here to take part in the races and swimming events. People discover Chukotka through active recreation and then share their experiences within their sporting communities,” said Aleksey Khimchuk, Head of the Department of Physical Culture and Sport of the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug.

The key themes of the business programme included the development of adventure and cruise tourism in the Arctic, the creation of a route across the Bering Strait, and the preservation of the traditions of Indigenous peoples. Russian and international travellers, government officials and representatives of the tourism industry took part in the discussions.

“The festival has become a platform where representatives of government authorities, the tourism industry and the creative sector discuss important issues and listen to one another. It is essential for us to understand the challenges facing different sectors and gradually implement solutions that will improve the situation and make Chukotka a more welcoming destination for visitors,” said Yaroslav Mamonov, Deputy Governor and Head of the Department of Industrial Policy of the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug.

Festival participants and guests were presented with "The Golden Coast of the Arctic", a documentary produced in Chukotka as part of the TV BRICS documentary series on Russia’s mining industry. The film’s author, Ksenia Komissarova, Director of the Information Broadcasting Department at TV BRICS, spoke about the media network’s projects aimed at promoting skilled professions, advancing scientific and technological development, supporting national cultures, and strengthening cooperation among the regions of the BRICS countries.

"Regional stories significantly enrich the international information landscape by adding a distinctive socio-cultural dimension, which is why TV BRICS serves as the media partner of events such as the Bering Strait Festival. Moreover, the Arctic is one of Russia’s key development priorities, which undoubtedly increases international interest in the region. Today, TV BRICS provides regions and BRICS+ countries with direct opportunities to showcase their prospects and strategic priorities to a broad global audience. The sincere and open dialogue fostered within the TV BRICS media space lays the foundation for stronger international ties and comprehensive cooperation"

Ksenia Komissarova Director of the Information Broadcasting Department, TV BRICS

Following its premiere in Russia, "The Golden Coast of the Arctic" was broadcast by TV BRICS media partners in Brazil, Mozambique, Argentina, and South Africa.

At the close of the festival, Yuliya Valevskaya, Acting Head of the Department of Culture and Tourism of the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, noted that the Bering Strait Festival, held annually since 2022, has become one of the region’s flagship events.

According to her, the festival attracts an increasing number of experts and tourism industry representatives each year, creating opportunities for direct dialogue between businesses and regional authorities.