Congratulations to the New Co-Authors of the Geographical Dictation: Winners of the Questions Contest Announced

The winners of the international contest “Write Your Question for the Geographical Dictation 2026” have been named. The authors of the best entries will become co-authors of one of the Russian Geographical Society’s largest educational projects. Ahead of the announcement, the future of geography education was discussed at RGS Headquarters. Among those invited was the contest’s youngest regular participant.

On the eve of the 181st anniversary of the Russian Geographical Society and Geographer’s Day, a meeting on the Society’s main areas of work was held at RGS Headquarters in Moscow. One of the subjects was a new state geography textbook for Years 5 to 11. The Society is preparing it together with the relevant ministries and research institutes; new atlases, outline maps and teaching materials for teachers are being developed at the same time.

Mark Mineev, an 11-year-old pupil at Moscow’s Vorobyovy Gory Lyceum, joined the discussion of what geography education should look like in the years ahead. Mark knows the Geographical Dictation not only as a participant: he has won the “Write Your Question for the Geographical Dictation” contest several times. At the meeting he approved the illustrations planned for the new textbook and suggested that the text itself could be improved. In his view, terms that pupils may find obscure should be given brief explanations, so that readers do not have to stop and look elsewhere for extra information. A glossary at the end of the book would also be useful, he said. For those who want to learn more about a subject that catches their interest, Mark proposed adding QR codes linking to further material.

Interest in geography can stretch well beyond the school textbook. Every year, anyone with a taste for geographical research may enter the contest of questions for the Geographical Dictation. Applications were first invited in 2020, and the project has since won a wide following. In 2026 the organising committee received 1,460 entries from 12 countries. Choosing the best of them was no easy task.

Entering the contest gives people a chance to try their hand as authors: to find an interesting fact, turn it into a question, and invite others to look at geography from a fresh angle. The Geographical Dictation now has new co-authors.

The international contest “Write Your Question for the Geographical Dictation – 2026” has named the winners of the main contest and five special categories.

The winners are:

Main contest
- Tatyana Ivanova, Moscow
- Olga Klimova, Nizhny Novgorod Region
- Inna Makashova, Kemerovo Region
- Margarita Romanovskaya, Novosibirsk Region
- Soumik Dutta Roy, Republic of India

“Geography of Unity: Heritage and the Cultural Code of the Country”
- Yulia Zhukova, Ryazan Region

“Museum Map of Russia”
- Yulia Snetkova, Samara Region

“Geography of the Future: Technologies and Discoveries”
- Vladimir Ermolenko, Krasnoyarsk Territory

“Discovering Russia: A Key to Understanding”
- Artyom Titov, Oryol Region

“Horizons of Geography: Expert Level”
- Alla Gorbunova, Tula Region

A special prize from the Russian Geographical Society goes to:
- Olga Berezovskaya, Komi Republic

Encouragement prizes go to:
- Elena Alekseeva, Donetsk People’s Republic
- Marina Bakanova, Islamic Republic of Pakistan
- Alisa Bezuglova, Rostov Region
- Mikhail Belokon, Lugansk People’s Republic
- Karina Volgina, Moscow Region
- Roman Gavrilov, Moscow
- Svetlana Getmanova, Yaroslavl Region
- Milana Davidova, Republic of Tatarstan
- Vera Dvoryadkina, Krasnodar Territory
- Polina Zonenberg, Omsk Region
- Sofia Zubova, Omsk Region
- Irina Irzhak, Volgograd Region
- Nina Krivenko, Tula Region
- Darya Kuzmich, Republic of Belarus
- Svetlana Kulieva, Turkmenistan
- Elizaveta Lukyanets, Moscow
- Valentina Lysova, Komi Republic
- Mark Mineev, Moscow
- Dilafruz Nishanova, Krasnoyarsk Territory
- Anna Rudakova, Moscow
- Evgeny Salivanov, Chuvash Republic
- Makka Sulimanova, Moscow
- Natalia Telmanova, Khabarovsk Territory
- Alexandra Tsopa, Nizhny Novgorod Region
- Lidia Chebotareva, Volgograd Region
- Maria Chemerkina, Belgorod Region
- Elizaveta Chervyakova, Moscow Region
- Vladislav Cherny, Donetsk People’s Republic
- Valeria Shchukina, Krasnodar Territory
- Yulia Yasashnova, Vladimir Region

The authors of the best entries will receive certificates as co-authors of the Geographical Dictation and commemorative prizes from the Russian Geographical Society, as well as an invitation to the campaign’s central venue.

The names of the new co-authors are now known. What they have chosen to ask participants in the Geographical Dictation 2026 remains one of the main mysteries of the forthcoming event.