Five thousand employees of a Russian trade and manufacturing company performed a flash mob dance to the song “Kalinka” to mark the upcoming International Festival of Youth 2026 in Ekaterinburg.The participants, employees of trade and manufacturing company Sima-Land, joined the musical event as preparations continue for the festival, which is expected to bring together 10,000 young people from 191 countries.
The festival is being held as part of Russia’s Youth and Children national project.
The “Kalinka” flash mob brought together thousands of Sima-Land employees in what organisers described as a musical greeting to participants of the International Festival of Youth.
The event in Ekaterinburg follows the World Youth Festival held in Sirius from March 1 to 7, 2024. The 2024 festival brought together 20,000 young leaders from 190 countries.
Following instructions from Russian President Vladimir Putin to preserve and develop the legacy of the World Youth Festival, annual youth events are being held across Russia.
In 2025, the World Youth Festival Assembly was held in Nizhny Novgorod, attracting 2,000 young people from 120 countries.
The International Festival of Youth 2026 will have 10,000 participants, while the next World Youth Festival, expected to bring together 20,000 people, is scheduled for 2030.
The World Youth Festival Directorate says it continues to work on strengthening international youth cooperation and developing a global community of young people.
Sima-Land, whose employees participated in the flash mob, is based in Ekaterinburg and employs about 9,000 people.
It has representative offices in various regions of Russia and abroad.
The company develops and manufactures goods under hundreds of its own brands, including beauty care products, home textiles, furniture and electrical goods.
Its warehouse and office facilities cover more than 400,000 square metres, while its product range includes more than one million items.
