"Children's book card": what changes are being prepared in cultural programs for children starting in 2026

New measures to expand cultural programs for children and youth are being discussed in Russia. We are talking about a possible reduction in the age threshold for participation in the Pushkin Card program, as well as the development of an initiative to launch a "Children's Book Card" for preschoolers. According to the authors of the proposals, such measures can contribute to the involvement of children in cultural life from an early age and expand access to literature and art. For more information, see the Izvestia article.

Development of cultural programs for children

State Duma deputy and Deputy Chairman of the Budget and Taxes Committee Kaplan Panes (LDPR) told Izvestia that supporting the cultural and spiritual development of the younger generation is a strategic task of the state.

According to him, the initiatives, which come into force in 2026, form a system of equal access for children to literature, art and cultural events, regardless of their region of residence. Panes noted that such measures are long—term investments in the country's future and an important step towards eliminating urban-rural inequality.

— Initiatives that will start operating in 2026, such as the Children's Book Card, are a logical continuation of the successful experience of the Pushkin Map. They are aimed at creating an integrated system where every child from an early age has equal access to the best examples of literature and art, regardless of their place of residence. It is important that these programs are supported by real infrastructure development in the regions and the coordinated work of all departments," Panes said.

New program starting in 2026 "Children's Book Card"

According to Kaplan Panes, starting in 2026, on behalf of the President of the Russian Federation, it is planned to launch the state program "Children's Book Card" (working title — "Golden Key"). It is intended for children from three to six years old and will provide for the payment of 3,000 rubles per year to families for the purchase of books.

— The goal of the program is to make high—quality children's literature more accessible, strengthen family reading traditions and open the way for children to the world of classical literature. The list of books that can be purchased using the card will be formed by experts, which will include well—known writers, child psychologists and specialists in preschool education," the deputy said.

Publishers participating in the program will focus on a moderate price level. It is assumed that the face value of the card will be enough to purchase at least 10 books, which is especially important for large families.

The Pushkin Map: what will change in 2026

The Pushkin Card for young people aged 14 to 22 will continue to operate in 2026 while maintaining the limit of 5,000 rubles. Starting from the new year, VTB will become the operator of the program, so current holders will need to reissue the card through Gosuslugi.Culture" or in bank branches until December 28, 2025. Of the allocated amount, up to 2 thousand rubles can be used for film screenings, and the rest of the funds can be used for theaters, exhibitions, museums and concerts.

— By July 2025, more than 12 million people had issued the card, and over 94 million tickets had been sold since the beginning of the program. Both of these projects are part of a systematic effort to support culture and childhood," Panes said.

Expansion of infrastructure and regional participation in the project

For small towns and rural areas, it is planned to increase the number of institutions connected to the Pushkin Map system. At the moment, about 11.5 thousand organizations across the country are participating in the program. The projects are coordinated by the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Education and regional authorities within the framework of the national Family project.

— This allows us to build joint work on the integration of cultural education into the educational process and the development of appropriate infrastructure in the regions. Special attention is paid to filling the program with activities that would be interesting and useful for different age groups," said Panes.

New formats and updating of educational content

Special attention is paid to the expansion of cultural activities. Not only classical theater and museum visits are available for schoolchildren and teenagers, but also master classes, festivals, creative meetings and educational quizzes.

The literature lists for the "Children's Book Card" will be regularly updated to include classics and the best books by modern Russian authors.

Panes stressed that the complexity of the programs creates conditions for the cultural development of children from an early age and strengthens the bond between family, school and cultural institutions.