Nizhny Novgorod to Launch a Modern Puppet Theatre Museum by 2026
A new cultural partnership has been established to boost theatre and museum projects in Nizhny Novgorod. On October 24, 2025, Governor Gleb Nikitin and Kristina Trubinova, head of the Bakhrushin Theatre Museum, signed a cooperation agreement in Moscow. The deal will bring a modern puppet theatre museum to the region by 2026. The signing took place at the Centre for Theatrical History on Tatarskaya Street. Under the agreement, the Bakhrushin Museum will expand its work in Nizhny Novgorod, focusing on cultural education and a new museum space. One of the first major projects is the Nizhny Novgorod State Puppet Theatre Museum, designed as a contemporary cultural hub.
The exhibition will showcase rare items from the theatre’s own archives and the Bakhrushin Museum’s collections. Visitors can expect to see vintage posters, historical papers, photographs, and original sketches. Another key part of the collaboration is an interactive platform for children and families, offering insights into theatre careers and performances. This initiative falls under the federal *New Theater Museum* programme, launched in 2023 by Trubinova with support from Russia’s Ministry of Culture. Permanent exhibitions have already opened in Kursk, Makhachkala, Kineshma, Yaroslavl, and Sukhum. By the end of 2025, similar museums will debut in Samara and Donetsk.
The agreement strengthens ties between regions and promotes a unified approach to museum-theatre development. The Nizhny Novgorod Puppet Theatre Museum is scheduled to open in 2026, offering educational programmes alongside its exhibitions. The project reflects ongoing efforts to make theatre history more accessible across Russia.
