Both the UK and Russia have widely-spoken languages and rich literary traditions, with a deeply held respect for each other’s culture and literature. The UK-Russia Year of Language and Literature 2016 is a joint celebration of written and spoken culture which aims to ensure meaningful and sustained collaboration in the cultural sphere between the UK and Russia.

The British Council is leading the UK’s Year of Language and Literature in Russia and the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs leads Russia’s celebrations in the UK. As part of the programme developed with support from VisitBritain and UKTI (UK Trade and Investment), a  series of events will be held across Russia throughout 2016. As the Year coincides with the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death many events will celebrate the enduring influence of the playwright’s works on global and Russian culture, and will increase interest in studying English and British literature among Russian audiences.

Click here to find out more about the UK-Russia Year of Language and Literature 2016.