Interactive VK Portals connect nine cities for live exchanges across Russia
Nine Russian cities will be linked through interactive installations that let residents talk to each other, meet bloggers and artists, and enjoy performances by notable guests. According to the VK press service, video conversations will be live in Moscow and St. Petersburg, with additional connections to Kazan, Krasnoyarsk, Vladivostok, Grozny, Perm, Saratov, and Tyumen.
VK Portals will run from June 7 to June 16. To reach another participating city, all a user needs to do is step up to the screen. Each hour, the active zones rotate, offering fresh connections and experiences for participants.
Interlocutors can identify their partners by the backdrop of the portal, as each installation is placed near a recognizable landmark. For instance, in St. Petersburg the portal will be installed on Malaya Konyushennaya Street, and in Saratov it will be located at Chernyshevsky Square, making the city identity instantly visible to everyone involved.
During the “Russia” exhibition forum, visitors will have the chance to communicate with two regions at once, and on June 12 a special program will bring all nine cities into one unified portal network, enabling broader cross-city interaction.
In 2024 the installations received upgrades that expand participation. Passersby can now show backgrounds from both sides of the portal, broadening the sense of presence. A VK Holidays chatbot will assist users in increasing interaction, offering features such as dance or karaoke sessions, quick guess games, reaction sharing, and the use of augmented reality masks and virtual gifts during conversations.
Citizens will also be able to join team activities at set times each day, take part in quizzes, and answer questions on a variety of topics, enriching the overall experience and encouraging ongoing engagement across the network.
Beyond personal conversations, VK Portals will serve as venues for regional artists, blogger meetups, youth performances, and community events, creating a vibrant calendar of happenings across participating cities.
Even prior VKontakte users can register directly through the social network to access beauty salons and other local services, illustrating VK’s broader aim to weave digital interactions with real-world opportunities and local economy support.