Presently, more than 400 cultural establishments operate in Kazan, fifty-one of these are under the jurisdiction of the Kazan Executive Committee.
The city's residents are served by a Centralized library system that includes 51 municipal libraries, including the mobile Bibliobus library complex. Three libraries № 13, № 26 on K.Tsetkina Street, and № 27 have been renewed to meet modern requirements and now serve not only as comfortable reading spaces, but also as excellent platforms for work and creativity.
Sixteen municipal recreational centers and three cultural and leisure facilities provide residents with opportunities for creative self-expression. In 2016, renovation work began in the municipal cultural institutions, including V. Lenin Recreational Center and the Moskovsky Recreational Center. Over the past eight years, all the municipal recreational centers in Kazan have been renovated, and eight new cultural institutions have been built.
The residents of the city have the opportunity for creative self-expression through 16 municipal palaces, houses of culture and 3 cultural and leisure centers. In 2016, renovation work began on urban cultural institutions in Kazan, with the first KDK named after Lenin and the Moscow Shopping Center appearing in a renewed form after reconstruction. Over the last 8 years, all the municipal palaces of culture in Kazan have been renovated, and 8 new cultural centers have been built.
Supplementary education for children is an important part of the educational system. Currently, there are 25 children's art schools offering pre-professional training in music and art.
The social project “Active life” plays a significant role in the cultural life of Kazan, it provides elderly people with the opportunity to participate in creative activities at recreational centers, libraries, and parks in the city. Dance, singing, a healthy lifestyle, and IT- education are some of the most popular activities among elderly.
The museum heritage of Kazan has a rich collection. The Kazan Museum Complex includes the Konstantin Vasiliev Art Gallery, the Baki Urmanche Museum, the Amir Mazitov Museum, the Ildar Zaripov Studio Gallery, and the memorial “Book of Memory”. Additionally, there is the Vasily Aksyonov House Museum, which includes 50,700 items.
The cultural life in the capital of Tatarstan is full of a wide variety of musical and literary events and city festivals. Among them are the Book-fest, street film screenings, and cultural events with the participation of local communities such as Cultural Environment and Genius of the Place. The literary and musical Aksyonov-fest also takes place, attracting participants from BRICS countries. Additionally, there are festive events to celebrate Victory Day, Russia Day, and the Day of the Republic of Tatarstan.
The cultural and charity festivals “Good Wave” and “RAY - People Who Can Feel” were founded in Kazan. These festivals include thematic events that are both creative and charitable, with the aim of showing that creativity is not limited by physical ability, and that friendship and solidarity can help raise a generation with values based on kindness and mutual assistance.
In 2019, the capital of Tatarstan became a member of the UNESCO network of creative cities in music. This network brings together cities whose development relies on creativity, such as music, decorative and applied arts, folk arts, design, cinema, literature, media arts, and gastronomy.
In 2024, Kazan was named the library capital of Russia, hosting more than 100 events under this title, including the BRICS Literary Forum, the Russian Literary Flagship fest, and the All-Russian Library Congress.