On February 25, 2026, the election of the Rector of the Kharkiv State Academy of Design and Arts took place. According to the voting results, with 74% voting in favour and 3% against, Oleksandr SOBOLEV was elected as Rector.

He is a Professor of the Graphic Design Department, Candidate of Art History (PhD), Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Arts of Ukraine, Chairman of the Eastern Regional Scientific and Art Centre of the National Academy of Arts of Ukraine, and a member of the National Union of Artists of Ukraine and the Designers Union of Ukraine.