The article presents the results of a study of the theoretical aspects of the development of the strategic planning system in the Russian Federation. The Russian and foreign experience in the formation of approaches to the planning of economic activity and the development of territories since the beginning of the 20th century is considered and summarized. Formed periods circuit approaches to strategic planning in modern Russia, highlighting their key features. As a result, the authors proposed a new approach to the development of strategic documents of the territories, based on the formation of the image of the future. Purpose of the study: to summarize domestic and foreign experience in the field of strategic planning, and, on this basis, to identify areas for improving approaches to territorial planning in modern conditions. Methods: Comparative analysis and generalization of world and domestic experience, data grouping and evaluation of their content. The result of the analysis was the identification of promising areas for the further development of the theory and methodology of strategic planning of the territories of the Russian Federation. Practical implications. The results can be applied in the development of the methodology of strategic planning of the territories of Russia, based on the formation of the image of the future of local communities.