Applications are open for the International Festival of Youth 2026 in Russia
Young people from all over the world are invited to participate in the International Festival of Youth 2026 (IFY-2026). The application campaign was launched on February 5 at the National Center “Russia” as part of the “Russia – Family of Families” Marathon organized by the Russian “Znanie” (“Knowledge”) Society. The largest youth event of 2026 will take place from September 11 to 17 in Ekaterinburg and will become a platform for young people from around the world who are ready to take responsibility for the future of the planet. Applications are open until April 30 at wyffest.com.
The International Festival of Youth for 10,000 participants will become another event held under the auspices of the World Youth Festival, which began at “Sirius” in 2024. In accordance with the instructions of Russian President Vladimir Putin on preserving and developing the legacy of the WYF, international festival events for young people are held in Russia every year. In September 2025, Nizhny Novgorod hosted the World Youth Festival Assembly, which brought together 2,000 participants.
“The development of international youth cooperation is one of the priorities of the national project’ Youth and Children,’ implemented on the initiative of President Vladimir Putin. We are preserving and consistently expanding the legacy of the World Youth Festival 2024, creating conditions for open dialogue and long-term cooperation among young people. This year, the International Festival of Youth in Ekaterinburg will bring together 10,000 young leaders from more than 100 countries. It will showcase the best Russian projects and practices, demonstrate our country’s openness, and highlight its contribution to the global youth movement,” said Dmitry Chernyshenko, Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of the Russian Federation and Deputy Chairman of the Organizing Committee for the preparation and holding of the International Festival of Youth in 2026.
The participants of the International Festival of Youth 2026 will include 5,000 Russians and 5,000 foreign citizens under the age of 35. Traditionally, they will include not only young adults, but also teenagers aged 14 to 17: 500 from Russia and 500 from other countries.
“In the Year of Unity of the Peoples of Russia, launched by President Vladimir Putin, the International Festival of Youth will become a truly unifying event and will clearly demonstrate to the world the richness and uniqueness of our country’s culture. After the main program of the Festival is over, 1,000 foreigners will go on a regional program to 30 regions of Russia, as well as visit the Republic of Abkhazia. The young people will get to know the main attractions of the regions, take part in expeditions, communicate with indigenous peoples, see the country’s technological achievements, and learn more about Russia’s historical and cultural heritage and the centuries-old unity of hundreds of peoples. We are waiting for young people from all over the world in Russia, a country of unlimited opportunities, open to everyone, ready to build the future of a multipolar world together with us,” said Grigory Gurov, head of Rosmolodezh.
The Hero of Russia, participant in the presidential personnel program “Time of Heroes,” Chairman of the Board of the “Movement of the First”, Artur Orlov emphasized that this year, Russia will become a place where children and young people from all over the world will come together. The children’s program is organized by the “Movement of the First” and the “Talent and Success” Educational Foundation.
“Our program will introduce children to the achievements of modern Russia and enable them to develop joint projects in various fields, ranging from science, education, digitalization, creativity, and creative industries to media, sports, entrepreneurship, and civil engagement. We will develop the initiatives introduced by the program participants together within the framework of the International Association of Children’s Organizations. It is important to always remember that today’s children are the future leaders of their countries,” said Artur Orlov.
Two thousand volunteers from all over Russia will also travel to Ekaterinburg. The volunteers will assist in 17 functional areas, ranging from logistics and accreditation to accompanying delegations and creating content. After the main program ends, the volunteers will accompany foreign delegations as part of a regional program in the form of expeditions. Candidates for the volunteer corps must be over 16 years of age, have experience in volunteering and community work, be highly motivated, know foreign languages, be communicative, and be able to work in a team. As of December 5, 2025, 5,500 volunteers have already submitted their applications. Applications to participate in the volunteer program can be submitted on the Dobro.rf platform until March 31, 2026.
“The International Festival of Youth in Ekaterinburg will be the next step in the development of the global youth community formed at the WYF 2024. Its participants are young leaders from around the world who are ready to take responsibility for the future and jointly shape the agenda for tomorrow. Thanks to the principle of forming foreign delegations according to their fields of activity, the best representatives of key areas of public life will come to Russia: creative industries, public administration, science and education, sports, entrepreneurship, media, digitalization and IT, and the social sector. These young leaders are already shaping the future of their countries today, and their experience is invaluable for the common dialogue. It is precisely in this way, through interaction and joint work, that the image of tomorrow is born – a multipolar world based on cooperation, respect, and the search for a balance of interests, in which the dreams of young people cease to be abstract ideas and become reality,” said Dmitry Ivanov, Director General of the World Youth Festival Directorate.
The organizers of the International Festival of Youth 2026 are the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs and the Government of the Sverdlovsk Region, and the event operator is the World Youth Festival Directorate. You can follow the latest events, announcements, and news about the International Festival of Youth on VKontakte — https://vk.com/WYF and the official channel on the MAX messenger — https://max.ru/wyffest.
Overview:
The World Youth Festival took place on March 1–7, 2024, in Sirius, according to the Decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin on the development of international youth cooperation. The WYF-2024 brought together 20,000 young leaders from 190 countries. In accordance with the instructions of the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, on preserving and developing the legacy of the World Youth Festival, which took place on the Sirius Federal Territory in 2024 and united 20,000 young people from 190 countries of the world, festival events on the territory of the Russian Federation will be held annually. The next World Youth Festival for 20,000 participants will be held in 2030. In 2026, there will be a smaller event, an International Youth Festival with 10,000 participants. In between, the World Youth Festival’s themed Assemblies will be held annually for 2,000 participants.
The first World Youth Festival Assembly was held in Nizhny Novgorod from September 17 to 21, 2025 and brought together 2,000 young people from 120 countries.
The World Youth Festival Directorate continues the work aimed at strengthening international youth cooperation.
