International Youth Festival Breaking Grounds in Yekaterinburg, Russia
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The opening ceremony of the International Youth Festival united the cultures and values of different countries and showcased Russia as a hospitable state open to young people from all over the world. Russian and foreign artists and ensembles, as well as renowned cultural figures and representatives of delegations from around the globe, performed on stage. The colorful show was attended by 11,000 spectators.
President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin addressed the participants of the International Youth Festival via a video message. He welcomed them and noted that Yekaterinburg – a city with a rich industrial, cultural, and intellectual heritage – is ideally suited for a meeting of young leaders from different countries. The President emphasized that Russia stands for strong friendship and good-neighborly relations based on justice and mutual respect.
“We will be glad to welcome those who decide to join our projects in Russia. But we will be no less glad if, in your own countries, in your beloved homeland, you will build our common new, open, and, I hope, just world. I do not doubt that you, the younger generation, will succeed in everything. This is your time. Follow your dream together with Russia!” urged the President of Russia.
The opening ceremony became one of the most anticipated events of the Festival. The stage turned into a large transportation hub where the routes of delegations from different corners of the planet intersected. This image became a symbol of unity: each delegation has its own path, traditions, and history, but they all met in Russia and became part of a single event. The ceremony consisted of five episodes dedicated to five macro-regions of the planet. In each of them, a delegation appeared on stage with its own mascot, show program, and famous personalities. The unifying motif was the values that the delegations brought with them and presented on stage.
The ceremony opened with the State Anthem of the Russian Federation in a modern arrangement, performed by the duo NANSI & SIDOROV, as well as the winners of the All-Russian competition “Battle of Choirs!”, residents of the art cluster “Tavrida”, and the “Choir of the First.” Everyone gathered in the hall sang the anthem along with the performers.
Delegations from China, Mongolia, Thailand, the DPRK, Japan, and India represented the Asia-Pacific region and its traditions through martial arts, dances, costumes, and music. Chinese actress Zheng Hanyi and Festival participant from India, startup ecosystem leader Amit Kotawade, addressed the audience – together they spoke about collectivism as a value that the macro-region presents at the Festival. After that, the South Korean K-pop group W24 performed.
Delegations from Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, Tanzania, Uganda, and Burkina Faso came from Africa. Their artists performed a dance number accompanied by live drumming. In conclusion, blogger and musician from Ghana Isaac Kalem Kobbina and Festival participant from Sierra Leone, founder of the West African Youth and Children’s Rights Protection Network (WAYCAN), Mohamed Amidu Koroma addressed the audience – they spoke about mutual assistance and mutual respect. South African singer LIZWI provided the musical finale.
The Middle East turned the stage into an Eastern bazaar with caravan traders, circus artists, aerial gymnasts, dancers, and musicians. Journalist Amalia Mousa from Roya News in Jordan and Turkish theater and film actor, star of the series “Magnificent Century” Halit Ergenç addressed the audience – their speech was dedicated to justice, high moral ideals, and respect for traditions.
The American macro-region presented a spectacular carnival procession with fiery dances, music, and the atmosphere of Latin America and North America. Participants were welcomed by the founder of a virtual production company from the USA, Luis Peter Howard Kwok, and Uruguayan actress and singer Natalia Oreiro. They spoke about the values that the countries of the macro-region brought to the Festival – freedom and human rights. After the address, Natalia Oreiro’s musical performance was heard.
The European macro-region began with a vibrant youth dance number, and then the stage turned into a city square: it was filled with dozens of artists on rollerblades, bicycles, and scooters. The episode featured British pianist, laureate of international competitions Rhys Concessao, and honorary guest Sbahi Abdelilah from Denmark, a participant in the youth festivals of 1957, 1985, 2017, and 2024. Young people greeted him with ovations and chants of “thank you.” Together they addressed the theme of dignity as a value uniting Europe and Russia. In the finale, the song “I Take a Step” was performed by The Hatters.
A separate episode was dedicated to Russia: Yulia Peresild and the band MaNdragoRa performed on stage, joined by mascots and dancers from all macro-regions. The culmination was a round dance featuring a children’s folk dance ensemble – the children declared the International Youth Festival open, and the flags of 191 participating countries were carried over the audience. The ceremony concluded with a performance by Tatyana Kurtukova.
The organizer of the opening ceremony is “Tavrida.ART.” IYF-2026 is being implemented within the framework of the national project “Youth and Children.”
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Background information:
The International Youth Festival, which is being implemented within the framework of the national project “Youth and Children,” is taking place from September 11 to 17, 2026, in Yekaterinburg. The decree on its holding was signed by the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, on December 29, 2025. The Festival is being held under the motto “Follow Your Dream.”
The participants of IYF-2026 include 10,000 young leaders from 191 countries around the world, of whom 5,000 are Russians and 5,000 are foreign citizens. Among them are the best representatives of creative industries and the arts, public administration, science and education, sports, entrepreneurship, media, digitalization and IT, as well as civic engagement – those who are already shaping the future of their countries and the entire world. Continuing the successful practice of the World Youth Festival 2024, the invited list includes 1,000 teenagers aged 14 to 17 – 500 from Russia and 500 from foreign countries. The organizer of the children’s program is the Movement of the First.
The World Youth Festival was held from March 1 to 7, 2024, in “Sirius” in accordance with the Decree of the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, aimed at developing international youth cooperation. 20,000 young leaders from 190 countries around the world took part in WYF-2024.
In accordance with the instructions of the President of the Russian Federation on preserving and developing the legacy of the World Youth Festival, festival events on the territory of the Russian Federation are held annually. The Directorate of the World Youth Festival continues its work aimed at strengthening international youth cooperation and developing a community of young people who care about the future of the world.
Link to the photo host: https://wyffest.tass.photo/
Sincerely,
The IYF-2026 Media Center team
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International Youth Festival Breaking Grounds in Yekaterinburg, Russia
