Registration Opens for 2026 International Youth Festival in Russia

Mohammad Kawsar Uddin

Registration for the 2026 International Youth Festival (IYF-2026) officially opened on February 5, with the event set to take place from September 11 to 17 in Yekaterinburg, Russia. The festival is expected to bring together 10,000 young people from more than 100 countries.

Organised as part of the “Russia-A Family of Families” marathon of the Russian Society “Knowledge,” the festival will serve as a global platform for youth dialogue, cooperation and leadership. Registration will remain open until April 30 through the official website, wyffest.com.

The International Youth Festival is part of the broader World Youth Festival (WYF) initiative, launched in 2024 in Sirius. Following directives from Russian President Vladimir Putin to preserve and expand the WYF legacy, Russia has been hosting international youth events annually. In 2025, a World Youth Festival gathering in Nizhny Novgorod brought together 2,000 participants.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko said the festival aligns with the country’s “Youth and Children” national project, aimed at strengthening international youth cooperation. He noted that the event would highlight Russian projects and promote long-term collaboration among young leaders worldwide.

The 2026 festival will include 5,000 participants from Russia and 5,000 international participants, all under the age of 35. It will also feature a special programme for teenagers aged 14 to 17, with 1,000 participants equally divided between Russian and foreign nationals.

Following the main event, 1,000 international participants will take part in a regional programme, visiting 30 regions across Russia as well as the Republic of Abkhazia. The programme will include cultural exchanges, expeditions, interactions with indigenous communities and visits to key technological and historical sites.

A dedicated children’s programme will be organised by the Movement of the First and the “Talent and Success” educational foundation, focusing on joint initiatives in areas such as science, education, digital technology, creativity, sports, entrepreneurship and civic engagement.

The festival will also be supported by 2,000 volunteers from across Russia, assisting in areas including logistics, accreditation, delegation support and media content creation. Applications for the volunteer programme, open to individuals aged 16 and above with relevant experience, will be accepted until March 31 via the Dobro.rf platform.

Organisers said the event aims to strengthen the global youth community formed during the 2024 World Youth Festival and foster dialogue among young leaders in sectors such as science, education, governance, media, digital technology, entrepreneurship and the social sector.

The International Youth Festival 2026 is organised by the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs and the Government of the Sverdlovsk Region, with the World Youth Festival Directorate serving as the event operator.