Moscow Forms Organizing Committee for International Youth Festival

Preparations have begun in Moscow for the International Youth Festival. It will be held under the national project «Youth and Children» in September 2026. This was ordered by President Vladimir Putin.

On January 27, the first meeting of the Organizing Committee for the preparation and conduct of the festival took place in the capital. Its members included First Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration of Russia Sergey Kiriyenko, representatives of the presidential administration and the Russian government, federal executive bodies, media holdings and news agencies, companies, and universities.

The festival will unite 10,000 young people from 190 countries worldwide. Its innovation will be the sectoral principle of forming foreign delegations—the best representatives of creative industries, public administration, science and technology, sports, entrepreneurship, media, and the social sector will come to the venue.

«That is why it is fundamentally important for the festival to become a showcase of the best Russian projects and practices. We want to show young leaders the real Russia—a country of limitless opportunities, where people know how to dream and turn dreams into reality. It is no coincidence that the motto of the 2026 Festival is »Follow the Dream. Together with Russia,«» commented Sergey Kiriyenko.

He also proposed continuing the regional program—expeditions of foreign participants to regions of Russia. It covers 30 subjects of Russia and the Republic of Abkhazia.

Deputy Chairman of the Government of Russia, Deputy Chairman of the Organizing Committee Dmitry Chernyshenko emphasized that 5,000 Russian participants will take part in the festival, including 1,000 children aged 14 to 17, and 5,000 from abroad. The volunteer corps will unite 2,000 volunteers, who will assist in organizing and conducting the international event.

The vice-premier called on federal agencies to submit proposals for the event«s program, as well as for Russian and foreign participants among young scientists and researchers, representatives of the sphere of culture, creativity, creative industries, the sports community, and young teachers.

The readiness of Sverdlovsk Oblast and its infrastructure for the Festival was discussed by the head of the region, Denis Pasler, and the Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, Valery Falkov.

«Holding the International Youth Festival in Sverdlovsk Oblast confirms the region»s status as the youth center of the country. Our task is to unite youth from around the world, inspire them, create safe and comfortable conditions for international dialogue and experience exchange. To show and tell about a modern, creative region with a rich mining and industrial history,« noted the governor.

«Now one of the flagship programs approved by the president in the higher education system is the construction of student campuses. It is the new student campus of Ural Federal University that will host participants of the International Youth Festival,» added Valery Falkov.

The meeting participants discussed funding issues, with special attention paid to ensuring the security of the event. The organizer of the International Youth Festival 2026 is the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs (Rosmolodyozh), and the operator of the event is the Directorate of the World Youth Festival.