Following the main program of the International Festival of Youth in Ekaterinburg, from September 17 to 21, some international participants will be able to join a regional program. The program is co‑organized by "More Than a Trip"
"The International Festival of Youth does not end at its main venue in Ekaterinburg. After the main program, 1,000 international participants will embark on a journey across Russia to see our country – to experience its culture, traditions, people, and the unique atmosphere of its regions. The program will be organized in the form of expeditions and will coincide with the Year of Unity of the Peoples of Russia. In total, 33 expeditions are planned across 35 constituent entities of the Russian Federation and ‘Sirius’ Federal Territory. For the first time, one of the expeditions will go beyond Russia's borders – to the Republic of Abkhazia, with which Russia shares strong historical and cultural ties. This format allows young people to truly feel the distinct character, openness, and hospitality of Russia," said Grigory Gurov, Head of Rosmolodezh.
Three formats of regional programs are planned: a route through a single region, interregional expeditions (travel across multiple regions), and the research‑based "Rediscovering Russia" format.
Expeditions focused on visiting and deeply immersing participants in the history, culture, and traditions of a single region will take place in 26 constituent entities of the country: Altai Territory, Vologda Region, Voronezh Region, Donetsk People's Republic, Kabardino Balkarian Republic, Kaluga Region, Kamchatka Territory, Kirov Region, Krasnoyarsk Territory, Murmansk Region, Nizhny Novgorod Region, Novgorod Region, Omsk Region, Pskov Region, Republic of Kalmykia, Republic of Komi, Republic of Mordovia, Republic of Tatarstan, Ryazan Region, Samara Region, St. Petersburg, Smolensk Region, Tver Region, Udmurt Republic, ‘Sirius’ Federal Territory, Khanty Mansi Autonomous Area, and Khabarovsk Territory.
“For the first time, we are launching interregional expeditions where participants will visit several Russian regions at once. One route will take them to Mari El and Chuvashia; another to Karachayevo-Circassian Republic and Adygea Republic; and a third to Ivanovo, Yaroslavl, and Kostroma Regions. Another important innovation is the 'Rediscovering Russia' expeditions, organized together with the Higher School of Economics (HSE University) and the 'More Than a Trip' program. In the Arkhangelsk Region and the Yamal‑Nenets Autonomous Area, international participants will not only get to know these regions but will also propose and implement their own solutions for strategic regional development. For example, in the Arkhangelsk Region, they will split into creative teams – media, gastronomy, cartography, photography, and event management – and create real products: tourism videos, a digital recipe book, a designer map‑guide, and a photo exhibition. This is a unique opportunity to see the Russian North through the eyes of international visitors and to generate fresh, engaging content to attract tourists to the regions," said Dmitry Ivanov, Director General of the World Youth Festival Directorate.
Each route will be built around the unique experience of the territory – its natural landscape, cultural heritage, local communities, modern achievements, and forward‑looking development projects. Participants will immerse themselves in the traditions and daily life of the region. They will visit landmarks, meet representatives of indigenous peoples, artisans, entrepreneurs, scientists, and young local leaders.
Some routes will offer the opportunity to visit the houses of local residents and members of indigenous communities. Foreign delegates will be able to take part in everyday activities, traditional ceremonies, family and community events, prepare national dishes, gather local produce, or learn about traditional crafts. This approach will allow participants to experience the region not only through its landmarks, but through the people who preserve and develop its cultural identity.
Elena Razumishkina, Chair of the Committee for Youth Policy and Interaction with Public Organizations, noted that Russia's cultural capital, St. Petersburg, will surprise guests with its ability to combine the status of an "open‑air museum" with the image of a dynamic, future‑focused metropolis. The program will include visits to world‑famous museums: the State Hermitage Museum, the Peterhof State Museum‑Reserve, St. Isaac's Cathedral, as well as the Grand Maket "Russia" museum. In the Republic of Abkhazia, international participants will explore the culture and traditions of the region through immersive, hands‑on formats. A key part of the program will be collaborative work on initiatives to preserve and promote Abkhazia's cultural heritage on the international stage.
"We view the regional program of the International Festival of Youth not simply as a tourist itinerary, but as a strategic opportunity to strengthen international ties through youth diplomacy. In September 2026, Abkhazia is ready to warmly welcome participants and introduce them to our republic through genuine, live interaction. The program is designed so that each day becomes a personal discovery. Guests will prepare traditional Abkhaz dishes with their own hands, learn archery and horseback riding, and – most importantly – take part in an intensive brain‑storming session titled 'Abkhazia's Cultural Heritage: From Immersion to Action.' Together with leading experts, they will develop real‑world projects aimed at preserving and promoting our culture on the international stage. The best initiatives will be presented to the republic's leadership and given a chance to be implemented. Our key goal is to showcase Abkhazia not through postcards, but through shared action. To ensure that every participant leaves as a true ambassador of Abkhazian culture, and that our own youth gain the confidence and motivation to develop our republic together with peers from around the world," said Tarash Khagba, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the State Committee of the Republic of Abkhazia.
The International Festival of Youth, implemented as part of the national project "Youth and Children", will take place from September 11 to 17, 2026 in Ekaterinburg. The participants will be 10,000 young leaders from 190 countries – 5,000 from Russia and 5,000 from abroad. The Festival will be held under the motto "Follow Your Dream. Together with Russia" and will become a space for open international dialogue and joint creativity, where young leaders will seek solutions to global challenges and together shape a common future. The organizers of the International Festival of Youth – 2026 are the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs (Rosmolodezh) and the Government of the Sverdlovsk Region. The operator of the event is the World Youth Festival Directorate.
Overview:
The World Youth Festival took place on March 1–7, 2024 at the ‘Sirius’ Federal Territory, 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, festival events on the territory of the Russian Federation will be held annually. The World Youth Festival Assembly was held in Nizhny Novgorod in 2025 and brought together 2,000 young people from 120 countries. In 2026, the International Festival of Youth will gather 10,000 participants. The next World Youth Festival for 20,000 participants will be held in 2030.
The World Youth Festival Directorate continues the work aimed at strengthening international youth cooperation and developing a community of young people who care about the future of the world.