The acceptance of applications to the volunteer corps of the International Festival of Youth (IFY-2026), which will be held in Ekaterinburg from September 11 to 17, has been completed. The volunteers will help in 17 functional areas, including: accreditation and logistics, support for experts and delegations, media, linguistic services, and others.

"Applications to the volunteer corps of the International Festival of Youth were submitted by more than 20,000 people from all regions of Russia, as well as from the Republic of Abkhazia. A total of 2,000 volunteers will have to be selected from among all those who wish to take part in the event. They will help in the organization and holding of the largest youth event, which will be held within the framework of the national project "Youth and Children". Volunteers will also accompany foreign delegations during 30 expeditions of the regional program of the Festival. I thank the volunteers for their sincere interest and desire to share the most precious thing they have – their time”, said Dmitry Chernyshenko, Deputy Prime Minister of Russia.

Dmitry Chernyshenko recalled that on the instructions of Russian President Vladimir Putin on the preservation and development of the World Youth Festival’s legacy, festival events are held annually in Russia. The World Youth Festival Assembly in Nizhny Novgorod in 2025 brought together 2,000 young people from 120 countries. The next World Youth Festival for 20,000 participants will be held in 2030.

"We have received applications to join the volunteer corps of the International Festival of Youth from all over Russia and the Republic of Abkhazia. Most of the applications were received from residents of St. Petersburg, Sverdlovsk, Moscow, Belgorod and Chelyabinsk regions, Krasnodar, Krasnoyarsk, Perm Territories and the Republic of Tatarstan. Both beginners and experienced volunteers want to join the ranks of the volunteer corps. The youngest of them is 16 years old, and the oldest is 83 years old. Veterans of the Russian military are also ready to join the volunteer corps. It is especially valuable that all these people sincerely want to show hospitality, make the participants’ visit to the Festival comfortable and build a dialogue at the international level," said Grigory Gurov, Head of Rosmolodezh.

Applications to the Festival's volunteer corps have opened on December 5, 2025 at the #WEARETOGETHER International Civic Engagement Forum.

"The International Festival of Youth will bring together 10,000 participants from all over the world. And for many guests, volunteers will be the first point of acquaintance with our country. The impression that the participants will take home from the festival depends on their openness, professionalism and willingness to help. I am sure that we will be able to form a strong and motivated volunteer corps. This is also a unique experience for activists – the opportunity to represent Russia, work in an international team, and learn mutual understanding and respect for cultures. Such competencies and connections will remain for a long time and will work for the development of international youth cooperation," said Artem Metelev, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Youth Policy, head of the Dobro.rf ecosystem.

Already in May, the main stage of the selection process for volunteers will be an interview. For those who will undergo it, in the summer, on the basis of 28 Centers for training and attracting the IFY-2026 volunteers in 23 regions of Russia, training in the basics and general information about the assistance will be organized at the Festival.

"Among the applicants to the volunteer corps of the International Festival of Youth there are experienced volunteers and newcomers. For example, Alexander Gromov from Vologda is a real record holder with more than 12,000 hours of volunteer experience. It is not only young people who want to become the IFY-2026 volunteers – there are more than 680 silver (over the age of 55) volunteers among those who want to join the volunteer corps. I am pleased that the desire to help organize the largest international youth event unites volunteers of different ages and generations of our country," said Dmitry Ivanov, Director General of the World Youth Festival Directorate.

Among the volunteers who applied to participate in the International Festival of Youth is Diana Saipudinova from the Sverdlovsk Region. She participated as a volunteer in Sochi at the World Youth Festival in 2024, and last year at the WYF Assembly in Nizhny Novgorod.

"Working with foreigners allows you to upgrade different skills, gain new experience, and make friends. Now I'm looking forward to the Festival and I hope to become a participant. I am very glad that my hometown will be a meeting place for young people from all over the world. Both I and all the guys from the Sverdlovsk Region who applied are looking forward to showing the whole world the beauty of Ekaterinburg and the beauty of our entire Homeland," said Diana Saipidinova, a volunteer from the Sverdlovsk Region.

Overview:

The World Youth Festival took place on March 1–7, 2024 at “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, 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.