Volunteers are invited to apply for the volunteer corps of the International Festival of Youth 2026. On December 5th, as part of the #WEARETOGETHER International Award ceremony, the official launch of the application process took place at the International Forum of Civil Engagement. The registration process will take place on the DOBRO.RF platform until March 31st, 2026.

The theatrical dance performance helped the participants of the event to immerse themselves in the history of the festival movement in our country and learn about the important role of volunteers. The performance told about the preparations and events of the World Festival of Youth and Students in 1957, 1985, and 2017, as well as the World Youth Festival 2024 (WYF) volunteer corps and the upcoming World Youth Festival Assembly, which took place in 2025.

"No event for young people can take place without the help of volunteers. On this Volunteer Day, at the international forum #WEARETOGETHER, we are launching the application process for the International Youth Festival volunteer corps, which will be in 2026. The festival will involve 2,000 volunteers from Russia to help organize and run the event. Thanks to their tireless efforts, our guests from abroad will see that Russia is a welcoming and open country, ready for international cooperation," said Grigory Gurov, head of Rosmolodezh.

The IFY-2026 Volunteer Program is open to individuals aged 16 and over with experience in volunteering and community service. Volunteers should be able to speak foreign languages possess effective communication skills, and should also be able to work well in teams.

Dmitry Ivanov, Director General of the World Youth Festival Directorate, noted that Russia has developed one of the strongest volunteer training programs, which has already demonstrated its effectiveness at international events of the highest level.

"In 2026, a large group of volunteers will head to the International Youth Festival, which will bring together 10,000 participants: 5,000 from Russia and 5,000 from abroad. The festival will serve as a unique platform, once again creating an open and honest dialogue of cultures for young leaders from 190 countries around the world. Volunteers will be the main ambassadors of the Festival: with their openness, friendliness, and genuine desire to help, they will make the event comfortable and unforgettable for every participant," said Dmitry Ivanov, Director General of the World Youth Festival Directorate.

The volunteers will assist in 17 different areas. They will create a welcoming and festive atmosphere for guests, handle accreditation and logistics, help medical staff, escort experts, foreign and Russian delegates, provide assistance to participants with limited mobility, provide interpretation and translation, participate in organizing sightseeing programs, generate content for social media, and interact with the media. After the main program concludes, the volunteers will continue to support foreign delegations as part of the IFY-2026 regional program.

"According to sociologists, one in three Russians has participated in a social project at least once as a volunteer, and half of them would like to do so in the future. The International Festival of Youth 2026 presents a great opportunity for those who want to make a difference and become part of a great good deed. Today, we see a growing trend of engagement in volunteering, which unites generations and becomes an integral part of our lifestyle. By taking part in social projects, we can see the tangible results of our efforts, meet wonderful people, enrich our lives with events, and gain inner confidence for the future. The United Nations declared 2026 the International Volunteer Year, and we are launching an international platform Dobro.org to expand the "Dobro Mission" program,” said Artem Metelev.

During the preparation for the Festival, volunteers will attend an interview, face-to-face training sessions, and participate in thematic online meetings. They will become familiar with the upcoming event, the organization's policies, and the program of the Festival.

Overview:

The World Youth Festival took place on March 1–7, 2024 in 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, which took place on the Sirius Federal Territory in 2024 and united 20,000 young people from 190 countries of the world, festival events on the territory of the Russian Federation will be held annually. The next World Youth Festival for 20,000 participants will be held in 2030. In 2026, there will be a smaller event, an International Youth Festival with 10,000 participants. In between, the World Youth Festival’s themed Assemblies will be held annually for 2,000 participants.

The first World Youth Festival Assembly was held in Nizhny Novgorod from September 17 to 21, 2025 and brought together 2,000 young people from 120 countries.

The World Youth Festival Directorate continues the work aimed at strengthening international youth cooperation.