As part of the International Festival of Youth – 2026 in Ekaterinburg, participants in the Children’s Program of the Movement of the First took part in the unique Night at EXPO tour. Teenagers aged 14 to 17 years explored the booths of leading Russian companies and their projects. The exhibition “Catastrophe of Memory. Neo-Nazism in the 21st Century” held a special place at the event.

“We provided the participants of our Children’s Program with a unique opportunity to visit the exhibitions located across all three halls of the international exhibition center during the final days of the Festival. During the Night at EXPO tour, the young visitors learned about the achievements of leading Russian companies, which presented their exhibits across seven theme areas. The exhibition dedicated to neo-Nazism in the 21st century received special attention,” said Artur Orlov, Hero of Russia, graduate of the presidential personnel program “Time of Heroes” and Chairman of the Board of the Movement of the First.

He added that the teenagers took part in a special interactive experience designed to help them see the truth with their own eyes. He also expressed confidence that every participant appreciated the scale of the exhibition showcasing Russia’s achievements.

The exhibition “Catastrophe of Memory. Neo-Nazism in the 21st Century” organized by the Museum of Contemporary History of Russia, addresses the disturbing resurgence of radical ideologies in the modern world and demonstrates the continuity between Nazi crimes of the past and the present. Materials were collected from Russian museums and archives, news agencies, as well as from the special military operation zone. Some of the exhibits were personally handed over by Yana Lantratova, Russia’s Human Rights Commissioner.

The exhibition is structured as a sequential historical journey devoted to the topic. Its opening section is dedicated to the liberation of Europe from fascism and features footage from the Nuremberg Trials, video materials, displays showcasing postage stamps issued by foreign states commemorating the Anti-Hitler coalition, as well as physical evidence of Nazi crimes during World War II. The curators trace a clear line from the post-war period and the Cold War era to contemporary manifestations of neo-Nazism. This transition is explored through multimedia materials demonstrating the spread of radical ideology in different countries.

The final sections of the exhibition have a particularly strong emotional impact, featuring neo-Nazi and nationalist literature distributed in Ukraine and a number of other countries, items from the special military operation zone, the Anti-Fascist Forum installation and the Alley of Angels memorial dedicated to children who died in Donbass. Among the most heartbreaking exhibits is a branding iron brought from the Kursk Region that had been used to leave marks on Russian servicemen and local residents. This section also features shackles, handcuffs, a drill, and a skipping rope from the so-called Mariupol Library, where people were tortured.

The teenagers were guided along the routes by professional tour guides from the Sense-Making Facilitators’ community and winners of the Young Tour Guides School project, part of More Than Trip program by Rosmolodezh. They helped the teenagers reflect on what they had seen and draw connections between historical events and modern challenges.

“The mission of Sense-Making Facilitators at the Festival is not just to present the exhibition, but also to help young people reflect on what they saw and draw connections between history and the present day. This was particularly important at the “Catastrophe of Memory” exhibition, where we had to discuss hard topics with teenagers. To accommodate such a large number of groups throughout the exhibition, the guides kept to parallel routes. Around 40 Sense-Making Facilitators conducted yesterday’s tours, including eight young tour guides who shared their knowledge of Russia’s history, culture, scientific achievements, and technological development with their peers. All of them sought to help every teenager appreciate the importance of preserving historical memory, taking personal responsibility for the world around us, and being proud of Russia,” Olesya Brykova, CEO of the ANO More Than Trip shared.

The young visitors were not mere spectators. After viewing the exhibition, each teenager could express their frustration with neo-Nazism by placing an open palm on a special screen as a personal protest against its resurgence. This simple yet powerful gesture became a symbol of solidarity among young people from different countries in defending historical memory and human dignity. By the end of the tour, around 1,400 people voted against the resurgence of neo-Nazism.

Deputy Director of the Museum of Contemporary History of Russia Yury Bykadorov noted that the exhibition was highly popular among the young people, including international participants.

“For many foreign visitors, the material presented here was a genuine revelation. Many had never heard that signs of the resurgence of Nazism are no longer isolated phenomena but a global problem. We sought to present this material in a way that would serve as an antidote to the Brown Plague for all Festival participants. When people see seemingly bright and spectacular marches, they should understand that they can be rooted in dramatic events, including those that result in loss of life,” the museum representative said.

Speaking about the teenagers’ tour, Yury Bykadorov noted that despite the hard subject and the disturbing nature of the presented evidence, the exhibition served as a vivid illustration of the history the teenagers learn from their textbooks. He recalled that he belonged to a generation that knew the veterans of the Great Patriotic War. They never spoke about what they had experienced, but textbooks, films, and personal family stories made it clear what they had endured and how much they struggled for the victory.

“My grandfathers immediately began rebuilding cities after the war, even though they themselves were children who had experienced hunger and ruin. The exhibition sends an important message to young people. It helps them understand how careless words and seemingly insignificant actions can lead to tragic consequences. It shows how Nazism, initially hiding behind positive slogans, in the end began calling for the destruction of certain nations and religions,” he concluded.

According to Thakur Rudra Pratap Singh, a Festival participant from India, the organizers accurately demonstrated why the issue of neo-Nazism was particularly acute today, in the 21st century. He described the exhibition as a very important message.

“It is crucial for the young people who have come to the Festival to see the situation through real human stories and not just through official statements. What was presented here was not abstract material, but things based on personal experiences, on what happened on the ground, and on things that should never have happened,” the Indian participant thinks.

Thakur Rudra Pratap Singh added that the exhibition does more than inform. It serves as a warning. Combating neo-Nazism, terrorism, and racism is not a vague task but an urgent necessity.

“We all want to live in a better world, and to achieve this, we need cooperation. For participants from more than 190 countries who have gathered at the Festival, this perspective is particularly valuable. It unites us around a common goal to make the world safer and more just,” he said.

Festival participant Tsolbon Khoshbileg from Mongolia also shared his thoughts about the exhibition. He admitted that the exhibition makes a very strong impression.

“It is amazing that in such a short time they were able to tell us such a complex and moving story – and not simply tell it, but make us think about the world around us and the importance of thinking about others and not just about ourselves. We young people often focus on our own problems, while this exhibition helped us see the bigger picture, realize that we live in a fortunate world, and understand how important our own actions are. For me, the main takeaway is that, to ensure that the tragedies described here never happen again, we must first of all learn to listen to one another, try to understand other people’s feelings, and think how they would act if they were us,” the Mongolian representative said.

Tsolmon Khoshbileg said that the story about a mother who protected her child to the very end struck him the most – it was truly heartbreaking.

“I was also deeply moved by the story of a boy who died before he could celebrate his first birthday. Another thing that impressed me were paper figures of tired brother and sister. There is so much pain and exhaustion in its simplicity that the image will certainly stay in my mind for a long time,” he noted.

Meanwhile, Anass Idoumgar from Morocco said that it was a great honor for him to visit the International Festival of Youth.

“What impressed me most was the history of Russia. It does show the strength of the country and the enormous sacrifices made by its people. It was especially hard to look at the photographs. They showed without any sugar-coating what people had to endure during wars and periods of complete lack of understanding between countries. These images make a powerful, even overwhelming impression. After seeing them, I was almost lost for words, left with a feeling of deep sorrow,” he said.

Anass Idoumgar added that the exhibition made it clear how terrible the consequences of Nazism are.

“I saw historical examples that are truly painful to comprehend. It is so sad that all of these happened, and it makes me want to do everything I can to ensure that nothing like this ever happens again. I see a simple but important path for myself — to live without hatred and racism and to respect every person regardless of their background. I also try to be active on social media, raising human rights issues and speaking about the importance of resolving problems peacefully. Most importantly, you should never choose the path of violence. Conflicts should not be resolved by pulling the trigger, but only through dialogue and mutual understanding,” the representative of Morocco said.

Alexandra Zakharova from Kostroma also shared her thoughts.

“The last sculpture made the strongest impression on me. It carries a very profound meaning – every child is a blank canvas, and it is adults who fill it with their memories and upbringing. I think that as long as we remember our history, a worthy generation will grow. This idea seems to connect the past, the present, and the future,” the Festival participant said.

Alexandra Zakharova said that she learned many new things at the exhibition. She was particularly shaken by the story about a young boy German who was shot at in Belgorod in December.

“I live far from areas of conflict and have never experienced anything like this myself, so hearing about it was incredibly frightening. Every time I hear about tragedies like these, I shudder. It is beyond comprehension that such things can happen to children. I will remember this story for a long time,” Alexandra said.

Overview:

The International Festival of Youth, held as part of the Youth and Children national project, is taking place in Ekaterinburg from September 11 to 17, 2026. The decree establishing the event was signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin on December 29, 2025. The Festival is being held under the motto “Follow Your Dream”.

Participants of the IFY – 2026 include 10,000 young leaders from 191 countries, including 5,000 Russians and 5,000 international citizens. Among them are leading representatives of creative industries and the arts, public administration, science and education, sport, entrepreneurship, media, digitalization and IT, and civic engagement – people who are already shaping the future of their countries and the world. Continuing the successful practice established at the World Youth Festival 2024, those invited include 1,000 teenagers aged 14 to 17 – 500 from Russia and 500 from abroad. The Children's Program is organized by the Movement of the First.

The World Youth Festival took place from March 1 to 7, 2024, in Sirius, in accordance with a decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin, aimed at developing international youth cooperation. The WYF-2024 brought together 20,000 young leaders from 190 countries.

In line with instructions from Russia’s President on preserving and building on the legacy of the World Youth Festival, festival events are now held annually across Russia. The World Youth Festival Directorate continues its work to strengthen international youth cooperation and build a community of young people who care about the future of the world.