International Youth Forum 2025 to Take Place in Nizhny Novgorod
November 29, the closing day of the WYF Alumni Global Congress, revealed the results of the International Youth Forum Co-Host City Contest and the participants of the regional programme.
“As a result of the Contest, conducted by Rosmolodezh together with the World Youth Festival Directorate, Nizhny Novgorod was chosen as the venue for the International Youth Forum in September 2025. It will be part of direct legacy of the WYF and will bring together representatives of the younger generation from across the world. It will feature 2,000 young leaders from completely different fields: science and volunteering, sports and culture, politics and business, and many other. They will discuss current activities, joint plans and projects. The Forum will once again confirm that it is young people who define the future of a fair multipolar world,” said Grigory Gurov, Head of Rosmolodezh.
As part of the online stage, the Youth Expert Council, consisting of leaders of International Friendship Clubs, determined three finalists in the “Co-Host City” nomination. They assessed the regions’ infrastructure, experience in organizing major international events, unique cultural code and other regional features.
The second stage took place as part of the closing ceremony of the WYF Alumni Global Congress. The finalists presented their cities to 150 representatives of Russian and foreign youth.
“The first stage of the Contest revealed three finalists: Nizhny Novgorod, Tula and Vladivostok. However, where the IYF-2025 will be held is up to the young people to decide. It was Russian and foreign alumni of the World Youth Festival who took part in determining the winner. They voted for the most successful presentation and played an important role in choosing the International Youth Forum Co-Host City, which will host the first international event as part of the work on the preservation and development of the Festival legacy,” said Daniil Bisslinger, Advisor on International Affairs to the Head of Rosmolodezh, Director General of the World Youth Festival Directorate.
After the votes had been counted, the Presidium of the Youth Expert Council announced the winner: the International Youth Forum 2025 will be held in Nizhny Novgorod. Let us remind you that it was this city – the youth capital of Russia 2023 – where the registration for the WYF-2024 was launched.
“The International Youth Forum promises to become a significant event of global scale, it will bring together young people from different countries. The Forum will give an opportunity to share experience, discuss global issues and establish new connections among young leaders. Participants will also have a chance to get to know Nizhny Novgorod and the region, fall in love with Russia, its history and traditions. The Forum will carry on the traditions of the World Youth Festival and will become an important stage in the development of the region's international activities,” said Gleb Nikitin, Governor of the Nizhny Novgorod Region.
“In our region, we like to open up new horizons and move only forward. Nizhny has got everything it takes to successfully host the International Youth Forum: developed infrastructure, rich cultural heritage, unique natural sites. We have experience in holding events of both all-Russian and international level, that is why we will be looking forward to seeing all guests in our city, where one can feel life. Hosting the International Forum in Nizhny will open up new opportunities for the development of international cooperation. We are sure that this Forum will leave unforgettable impressions for all its participants and guests,” shared Svetlana Anufrieva, Minister of Youth Policy of Nizhny Novgorod Region.
As part of the “Regional Programme” nomination, the Youth Expert Council selected 10 subjects of Russia to host the regional programme. The winners are: the Ivanovo, Omsk, Yaroslavl, Sakhalin, Chelyabinsk Regions, the Republics of Mordovia, Khakassia, Chechnya, Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Area and St. Petersburg.
The closing ceremony also featured the award ceremony for the most active participants of the WYF Alumni Global Congress. Stanislav Surovtsev, MGIMO Vice-Rector for Youth Policy, Social Work and International Relations, addressed the outstanding youth representatives of the “Education and Career” track with words of congratulations. As part of the “Neurotechnologies and Artificial Intelligence” nomination, the awards were presented by Alexander Chebotarev, Chief Managing Director of VEB.RF. Kirill Bogomolov, Deputy Head of the Rossotrudnichestvo Federal Agency, awarded the “International Youth Diplomacy” track participants. The activists of the “Student Entrepreneurship” nomination were congratulated by Dmitry Litvin, Director of the Rosmolodezh.Business track, and the best students of the “New Media Laboratory” track were honored by Maria Zakharova, Director of the Information and Press Department of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“Alumni of the World Youth Festival have become real guides of the youth movement around the world. Despite intimidation, “bad weather”, sanction barriers, logistical obstacles, you come to Russia and create a real fabric of friendship, peace and cooperation. We should speak about it from the bottom of our hearts. I feel proud and grateful for the fact that you care about our country's position and that you are willing to listen to Russia's ideas and share them with your peers abroad. You are making an invaluable contribution to the international youth agenda,” said Maria Zakharova.
Commemorative medals of the World Youth Festival were awarded to representatives of the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN), MGIMO University, Ministry of Education and Science of Russia, the Council of Young Diplomats of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia and the Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Fund. They took an active part in the preparation and organization of the WYF-2024.
The WYF Alumni Global Congress is organized by the Directorate of the World Youth Festival, the MGIMO University of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, RUDN International Youth Center supported by Rosmolodezh, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia.
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.
On the instructions of the President of the Russian Federation, the WYF will be held in Russia on a regular basis – once in six years. Also, every six years 10,000 young people from all over the world will get together at the International Youth Festival, and in between, international themed gatherings and events will be held under the auspices of the WYF. Festival events of various formats will be held in Russia annually.
According to the instructions of the President of the Russian Federation on the preservation and development of the Festival legacy, the World Youth Festival Directorate continues work aimed at strengthening international youth cooperation.