On September 16, registration opened for the International Youth Forum 2025 Co-Host City Contest. Applications from Russian regions will be accepted until November 1 on the official website of the World Youth Festival Directorate: https://wyffest.com/contests/2025-iyf-contest
“On the instructions of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, the World Youth Festival will be held in our country on a regular basis. One of the formats which is being implemented as part of the work on the preservation of the post-festival legacy is the International Youth Forum. Every year, 2,000 talented young people from Russia and abroad will get together at this platform to discuss current challenges and opportunities, propose solutions to global and regional problems, and develop joint projects aiming to create a new multipolar world, led by youth. The Forum will take place next year, and we invite all regions of Russia to participate in the contest and become a platform for the development of international youth dialogue”, said Daniil Bisslinger, Advisor on International Affairs to the Head of Rosmolodezh and Director General of the World Youth Festival Directorate.
The contest will feature two categories: “Co-Host City” and “Regional Programme”. The winner of the first category will be the city chosen to be the main venue of the IYF-2025. The selection process will include such factors as regional infrastructure, experience in hosting major events, and cultural identity, i.e., cultural heritage, hospitality programme, natural and cultural landmark. The second category will select 10 Russian regions to host the Regional Programme of the Forum. Candidates will also be required to develop a concept for the Regional Programme, including educational, cultural, informative, and sports components.
All Russia’s regions, regardless of population or location, are eligible to participate in the contest. It will have two stages: during the online assessment of applications, the Youth Expert Council will select 10 regions to host the Regional Programme and three finalists of the “Co-Host City” category. The winner of the competition will be determined during the World Youth Festival Alumni Congress in November 2024. Foreign guests and members of the Presidium of the Youth Expert Council will participate in the voting process.
The International Youth Forum is scheduled to take place in September 2025.
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 the future, the World Youth Festival will become a platform for the development of a permanent international youth movement aimed at creating a just multipolar world. 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 international themed gatherings and events will be held under the auspices of the WYF.
The World Youth Festival is organized by the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs (Rosmolodezh). The WYF-2024 was operated by the World Youth Festival Directorate.
