The SHUM Youth Media Development Center, together with the World Youth Festival Directorate, has opened applications to join the media team of the International Festival of Youth, which will take place from September 11 to 17 in Ekaterinburg. Participants will be tasked with creating meaningful content, proposing and implementing creative concepts and ideas, and covering the activities of the International Festival of Youth. Media specialists from Russia aged 18 to 35 can take part. Applications to join the media team of the International Festival of Youth are open via the link until June 21. Applications for the Festival in the "participant" category can be submitted until April 30 on the website wyffest.com.
The International Festival of Youth, which will bring together 10,000 participants, will become part of the World Youth Festival ecosystem events, the first of which was held at "Sirius" in 2024. 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. For example, in September 2025, the World Youth Festival Assembly was held in Nizhny Novgorod, bringing together 2,000 participants.
"The media team of the International Festival of Youth will include 50 young media specialists, journalists, videographers, photographers, producers, scriptwriters, designers – everyone who wants to create content about the Festival, implement their media projects and creative ideas. Members of the media team will be able to gain practical experience, become part of a community, and contribute to organizing one of the largest international events", noted Grigory Gurov, Head of the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs (Rosmolodezh).
Young media team members will fully immerse themselves in the Festival experience to bring their audience an inside look.
"The International Festival of Youth 2026 will become a truly global platform, bringing together 10,000 young people from over 100 countries – 5,000 participants from Russia and 5,000 from abroad. Taking part in the IFY 2026 media team will offer young media specialists not only an opportunity for professional growth but also a chance to contribute to promoting an unbiased image of Russia on the international stage, as well as to shaping a just multipolar world based on the principles of equality and mutual support", noted Dmitry Ivanov, Director General of the World Youth Festival Directorate.
A separate initiative will be the creation of a vertical series – a multi-episode project in a short‑video format dedicated to the Festival's key events and the personal stories of participants, mentors, and organizers. The series will serve as a visual record of the event and a tool for promoting the values that unite young people. It will also help preserve the memory of the Festival in an accessible and highly demanded digital format.
An interactive exhibition "Voices of the Peoples" will be launched – a digital platform showcasing the cultural diversity of participants through video stories about traditions, language, family customs, and identity. Content will be shared in real time, building a living map of cultures and creating a space for open dialogue. The initiative is designed to promote interethnic understanding, challenge stereotypes, and cultivate a lasting appreciation for the cultural heritage of Russia's peoples.
"For young media specialists from across the country, this is a chance to become not just an observer, but a co-organizer of the largest youth event in the country and the world. They will create real‑time content, tell authentic stories through their lenses, and develop visual narratives that reflect Russia's values, culture, and diversity. Through their projects – from interactive exhibitions and podcasts to series and expedition reports – participants will unite cultures, build strong portfolios, and create bridges between regions, countries, and generations", added Tatiana Mandrykina, Head of the SHUM Youth Media Development Center.
Complementing the festival program will be the launch of a travel show about Russian regions – an expedition‑style media project, the first episode of which will be filmed in Ekaterinburg. Participants will act as a film crew, exploring the city through the lens of culture, innovation, and youth initiatives. They will engage with local residents and experts along the way. The project will continue to evolve, presenting the country's regions as spaces of opportunity, self‑realization, and cultural diversity.
The SHUM Center's program at the Festival is aimed at shaping a new generation of media professionals, developing skills for working in the modern digital environment, and creating content that not only informs but also shapes the value agenda. Participation in the Festival will provide an opportunity to engage in real media processes, expand professional connections, and contribute to shaping the image of Russia through authentic stories and youth initiatives.
The program for media volunteers is being implemented as part of the federal project "Russia – the Country of Opportunities" under the national project "Youth and Children," with the support of the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs (Rosmolodezh) and the Government of the Kaliningrad 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.