The International Festival of Youth brand was presented on June 6, as part of the Youth Day programme at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF 2026). The Festival will take place in Ekaterinburg on September 11–17, 2026, bringing together 10,000 participants from 190 countries. The Brand Book for the largest international youth event of 2026 was presented by Grigory Gurov, Head of the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs (Rosmolodezh).

“The International Festival of Youth brand reflects its core idea: bringing together young people from all over the world around the values of friendship, cooperation, personal growth, and the pursuit of dreams. The slogan, ‘Follow Your Dream,’ is addressed to every participant. Russia and the IFY are a space of opportunities where young people can find like-minded peers, gain support for their projects, and take another step toward turning their boldest ideas into reality,” said Grigory Gurov, Head of Rosmolodezh.

The logo design draws inspiration from the WYF-2024 symbol, a stylized circle of people holding hands. The circle represents the unity of nations, cultures, and traditions, as well as a commitment to mutual understanding and respect for each individual’s uniqueness. At the same time, the circle remains open, symbolizing inclusiveness and inviting everyone to become part of a living intercultural dialogue.

The Festival color scheme is built around four primary colors — yellow, green, purple, and pink — each representing a distinct mode of communication. Yellow symbolizes momentum and serves as the color of new beginnings, announcements, promos, and the vibrant “Welcome” message. Green represents the path. It is the most pragmatic color and is used for navigation, schedules, and routes, becoming the primary guide throughout the event. Purple reflects scale and internationality, accompanying stages, official events, and plenary sessions. Pink symbolizes emotion and is dedicated to people, culture, and dynamic social media content. Together, these four colors create the image of a lively discussion in which momentum creates a path, scale emphasizes significance, and genuine emotion brings everything to life.

Grigory Gurov also noted that the International Festival of Youth 2026 will feature a set of distinctive symbols. The central IFY – 2026 symbol is a lighthouse, representing light, kindness, hope, and new opportunities. Within the Festival concept, the lighthouse serves as a point of attraction for young leaders from around the world, a meeting place for dialogue, cooperation, and the search for solutions to modern challenges. In this concept, Russia is presented as a space for development, mutual respect, and an aspiration for a just future. The lighthouse has been chosen as a symbol of the entire Festival community, bringing together young people from different countries around common goals.

The bear and the sable have also been selected as IFY – 2026 symbols, linking the Festival both to Russia and to Ekaterinburg. Both animals appear on the coat of arms of the Ural capital and highlight the connection between the event and its host region while remaining widely recognized symbols of Russia's nature and cultural code.

A separate part of the brand is dedicated to people, the main characters of the Festival. Illustrations of participants looking in the same direction symbolize young people from different countries, cultures, and communities who share a common path toward new opportunities, joint development, and a future without borders. The diversity of the characters underscores the international nature of the Festival and its commitment to bringing people together regardless of their nationality, language, or worldview.

During the presentation of the Brand Book, participants also watched a video message from Ekaterinburg. Representatives of youth and volunteer organizations spoke about the region’s preparations to welcome participants from around the world and emphasized that the Ural capital is ready to become a space for intercultural dialogue, new ideas, and international cooperation.

The event also featured the first presentation of the Festival regional mascot, a sable cub inspired by the white sable depicted on the coat of arms of the Sverdlovsk Region. The mascot embodies energy, openness, curiosity, and a drive for development, reflecting both the character of Ural youth and the spirit of the upcoming Festival. A naming contest was also launched. Residents of the Sverdlovsk Region will be able to submit their suggestions through a dedicated form available on regional information platforms.

Overview:

The World Youth Festival took place in Sirius on March 1-7, 2024, 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 line with the Russian President’s instructions to preserve and further develop the legacy of the World Youth Festival, festival events are now held annually across the Russian Federation. In 2025, the World Youth Festival Assembly was held in Nizhny Novgorod, bringing together 2,000 young people from 120 countries. In 2026, the International Festival of Youth will welcome 10,000 participants. The next World Youth Festival for 20,000 participants will take place in 2030.

The World Youth Festival Directorate continues its work to strengthen international youth cooperation and develop a global community of young people committed to shaping a better future.