From September 11 to 17, the International Festival of Youth 2026 (IFY – 2026) will take place in Ekaterinburg, bringing together 10,000 participants from 191 countries. It will serve as a platform for dialogue among young leaders, experience exchange, and a search for like-minded peers. The Festival’s cultural program, Youth in Culture, operated by Tavrida.ART, covers music, literature, theatre, visual and folk art, food, and spectacular formats. Every day of the Festival will be filled with events and opportunities to explore the culture of Russia and participating nations. IFY – 2026 is implemented as part of the Youth and Children national project.
Every participant of the International Festival of Youth will begin their journey into the traditions of different peoples at the World Cultures District, supported by the Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives. The venue will be located on the campus of Ural Federal University, where participants and volunteers of IFY – 2026 will stay.
Five thematic zones will represent five world macro-regions: Asia, Africa, Europe, America, and the Middle East. "This is a space where the image of our shared multipolar future is being shaped – open, fair, and full of opportunities for everyone," notes Tavrida.ART. "The world is united in its diversity, and the art of being together is the main value."
The thematic space of each macro-region will bring its own unique flavor. The Asia zone will host a parade of traditional dragons, immersive performances, and a karaoke party with K-pop groups. Africa will feature drum shows, folk games, and master classes in traditional dances. The Middle East zone will immerse participants in the atmosphere of Eastern music and poetry, with the "Caravan of Hope" procession and the musical tale "1001 Nights." The America zone will be a fiesta, with a carnival flash mob, a dance marathon, and samba master classes. The diversity of Russian culture – songs with accordion, Cossack festivities, and folk instruments – will be presented in the Europe macro-region. In total, over 100 activities are planned.
The cultural route continues at the International Exhibition of Young Artists, supported by the Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives. Guests will be immersed in the world of visual art: 150 artists from across Russia and 98 other countries will present their works. "The main goal of the exhibition is to give young artists an opportunity to make themselves known, to share their experiences and their view of the world around them," said Irina Kizilova, a young artist from Novocherkassk, whose paintings will be exhibited at the Festival. "Art allows people to find common ground despite cultural differences and language barriers, as many artists are united by similar themes, such as home, family, memories, and a connection to their native places."
The starting point of the exposition will be three iconic works of 20th-century Russian painting: "Girls on a Day Off" by Alexander Deineka, "Chukotka Spring" by Andrey Yakovlev, and "Silence" by Alexander Laktionov. The gallery will continue with works by young Russian and foreign artists – 1,000 pieces of painting and graphics showcasing national traditions, native landscapes, and everyday scenes from the artists' lives.
"It is a great honor for me to represent India at the International Festival of Youth and to showcase my country through art," noted Ananya Kalra, an artist from Delhi. "The paintings I am bringing are distinguished by detailed and meticulous work – that is my artistic style. It is inspired by Indian art, patterns, and traditional clothing, which is known for its intricate beauty. I would advise visitors to take their time and carefully examine the details to immerse themselves in the history, culture, and meanings conveyed on the canvas."
Traditional art at the exhibition will coexist with digital art. In one of the halls, visitors will create works using artificial intelligence, with images appearing in real time on a "living canvas." The exposition will conclude with a virtual reality hall, where Festival guests can explore the most remote and beautiful places on the planet – from Easter Island and Machu Picchu to the monasteries of Bhutan.
Another cultural highlight at the Festival venue will be the Russian Literature Book Fair – a major exhibition of books by Russian authors translated into 10 European and Asian languages. "Russian literature is alive, polyphonic, and incredibly generous, and our classic authors speak to the world in many different languages," notes Tavrida.ART. "That is why the fair brings together classics, children's books, and books about Russian traditions, history, and culture. It is important to us that our guests do not just buy books, but can make them part of their own story.»
As part of the fair, a large-scale campaign "From Russia, with Love!" will take place. Volunteers from across the country have collected editions of Russian classical literature so that every participant at the Festival can receive a book with a commemorative inscription and warm wishes. The fairgrounds will also be decorated with three-meter art objects in the form of busts of Leo Tolstoy and Fyodor Dostoevsky.
The the Tastes of the World Food and Drink Festival, supported by the Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives, will present dishes that have become gastronomic and tourist calling cards of Russia – from the Baltic to the Far East – as well as from around the world. A team of 100 chefs will prepare 20,000 free tasting portions for guests.
Syrian falafel will be served with Altai teerpek flatbreads, Belarusian draniki (potato pancakes) alongside sugudai made from Lena River whitefish, and Chinese jiaozi with Siberian pelmeni. Mobile Russian stoves will bake Udmurt perepechi, Ural shangi, and Mari koman-melna pancakes. Guests will also try Dagestani chudu, Far Eastern chebureki filled with Kamchatka crab, taiga-style solyanka, and dozens of other dishes.
One of the festival participants is Ekaterina Mun from the Murmansk Region. She began her professional career as a waitress, and today she has over 20 years in the restaurant business and her own enterprise – a mobile Arctic cuisine network.
"We are bringing to the festival a Russian loaf – two slices of airy potato bread, fried until crispy. For our country, bread is more than just food. It has always been part of our culture, history, and family dinner. We decided to rethink this tradition and add fillings, each reflecting its own region – from the Arctic to Vladivostok. Through them, we want to show how diverse and rich Russia can be. Each region has its own flavor, and together they make up one big gastronomic story of our country," noted Ekaterina.
In the evenings, participants will enjoy a musical program: every day, popular and young artists, national ensembles and orchestras, DJs and jazzmen will perform on the main stage. The Hospitable Russia show will introduce guests to Russian culture and pose the question "Russia is...?", offering a new answer in each episode. The Each of Us ethno-folk show will bring together artists from Russia, China, India, Iran, Brazil, South Africa, Belarus, and other countries. Despite different languages and nationalities, they will all be united by common values: love, family, friendship, and respect for one another. The dialogue between traditions and innovation in Russian art will be showcased in the From Heritage to the Future show, while the The Challenge show will turn the stage into a living comic book about heroes of our time, whose superpower is not supernatural abilities, but character, values, and choices.
"Music is something incredible to me. Whether you are happy or sad, whether you are on a journey of discovery or despair — in every situation, it has the power to brighten your world," said Daniil Kolotushkin, a combat veteran who lost both legs but learned to walk on prosthetics to return to the stage and continue his musical career. His story and original material will be featured in the The Challenge show. "The song that Festival participants will hear is about how, no matter the circumstances, you cannot let fear get the better of you — because you are not alone."
The opening and closing ceremonies of IFY – 2026 will be the key events of the Festival. The official start will be given by the All Roads Lead to the City of World Youth! theatrical show – the stage will transform into a huge transport hub. Trains, boats, cars, and planes will deliver delegations from Asia, Africa, the Middle East, America, Europe, and Russian regions to Ekaterinburg. Each region will be represented through music, choreography, symbolism, mascots, and famous compatriots – from writers to cosmonauts. The culmination will be a performance by Tatyana Kurtukova with the song "Mother Earth" – participants will unite under the 191 flags of the IFY – 2026 participating countries.
The Festival's closing event will be the Voices of the World Youth ceremony – a musical show bringing together a choir, orchestra, and Russian and international artists. The Russian national anthem will be performed by the Sretensky Monastery Choir, and Russian folk songs "Oh, It Is Not Evening Yet," "The Horse," "Katyusha," and "Kalinka" will take on a new sound in contemporary arrangements by Anton Belyaev and the band Therr Maitz. In addition, Festival guests will see a classical ballet etude set to "Night Watch" by Uma2rman, and the show's main composition will be "The Beautiful Afar" performed in different languages by a thousand-voice choir from children's art schools of the Sverdlovsk Region.
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.
Tavrida.ART ANO develops the Tavrida art cluster – a platform of opportunities for young cultural and arts professionals, which includes the Meganon Summer Schools of the Academy of Creative Industries, the Tavrida.ART Festival of Young Art, a federal network of art residencies, and other projects. Events of the art cluster are part of the Russia – the Country of Opportunities federal project under the Youth and Children national project and have been held since 2015.