From September 11 to 17, 2026, Ekaterinburg will become the City of the World’s Youth. The International Festival of Youth, hosted in the capital of the Urals, will bring together 10,000 young leaders from Russia and abroad. The first thousand successful applicants have already received their long-awaited invitations from the organizers.

"Our experts are conducting extensive analytical work to review the applications. In a highly competitive environment, we will select 10,000 of the strongest submissions, with 5,000 from each category. The key evaluation criteria include professional expertise, achievements, and the presence of successfully implemented projects in one of the following eight areas: public administration; media; science and education; entrepreneurship; digitalization and IT; creative industries, culture, and the arts; civic engagement; and sports and health. We also consider the candidate's motivation to promote international cooperation and intercultural exchange," said Dmitry Ivanov, Director General of the World Youth Festival Directorate.

The application campaign for the IFY – 2026 lasted four months and concluded on May 31. In total, the organizers received 113,000 applications from 191 countries. For the first time in the history of the Festivals, more than 30,000 applications were submitted by foreign nationals, compared to nearly 72,000 from Russian citizens. Of these, only 4,000 came from foreigners residing in Russia, with the vast majority originating from abroad.

"I have always dreamed of participating in the Festival because it is not only an opportunity to present myself but also to represent my country. As the head of the international youth conference ‘Russia and Mongolia: Youth movement,’ I see this as a great honor and a valuable chance to develop my project, meet like-minded people, find new partners, and gain insights from experienced professionals. I look forward to connecting with participants from different countries, exchanging ideas, discussing future projects, and discovering new opportunities for cooperation. I would also love to visit Ekaterinburg, especially to learn more about the Ural Federal University and its international community, as many Mongolian students study there and have strong connections with the university. I hope to meet local representatives, explore the city, and experience its culture and inspiring atmosphere," said Zolgerel Ochgerel, an engineer, EdTech blogger, and a participant of the IFY – 2026 from Mongolia.

Applications from Russian participants were received from all 89 regions of Russia, as well as from the federal territory of Sirius and Baikonur. Approximately 550 compatriots residing abroad expressed their desire to take part in the Festival.

"I work at the intersection of business and IT, so I am particularly interested in new contacts, joint projects, and dialogue with young people from other countries. It is fascinating to discuss how their initiatives are evolving and how they engage with government institutions. I have visited Ekaterinburg before, and I appreciate its business-friendly atmosphere and hospitality. During the Festival, I am confident that it will reveal itself in a unique way as a space for ideas, communication, and new opportunities. I want to showcase Russia as a country of opportunity and strong young people, and to share information about the development of technology, support for initiatives, and real projects that are being created in our region. It is important to convey that ideas do not remain just words, but are transformed into tangible results," said Vladimir Kurzakov, Head of the Robotics Group at an IT company and a participant of the IFY – 2026 from the Chelyabinsk Region.

The selection process for both Russian and foreign participants is conducted through an open competition. The decision to issue invitations is made by the experts of the Competition Commission of the World Youth Festival Directorate, who evaluate the personal qualities of the applicants.

Applications from participants permanently residing in Russia are assessed by specially established Regional Competition Commissions (RCC). These commissions include experts in youth policy and international relations, representatives of the Chamber of Young Legislators under the Federation Council, and specialists in the eight thematic areas represented by Festival participants.

However, it is the Directorate that approves the final list of participants from each region, after which it forwards the lists to the relevant regional authorities for delegation formation.

To evaluate the applications of foreign participants, the Directorate relies on the expertise of its numerous international partner organizations.

This approach ensures transparency, as the selection of delegates is based on demonstrated competence and motivation.

What the Experts Evaluate

When submitting an application, the participants went through two competitive stages.

The first stage involved writing an extended essay. In addition to standard biographical information, applicants were required to describe their professional and personal achievements in detail, present projects that have already been implemented or are currently in development, justify their potential contribution to the advancement of international youth cooperation, and clearly articulate their personal motivation for building connections with other participants.

"The most challenging part was expressing my personal story in an authentic way while also showing my professional experience. I wanted the selection committee to understand not only what I have done, but also why international cooperation and youth dialogue are so important to me. For the essay, I reflected on my experiences in public policy, youth participation, and international relations. For the video, I focused on speaking naturally and showing my genuine motivation rather than trying to deliver a perfect speech. I prepared carefully for both stages, and I believe that sincerity made the difference,” said Juan Ignacio Moyano, an Argentine participant and Director of Public Relations at the Victoria Foundation’s Observatory of International Relations.

The second stage focused on creating a video introduction. In this format, participants were required to present themselves and their initiatives clearly and coherently, and—most importantly—to convincingly demonstrate their suitability for the Festival. The challenge was not merely to introduce oneself, but to genuinely inspire the expert reviewing the submission. Experts assessed sincerity, leadership potential, the quality of ideas, the ability to effectively communicate the substance of one’s initiatives, and a demonstrated genuine interest in participating in a global international youth event.

"The video business card required the most effort. The essay came together quickly: I systematically organized my thoughts and transferred them into the text—the main thing was to stay within the limit while preserving the meaning. But for the video, I had to choose the right lighting and arrange the shooting after the workday, so the process took more time. My colleagues and I submitted our applications together, and when one of them wrote that she had passed the selection, I immediately checked my personal account. With great excitement, I opened the results and saw that my application had also been accepted. It was a moment of great joy, although I still felt a bit of nervousness until the confirmation came through," said Jamilya Gergova from the Karachay-Cherkess Republic.

The selection process is scheduled to conclude in early August, by which time the final 10,000 participants will have received their invitations. The first 1,000 notifications have already been sent out.

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.