From September 11 to 17, the International Festival of Youth will take place in Ekaterinburg, bringing together 10,000 young professionals from 190 countries across eight distinct fields – from creative industries and media to public administration, IT, science, and education. The central trade and exhibition platform of the event will be the Art.Molodost International Design and Merch Market, organized by Tavrida.ART in partnership with the International Youth Information Agency. Designers, manufacturers, artists, authors, and organizations that produce their own souvenirs and merchandise are invited to participate. Applications are open on the website through July 31. The market will operate from September 13 to 16.
“Last year, the Created by the Youth Market was held during the World Youth Festival Assembly. The young entrepreneurs across the country presented their products for 2,000 participants. This year, the Art.Molodost International Market will take place as part of the International Festival of Youth for the first time. Young entrepreneurs and manufacturers from abroad, along with members of the Rosmolodezh.Undertake community and regional teams, will showcase their offerings. The Created by the Youth market will be integrated into the Art.Molodost market, expanding the platform for young designers and entrepreneurs to include 200 participants. For young business owners, this represents an opportunity to present their products, forge new partnerships, broaden their audience, and access international markets,” said Grigory Gurov, Head of the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs (Rosmolodezh).
The Art.Molodost International Design and Merch Market will bring together local and well-known Russian manufactures, young creators, cultural institutions, as well as regional exhibits and pavilions from the participating countries. Young designers, local and foreign manufacturers, will have the chance to display their work, build their reputations, and exchange insights with design and fashion professionals from around the world.
To apply for participation, candidates must complete an application on the official website by July 31, present their product, and submit the required documentation.
Eligible applicants include creators of clothing, accessories, interior items, printed materials, souvenirs, perfumes, cosmetics, and textiles. Authors and manufacturers who successfully pass the selection process will have the opportunity to present their goods in dedicated pavilions within the international market, pursue long-term collaborations with the Art.Molodost brand, and take part in special projects.
The program of the Art.Molodost market will feature a number of signature events, including a gathering for professionals in branded product development and sales—the Merch.Conference. The business agenda includes lectures and open discussions with leading experts from both the Russian and global markets, along with conversations on current trends and critical issues in design.
A key highlight will be the Merch.Awards ceremony, recognizing winners in ten categories, ranging from designers and design teams creating branded products in areas such as eco-friendly goods, corporate merchandise, culturally inspired items, and products rooted in national identity. A special nomination will be awarded for the best international project. Additionally, guests of the International Festival of Youth will have the opportunity to visit the Merch Museum – an exhibition exploring the nation’s history and culture through the lens of corporate, event, and industry-specific merchandise.
For more information about the Art.Molodost International Design and Merch Market and to submit an application, please visit the official website.
The International Festival of Youth, along with the Tavrida.ART initiatives (a Rosmolodezh project), is supported by the Youth and Children national project.
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.