A partnership agreement was signed at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF 2026). The document was signed by Dmitry Ivanov, Director General of the World Youth Festival Directorate, and Alexey Goreslavsky, Director General of the Institute of Internet Development (IRI).

“Cooperation with the IRI provides an opportunity to significantly strengthen the content dimension of our international youth events. The IRI has unique expertise in modern communications and content. Due to its competencies, we can enrich our events with meanings that resonate with young audiences,” said Dmitry Ivanov, Director General of the World Youth Festival Directorate.

The partnership provides for long-term cooperation in youth policy, including the development of international youth projects aimed at promoting an objective image of Russia.

“The IRI's mission is to support stories that appeal to young people. With our support, a wide range of projects is being produced, including TV series, blogger shows, documentaries, and games. We consistently work to ensure that as many people as possible gain access to projects on topics that matter to them. This agreement with the International Festival of Youth 2026 will help bring our projects to young audiences across different countries, which is especially important today,” said Alexey Goreslavsky, Director General of the Institute of Internet Development.

The agreement includes the organization and holding of joint events, exchange of methodological guidelines and reference documents, as well as advisory, expert, and informational support.

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.