On April 16, Moscow’s immersive art space Luminar X hosted the World Youth Festival’s Birthday celebration. The event featured the presentation of the WYF Assembly scheduled to take place in Nizhny Novgorod in September 2025 on the instructions of the President. Over 100 foreign and Russian WYF 2024 participants, as well as organizers and partners, launched the application campaign for the Assembly.
The celebration began with the interactive installation “Windows of the World” symbolizing windows from different countries. Thanks to the World Youth Festival, the walls between these windows disappear, uniting youth globally.
“The World Youth Festival has greatly promoted international youth cooperation. By 2030, international events in our country will have brought together over 38,000 young people from around the world as part of the 'Russia in the World' federal project under the national project 'Youth and Children’, launched at the initiative of Russian President Vladimir Putin. We plan to host WYF assemblies and forums alongside the Festival itself. Today, Russia’s experience in youth policy draws international attention, and we are ready to share this experience, strengthening Russia’s leading position in this important field”, saidGrigory Gurov, Head of Rosmolodezh.
Over 300 partners across the country made the World Youth Festival possible. Dmitry Ivanov, Director General of the World Youth Festival Directorate, awarded them with commemorative medals “World Youth Festival 2024” issued on the instructions of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Representatives from Aeroflot, Russian Post, Rossotrudnichestvo, Rosseti, Sibur, Promsvyazbank, Soyuzmultfilm, and RT were awarded for their contribution to the WYF 2024.
“The World Youth Festival has become a new milestone in the development of a global youth community aimed at consolidation together with Russia. The Festival’s success and the further intensification of international youth cooperation resulted from teamwork between organizers and over 300 partners across the country. I express my gratitude to all those who contributed to it, making this event truly unforgettable. We have got many more events ahead of us that will unite young leaders from different countries in Russia and further strengthen ties among youth, who hold our shared future in their hands. This year will feature the WYF Assembly, a major international event, co-created by young people themselves and partners across various economic sectors”, stated Dmitry Ivanov, Director General of the World Youth Festival Directorate.
The central idea of the celebration was “We Are the Youth of the World”: Russia opens its doors for international youth inviting everyone to join new events, with the World Youth Festival Assembly as the key one. On September 17–21, it will bring together 2,000 young people: 1,000 from Russia and 1,000 from abroad, including 200 children. Two hundred volunteers from across the country will assist in organizing the event.
“The Nizhny Novgorod Region is getting ready to host the World Youth Festival Assembly this September. This event will mark a significant stage in the development of international youth cooperation, uniting young leaders from different countries and fields. Our region was the first to receive the ‘Youth Capital' status and will now be the first to host the World Youth Festival Assembly. We have a rich history, unique landmarks, and we will show participants the real Russia through our hospitality, cultural heritage, modern technology, and picturesque landscapes. I am confident this will strengthen friendly ties and open up new opportunities for youth”, noted Oleg Berkovich, Deputy Governor of the Nizhny Novgorod Region.
The event presentation allowed foreign and Russian WYF 2024 participants and Directorate partners to dive into the atmosphere of the World Youth Festival Assembly, centered around the “Russia Brings Warmth” concept. It showcases Russia as a hub of friendship and cooperation, creating a warm atmosphere for building international connections, fostering partnerships in youth projects, warming hearts and inspiring great achievements.
The Assembly programme focuses on seven thematic tracks: education, culture, support from business, sport, history, media, and traditions. The business programme will feature unique formats designed together with participants, volunteers, and partners, including immersive shows, workshops, masterclasses, and discussion battles on pressing youth-related issues. Participants will also enjoy bonding events, such as creating the world’s largest painting, an international gastronomy picnic, and Russian winter sports.
The highlight of the evening was the World Youth Festival Assembly application campaign launch for participants and volunteers. It was announced by Kirill Litvinov, Aide to the Head of the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs (Rosmolodezh), Dmitry Ivanov, Director General of the WYF Directorate, Alexander Alimov, Director of the Department for Multilateral Humanitarian Cooperation and Cultural Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, and Artem Metelev, Chairman of the “DOBRO.RF” Association and Chairman of the State Duma Committee of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on Youth Policy. The first application was submitted live from New York by a young American.
Applications to participate in the WYF Assembly and join the international youth community can be submitted on https://asm.wyffest.com/. Registration for participants is open until July 20, 2025. Those wishing to join the volunteer team can apply until June 16, 2025 on the Dobro.rf platform https://dobro.ru/event/11151822.
The event was hosted by Miloš Biković, Serbian and Russian theater and film actor, with Anton Tokarev, singer and “The Voice” finalist, as the event headliner. Festival participants and guests once again enjoyed the official WYF 2024 song performed by the family duo NANSI & SIDOROV. Aelita Sidorova-Belyavskaya, their little daughter, performed the song “Let There Always Be Sunshine!” The event also marked the launch of a competition for a new WYF official song.
Event partners included the Russian Music Union, SoyuzMultPark, and the Sun of Moscow. The multimedia space “SoyuzMultPark” created a fairytale atmosphere for foreign participants, inviting them to dive into the world of Russian cartoons and characters like Cheburashka, WYF 2024 mascot. Another highlight of the night was a ride on Europe’s largest Ferris wheel “Sun of Moscow”. To conclude the celebration, it transformed into a light installation glowing with the colors of the World Youth Festival.