**10,000 Young Leaders from 191 Countries Invited to Youth Festival in Russia**
The International Youth Festival is set to take place in Yekaterinburg, Russia, from September 11 to 17, 2026, with organizers recently announcing the completion of the selection process for participants. A total of 10,000 young leaders from 191 countries have received invitations to this significant gathering, which aims to serve as a platform for international dialogue, cultural exchange, and collaborative discussions on global challenges.
The Directorate of the World Youth Festival reported that this year saw an unprecedented level of interest, with over 113,000 applications submitted. Notably, for the first time in the festival's history, the number of applications from international participants surpassed those from Russian applicants by a margin of 32,000. The final selection includes an equal distribution of 5,000 Russian and 5,000 foreign participants, with 1,000 teenagers aged 14 to 17 included in the mix, evenly split between the two groups.
Dmitry Ivanov, the director general of the World Youth Festival Directorate, highlighted the diversity of participants, noting that more than 1,000 attendees will come from post-Soviet countries. He also mentioned that countries such as Argentina, Brazil, India, China, and Saudi Arabia are among the top contributors in terms of delegate numbers. Additionally, representatives from Western nations, including over 100 individuals from France, the UK, and Italy, will also be present, showcasing the festival's broad appeal.
A new feature for the 2026 edition is the sector-based approach for inviting foreign delegations. Participants will represent eight key fields: creative industries, science, sports, public administration, media, and information technology. The selection criteria were based not only on interest but also on the achievements of the applicants in their respective professions.
Among the notable participants is Ivaylo Danailov from Bulgaria, who became a mayor at the age of 26 and has been actively involved in local development projects. He expressed his intent to share his experiences with reforms in Bulgaria while seeking inspiration for new initiatives.
Christian Bahati from the Republic of the Congo, who operates a major mining company and founded a charitable organization in 2019, aims to forge partnerships that can transform ideas into actionable projects. From Uzbekistan, Fotima Bogshokhi is working on an AI assistant for rural healthcare and is looking for feedback on scaling her project to improve access to medical services in remote areas. Amit Kothawade from India, who developed a Covid contact-tracing app during the pandemic, is now leading a government agency that has seen the startup ecosystem grow significantly under his guidance.
The festival will also feature bloggers and social media creators, including Diego Rodriguez from Spain, who aims to present a more nuanced view of Russia to his audience, moving beyond stereotypes to showcase the country through the eyes of its people.
The festival's program is designed to foster cooperation and joint initiatives and will include panel discussions, sports activities, cultural events, and volunteer opportunities. The main venue for the festival will be the Yekaterinburg-Expo International Exhibition Center, while participants and volunteers will be accommodated at the Ural Federal University campus.
The previous World Youth Festival took place in Sirius in March 2024, gathering 20,000 young leaders from 190 countries. A smaller event was held in Nizhny Novgorod in 2025, featuring 2,000 participants from 120 countries. Looking ahead, organizers have announced that the next full-scale World Youth Festival, which will again host 20,000 participants, is scheduled for 2030.
As the festival approaches, the anticipation builds for what promises to be a dynamic event aimed at empowering young leaders and encouraging global collaboration.