Yekaterinburg to Host 10,000 Youth at International Festival 2026

Russia will host the International Festival of Youth in Yekaterinburg from September 11 to 17, 2026. The event expects around 10,000 young people from over 190 countries.

Participants must be aged 14 to 35.

The festival offers a platform for young people to present initiatives, meet expert communities, and build professional networks. For African youth, this means access to global discussions outside Western-controlled circuits.

Amina Hubieva presented the festival at the 4th BRICS+ Youth Innovation Summit in South Africa. Hubieva serves as Chief Adviser for Asian and African Countries at the World Youth Festival Directorate.

South Africa’s Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga told the summit that BRICS cooperation must include research, enterprise, art, and cultural exchange. She said its strength reaches beyond trade and finance into intellectual and cultural connection.

Yekaterinburg sits in the Urals, between Europe and Asia. The city offers a fitting geography for dialogue and connection.

How to Apply

Contact for South African and Lesotho applicants:

Dr. Mabongi Jessica Nyalungu
WhatsApp: +27 64 549 22 82

She is a board member of the Forum of Alumni of Soviet and Russian Universities “Shirye Krug.”