The World Youth Festival 2026 has opened in Yekaterinburg, bringing together 10,000 young people from 191 countries for a week of discussions, cultural exchange, technology, creativity and international cooperation.
The event, officially titled the International Festival of Youth 2026, is taking place from September 11 to 17. More than 113,000 applications were received for participation, making the gathering one of Russia’s largest international youth events of the year.
The opening ceremony on September 13 featured a televised video address from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who spoke to participants without attending the ceremony in person. The Kremlin published the President’s address as delegations gathered in Yekaterinburg.
Putin Addresses the World Youth Festival 2026
Putin’s message came as participants from across the world began a programme covering subjects ranging from education and science to artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, media and culture.
The festival is being held under Decree No. 999, signed by Putin on December 29, 2025, establishing the International Festival of Youth in Russia in 2026.
Unlike a conventional political summit, the Yekaterinburg programme is built around young professionals and emerging leaders from different sectors. Participants have been selected from fields including science and education, creative industries, media, technology, entrepreneurship, sport and public administration.
The emphasis is on creating opportunities for these communities to meet and develop international connections.
The timing also comes as India–Russia relations receive renewed international attention, with Putin in New Delhi for the BRICS Summit 2026. The Times of Russia has been following the Russian President’s India visit and his meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
World Youth Festival 2026 Draws 113,000 Applications From 191 Countries
The scale of international interest was evident during the selection process.
The festival directorate received more than 113,000 applications before selecting 10,000 participants. The final delegation comprises 5,000 Russian and 5,000 international participants representing 191 countries.
The international applications reportedly exceeded Russian applications by 32,000, marking an important milestone for the festival movement.
The diversity of the delegation is reflected in the World Youth Festival 2026 itself, which combines professional discussions with cultural events, exhibitions, networking and practical projects.
For Yekaterinburg, the event also offers an opportunity to introduce international visitors to one of Russia’s major centres of industry, education and culture.
AI, Technology and the Future of Digital Media
Artificial intelligence is among the most contemporary themes at the World Youth Festival 2026.
Two digital-media competitions connected with the event reportedly attracted more than 40,000 applications. They focus on AI-generated content and the ability to identify fake or manipulated information issues increasingly relevant to young creators, journalists and digital professionals.
The main exhibition at Ekaterinburg-EXPO covers around 30,000 square metres and features more than 140 exhibitors. Its programme spans technology, education, culture, health, transport, natural resources and digitalisation.
The focus reflects the changing professional landscape facing young people, where technology and creative work are increasingly intertwined.
From India to Yekaterinburg: Jaan Nissar Lone Brings Creativity Into the Global Conversation
Among the international voices joining the conversation in Yekaterinburg is Dr. Jaan Nissar Lone from India, invited as an expert for the open dialogue “Universal Language of Creativity: How Global Trends Are Born.”
His participation brings an Indian perspective to a discussion about something increasingly difficult to contain within national borders: the journey of an idea from a local culture to a global audience.
India offers one of the world’s most vivid examples of that journey. From Indian cinema and music to traditional art, storytelling and contemporary digital creators, the country’s cultural influence has travelled far beyond its borders continually finding new audiences and inspiring new forms of collaboration.
Lone, who serves as Global President of the BRICS Culture Media Forum, enters this conversation at the intersection of culture, media and international cooperation.
His wider work has already connected Indian cultural voices with Russian and international platforms. In 2025, Lone represented India as a jury member at Intervision in Moscow, where musicians and performers from different countries came together through music and culture. Jaan Nissar Lone and India’s Cultural Presence at Intervision 2025
The India–Russia cultural connection also runs through BCMF initiatives such as the Mahabharata opera project, conceived as a Russian–Indian cultural collaboration linking music, heritage, technology and civilizational dialogue. Mahabharata: A BRICS Culture Media Forum Initiative
For Lone, the Yekaterinburg dialogue offers another opportunity to examine how culture can move beyond borders and become a form of international communication.
Beyond the festival: Youth Projects Take Shape in Yekaterinburg
The programme in Yekaterinburg extends beyond conference sessions.
Participants are taking part in cultural and volunteer activities, while professional initiatives are creating opportunities for young entrepreneurs and specialists to meet mentors and potential international partners.
A BRICS+ youth mentoring programme is among the initiatives connecting young professionals across areas including technology, creative industries, media, education and social entrepreneurship.
Environmental activities have also formed part of the programme. Festival participants planted 50 trees near Ural Federal University as part of an initiative called the “Avenue of the Cultural Code,” creating a physical legacy of the international gathering.
The festival’s wider cultural diplomacy agenda also connects with BCMF’s work in India. Earlier, a BCMF delegation led by Jaan Nissar Lone met Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta to discuss strengthening cultural, educational and youth cooperation between New Delhi and Grozny. Delhi and Grozny to Move Forward with Sister City Agreement
From Sirius 2024 to Yekaterinburg 2026
The Yekaterinburg gathering is the latest chapter in Russia’s continuing international youth festival programme.
The World Youth Festival 2024 in Sirius brought together 20,000 participants from 190 countries. The World Youth Festival 2026 edition continues that initiative with a stronger emphasis on professional communities, creative industries, technology and international networking.
The next full-scale World Youth Festival is planned for 2030.
For now, the focus remains on Yekaterinburg, where thousands of young people are meeting during a week designed to turn professional interests and cultural encounters into longer-term international connections.
With Putin addressing the opening remotely, participants representing 191 countries taking part, and figures such as Jaan Nissar Lone representing an Indian cultural perspective in the global creativity dialogue, the World Youth Festival 2026 has become a significant meeting point for young people shaping the future of culture, technology and international cooperation.
