MOSCOW, June 25 (NNN-KBC) — More than 40,000 young people from across the globe have applied to participate in the inaugural World Youth Festival Assembly, set to take place in Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod from September 17 to 21, 2025.
This major international gathering will bring together 2,000 young changemakers — 1,000 from Russia and 1,000 from other countries — for five days of intercultural exchange, innovation, and youth-led dialogue.
Applications, which opened on April 16, 2025, during the celebration of the World Youth Festival’s birthday, remain open until July 20 via the official platform https://asm.wyffest.com/en/ .
According to organizers, nearly a third of the applicants so far are from outside Russia, representing 176 countries across Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas, the Middle East, and Australia.
“In September, Russia will once again become a global hub for active youth from around the world. The World Youth Festival Assembly is a natural continuation of the World Youth Festival 2024 a platform for open and equal dialogue among young people from different countries. It will strengthen the international youth community formed during the festival, united by the desire to make the world safer and more comfortable for everyone,” said Grigory Gurov, Head of the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs (Rosmolodezh).
Adding that: “Just two months after the application campaign began, around 40,000 applications have been submitted, a third of them from representatives of foreign candidates. This level of interest confirms that young people from different countries strive for unity, cooperation, experience exchange, and joint project implementation.”
Young people under 35 working in media, creative industries, sports, education and science, public administration, entrepreneurship, and IT are invited to participate in the World Youth Festival Assembly. Key selection criteria include candidates’ experience in fostering international youth cooperation, participation in Russian and international projects, and English proficiency.
Like at the World Youth Festival 2024, teenagers aged 14 to 17 can also participate in the event. Over 9,500 children have already applied, including about 1,500 from abroad.
Unlike WYF 2024, where the Children’s Program was more autonomous, this year teenagers will be fully integrated into the Assembly’s agenda, attending main events, learning from older peers, and feeling as a part of the larger youth community.
“When launching the registration, we aimed to attract participants from 120 countries, but the campaign has exceeded expectations applicants from 176 countries have already applied to the Assembly. The geography is impressive: applications include young leaders from Europe, Asia, Africa, North and South America, the Middle East, and even Australia. At the same time, we are committed to strict selection, seeking true leaders with impactful projects and social initiatives those already making a difference in their countries. We want to bring together truly active and socially engaged young people. The WYF team is meticulously designing the program to ensure every day is meaningful and memorable,” stated Dmitry Ivanov, Director General of the World Youth Festival Directorate.
Applications have been received from all 89 Russian regions, including the Sirius Federal Territory. The highest number has come from Moscow and the Moscow Region, St. Petersburg, Krasnodar Krai, Nizhny Novgorod, Rostov, and Sverdlovsk Regions, as well as the Republics of Tatarstan and Bashkortostan.
The Assembly is centered around the concept “Russia Warms Hearts”. As a hub of friendship and cooperation, Russia creates a welcoming atmosphere for forging international connections and not only warms hearts but also inspires great achievements. During the event, participants from Russia and abroad will explore limitless opportunities for youth and experience the country’s spirit and diverse cultural identity.
The event will feature an interactive modular format, including debates on trending topics (AI, cryptocurrency, education, sports, business), immersive shows, workshops, and project pitches. Unique highlights include creating the world’s largest painting, an international Gastropicniс near the Nizhny Novgorod Fair and ice-skating masterclasses with Hockey Club «Torpedo».
The Assembly will be a space for open cross-cultural dialogue, fostering mutual respect, understanding, and friendship. Participants will present their professions, countries, and ideas on a global stage an entry point into the international professional community.
The organizer of the World Youth Festival Assembly is the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs (Rosmolodezh) with the Nizhny Novgorod Region Government as a co-organizer and the World Youth Festival Directorate acting as the operator. — NNN-KBC
