World Youth Festival Directorate

A special message from one of Serbia’s brightest young football talents! ⚽️ Filip Kostić is a rising striker for FK Vojvodina and the Serbia U-15 national team, already making his mark in higher-level competitions.

He couldn’t make it to the “Code of the Unconquered” International Friendship Cup, but he didn’t want to miss the chance to wish his team — and every player in the tournament—the best of luck.

❤️ Kickoff is almost here. Stay with us — there’s plenty of exciting football ahead!

Important update for all our participants! 📝 We’re continuing to send out the IFY–2026 selection results. ⌛ Once you receive your invitation, you’ll have 48 hours to confirm your participation.

📱 If you’re using an iPhone, be sure to check your email manually. Sometimes the Mail app doesn’t show new messages right away. Don’t forget to check your Spam folder and refresh your inbox.

⚠️ If you don’t confirm your participation in time, your invitation may be withdrawn. Don’t miss your chance, go check your email now! 💗

How did a Canadian end up making millions of people curious about Russia? 🇷🇺 🇨🇦 Meet Nicole Shikan, she’s from Canada, speaks Russian, and has built a community of millions by sharing her life in Russia.

📍 As a member of the International Content Center and an expert at Eurasia Global, Nicole knows exactly how to bring cultures closer together.

💚 Next stop? The International Festival of Youth 2026!

Content creators, this one’s for you 📸 🩷 If you’re a content creator or media representative, you have just 9 days left to apply. Imagine creating content alongside talented creators from all over the world at the International Festival of Youth 2026. These three are already part of our International Content Center — and their journey started at Eurasia Global 💚 🟢 Now it’s your turn. Apply for Media Representative or Content Creator accreditation before July 17 and join us in Ekaterinburg.

Well… here they are 👀 We’ve seen your comments, your messages, your emails, and even your stories asking the same question: “When are the results coming?” Good news: we’ve already started sending the first emails to participants of the International Festival of Youth 2026 ✉️

🟢 This September, 10 000 young leaders from 190 countries will meet in Ekaterinburg. And some of them are finding out right now that they’re coming.

If you’ve already received your email — share your reaction and post it with the hashtag #IAmGoingToIFY2026 If not, don’t worry. The emails are sent out gradually, so yours may arrive a little later 🩷 Ps: don’t forget to check your spam 💻

Well… here they are 👀 We’ve seen your comments, your messages, your emails, and even your stories asking the same question: “When are the results coming?” Good news: we’ve already started sending the first emails to participants of the International Festival of Youth 2026 ✉️

🟢 This September, 10 000 young leaders from 190 countries will meet in Ekaterinburg. And some of them are finding out right now that they’re coming.

If you’ve already received your email — share your reaction and post it with the hashtag #IAmGoingToIFY2026 If not, don’t worry. The emails are sent out gradually, so yours may arrive a little later 🩷 Ps: don’t forget to check your spam 💻

Every meaningful conversation starts with a willingness to listen 💬 Our partner Al-Rasyid Fauzan, head of the WYFD project office in Indonesia spoke with George Galloway, former Member of Parliament of the United Kingdom and expert at the WYF Assembly 2025, about why international dialogue still matters.

💯 They reflected on the friendships and ideas born at the Assembly and looked ahead to the International Festival of Youth 2026, where young leaders from 190 countries will come together once again.

Watch the interview and join the conversation 🟢

🤝 A new partnership for global opportunities! The World Youth Festival Directorate has signed a cooperation agreement with the National Centre “Russia”. Together, we’ll develop new international projects, showcase the best of Russia, and strengthen global partnerships. 🟢 One of the highlights will be the International Festival of Youth 2026, where the Russia National Centre will host an Open Dialogue Day on global economic trends and introduce participants to Russia Department Store, featuring products from leading Russian brands.

🟪 As Dmitry Ivanov, Director General of the World Youth Festival Directorate, noted, this partnership will help introduce young people from around the world to the opportunities Russia has to offer. Natalia Virtuozova, Director General of the National Centre “Russia”, added that their shared mission is to create a space where people from different countries can discover Russia, its culture, and its achievements.

🚀 See you at the IFY–2026!

”Peace, Friendship, Bubblegum!” — How a Legendary Phrase Was Born 🍬 Back during the 6th World Festival of Youth and Students in Moscow, foreign guests were greeted with the slogan “Peace. Friendship. Festival”.

For Soviet youth, the ultimate souvenir from international visitors was chewing gum — it was strictly off-limits in those days.

And that's exactly why the word “Festival” was jokingly swapped out for “Bubblegum”. 😻 Just like that, the phrase caught on and became an icon of the era! Have you heard that phrase?

From the cage to your feed 🥊 Meet Taki Rahmani, MMA champion, content creator, and one of the members of our International Content Center, Taki is originally from Algeria. He’s learning Russian, sharing his journey online, and inspiring thousands of people to stay active and chase their goals.

Taki has already joined the Eurasia Global Forum as an expert and took part in the WYFD Media School 🔥

Now, just like us, he’s counting down the days until the International Festival of Youth 2026! 🟢

The most awaited recap of the week is finally here! Let’s catch up on everything we missed ⭐️ 💙 World Youth Festival Directorate visited South Ossetia on a working trip. 💚 Accreditation of Foreign Journalists and Bloggers for the International Festival of Youth – 2026 Ongoing! 💜 The BRICS+ International Youth Mentoring Program is in full swing! 🧡 Two tickets to the International Festival of Youth 2026 have found their winners! 🩷 Let’s tell the world about the International Festival of Youth 2026 together!

🇬🇹 How much do you know about Guatemala? Karla Argueta moved to Russia to pursue her dream of studying music, but she’s bringing a piece of Guatemala with her. From Mayan languages to sky-high kites and handcrafted textiles, every tradition has a story to tell 🌎 📌 Swipe the cards and discover Guatemala’s #cultural_code!

Ni hao! 🇨🇳 Our journey through the stories of inspiring foreigners in Russia continues 🇷🇺 Meet Cheng Chang from China — she speaks fluent Russian, studies and works in Moscow, and took part in the WYF–2024, the WYF Assembly 2025 and its regional program. ⭐️ Hit play to hear her story, discover her favorite places in Russia, and catch today’s #russian_lifehack!

Two tickets to the International Festival of Youth 2026 have found their winners! 🟢 Sulistiyono from Indonesia and Salsabila Nadhira from Malaysia have earned the opportunity to take part in this year’s biggest international youth event. ⚡️ They were selected during the Rosatom International Forum “Obninsk NEW 2026” and will travel to Ekaterinburg this September, where they will join 10 000 participants from 190 countries.

🔬 Science and technology will be among the Festival’s key themes, including a dedicated track on nuclear energy — a strategic field shaping sustainable development and technological sovereignty around the world.

💥 Together, we’re strengthening international scientific cooperation!

Let’s tell the world about the International Festival of Youth 2026 together! 🌎 Today, Russia Today International Media Group and the World Youth Festival Directorate signed a cooperation agreement. 🌀 Under the partnership, RIA Novosti will serve as the General Information Partner, while Sputnik will be the Information Partner of the International Festival of Youth 2026.

This isn’t the first time we’ve worked together. During the World Youth Festival 2024, our partnership helped bring the Festival’s atmosphere to millions of people in Russia and around the world.

What’s next?

Interviews, reports, live broadcasts, educational projects, and joint content featuring journalists and experts from different countries.

🟢 Dmitry Ivanov, Director General of the World Youth Festival Directorate, noted that the partnership will help share the Festival’s key values and the stories of its participants with audiences around the globe.

🚀 The BRICS+ International Youth Mentoring Program is in full swing! Participants Christian de Leon from Guatemala, Sabrina Maciel from Brazil, and Percy Nkosi and Keorapetse Malgas from South Africa have already immersed themselves in the program 🟢

In this video, they share their experience, the insights they’ve gained, and the ideas sparked through learning alongside experts and mentors from around the world.

💚 Hit play and get inspired!

Accreditation of Foreign Journalists and Bloggers for the International Festival of Youth – 2026 Ongoing 🖥 From September 11 to 17, Ekaterinburg will become the city of the world's youth. This large-scale event will bring together 10 000 young leaders from 190 countries — professionals who have already made achievements and proven their expertise in science, education, media, public administration, entrepreneurship, and other fields — to exchange experience, address global challenges, and shape a shared vision of the future.  

The festival program will feature media figures, as well as leading Russian and international experts.

👉 You can submit your application until July 17, 2026, via the International Platform of Opportunities.

Accreditation grants access to all official event venues.

An International Media Center

will be set up for media representatives, offering workspaces and a lounge area, as well as spaces for press briefings, daily briefings, and exclusive interviews.

✈️ Foreign media representatives will also be provided with transfer to Ekaterinburg and accommodation services at the city's hotels. Foreign journalists without accreditation from the Russian Foreign Ministry must attach the following to their application:

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an editorial assignment;

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a media outlet certificate;

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a brief biography (CV);

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a personal photo;

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a copy of a valid press card.

  Instructions for any accreditation-related questions, please contact: 📧 press@wyffest.com

Still refreshing your inbox? ⌛ While you wait for the IFY–2026 results, let’s see what the universe has planned. Press play, pause the video, and reveal your prediction. 💚 Tell us what you got!