World Youth Festival Directorate

AI: a powerful tool or something we’re becoming too dependent on? 👀

At the IFY–2026, young people from different countries joined Sergey Galaktionov for the first-ever “Change My Mind” discussion and challenged each other’s views on AI and our growing dependence on it.

▶️ Watch the video and hear what young people from around the world have to say!

The Festival may be over, but the airport is still singing 🩷

Participants are heading home, and even their last moments in Russia are filled with warmth. Traditional Russian songs are accompanying them on their way, one final, beautiful farewell before their flights 👋

See you again, friends! ✈️

✨The Festival continues — now across the whole country!

1 000 participants of the IFY–2026 have set off on the regional expedition program across 35 regions of Russia, the federal territory of Sirius, as well as Abkhazia and South Ossetia📍

The first routes are already in full swing: in Nizhny Novgorod and Kaluga Region, guests are discovering Russian culture, learning traditional dances, playing folk games — and even met Cheburashka!

⚡️More discoveries, new friendships, and real immersion into Russia are still ahead!

Participants of the IFY–2026 are heading home 🤗

And what do we see? The most genuine smiles, warm hugs, and that bittersweet feeling in the final minute.

In just one week, so much friendship was born here that the miles between countries now feel like nothing.

🗣️ Thank you for being with us. Russia will be waiting for you again!

🌌Already on your way home? Send us your photos in the comments — we want to see your journey!

It seems no one is ready to say goodbye 😭

Volunteers from all across Russia spent this whole week keeping the Festival running: welcoming guests, coordinating, guiding, filming, editing, writing. Strangers to each other on day one, by the end they had become one team.

Thank you for this week❣️

⚡️right now, participants are heading off on their new routes

✈️ Many have already left for the regional programs to explore other cities, dive into local culture and feel Russia beyond Ekaterinburg.

Looks like the festival is ending, but the journey is just getting started!

Thank you, our little sparks! 🫶

A bit of the atmosphere from the Closing Ceremony of the Volunteer Corps.

✨ All these days, our volunteers were right there with the participants: welcoming them, helping out, pointing the way, and making the Festival feel truly warm.

Let's say thank you to them together! 💭

Goodbyes are always hard 🥺

Hugs at the exit, promises to keep in touch, a warm smile or a tear nobody bothered to hide.

We're not saying goodbye, we're saying see you soon. Russia knows how to wait, and the door is always open for you.

See you again, friends ❣️