The 2026 International Youth Festival, held in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg, ended with an official closing ceremony on September 16. The event brought together 10,000 participants from 191 countries, while artists, musicians, choirs and orchestras from different countries performed at the finale.
Speaking at the ceremony, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov invited young people to take part in international youth events held in Russia. Lavrov said Russia was open to young visitors even when no special event was taking place.
Lavrov said the festival had created a platform where representatives from different countries, cultures and religions could communicate, share their experiences and exchange views. He said that despite their differences, people understood one another and sought more common ground for joint projects, adding that Russia was ready to continue international youth exchanges.
At the end of his speech, the Russian foreign minister congratulated the festival participants on behalf of Russian President Vladimir Putin and wished them success, health and prosperity.
Music and cultural dialogue highlighted at the closing performance
The closing program began with a performance by an orchestra conducted by Italian maestro Fabio Mastrangelo. The central theme of the show was the coming together of people from different countries and generations through music.
In one of the highlights of the program, thousands of festival participants performed the lyrics of the song “Kon” together with the Sretensky Monastery Choir. Performances dedicated to the history of the international youth movement, cultural dialogue and the dreams of young people from different countries were also staged.
Russian and foreign artists, as well as singers, choirs and symphony orchestras, took part in the ceremony. The work “Love’s Hallelujah” was performed in the six official languages of the United Nations.
A children’s choir made up of 1,000 students from music and arts schools in the Sverdlovsk region also took part in the performance. Yuri Bashmet conducted the All-Russian Youth Symphony Orchestra.
At the finale, representatives from different countries exchanged plush Cheburashka toys, a symbol of friendship and unity at the festival.
Festival program continued through September 17
The festival began on September 11, and its official opening was held on September 13. Some events in the program continued through September 17.
The main venues were the Yekaterinburg-Expo exhibition center and the campus of Ural Federal University. The program included educational and discussion events, meetings with experts and community representatives, as well as cultural, sports and sightseeing activities.
A separate program prepared for young people aged 14 to 17 included 1,000 participants from 99 countries.
