On September 13th, the opening ceremony of the third International Youth Festival took place at the 'Yekaterinburg-Expo' international exhibition center in Yekaterinburg. The event gathered 10 thousand participants from 191 countries, including 5 thousand Russians and 5 thousand foreign guests.
As part of the extensive concert program, both famous Russian and international artists, ensembles, and actors performed for those present. Among the performers were actress Yulia Peresild, Natalia Oreiro, and Halit Ergenç, a star of the series 'The Magnificent Century.' Additionally, delegations from five global macro-regions—Asia, Africa, Europe, South America, and the Middle East—presented their national cultures through music, dance, and traditional presentations.
President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin addressed the festival participants via video link, sending them greetings and encouragement. The head of state urged young people to strive to realize their dreams and use joint efforts to transform the world. He also specifically noted the significance of the Urals as the festival's location, calling the Ural land a source of progressive ideas, scientific achievements, and industrial revolution.
Vladimir Putin emphasized that holding the festival in one of Russia's key centers of industrial, cultural, and intellectual heritage allows young leaders from various countries to discuss changes in life caused by new technologies and shape a vision for the future of the world.
The festival, whose official motto is 'Follow Your Dream,' began on September 11th in Yekaterinburg and will run until September 17th. Its main goal is to create an environment for free interaction among young people from different countries so they can exchange experiences, get acquainted, and jointly seek solutions to current global problems.
Interest in the event was very high: organizers received over 113 thousand applications during the four-month application campaign. Notably, for the first time in the festival's history, the number of applications from foreigners exceeded that from Russians by 32 thousand.
A feature of this year's festival is the sectoral approach to forming foreign delegations. Young specialists and leaders from fields such as science, education, public administration, business, sports, media, IT, and digitalization, as well as creative industries and civic engagement, arrived in Yekaterinburg. Many of these participants are already working on their own projects and plan to have a significant impact on the development of their countries in the coming years.
The main venues for the festival were the 'Yekaterinburg-Expo' International Exhibition Center and the campus of the Ural Federal University. The program is oriented towards joint activity and communication: in addition to lectures and discussions, participants can expect team assignments, sports and creative events, educational sessions, and other formats that promote mutual understanding among people from different cultural backgrounds.
Educational activities are presented by the Russian Society 'Knowledge,' which offers participants the opportunity to attend lectures, open dialogues, and discussions, as well as meet with renowned experts. The cultural component is equally rich: performances, concerts, film screenings, exhibitions, fairs, as well as a gastronomic festival and a design and merchandise market are planned, allowing guests not only to learn about each other's cultures but also to immerse themselves in them.
The modern media sphere found its platform in the 'Mediapotok' format, which brought together journalists, bloggers, producers, representatives of science and art. Topics discussed included the transformation of the media industry, the development of creative industries, and new technologies. For participants, this was not only an educational opportunity but also a chance to find partners for future projects.
The wellness program includes morning exercises with famous athletes, master classes, as well as competitions in football, table tennis, and esports. Familiarity with world cultures continues through festivals of national sports.
A separate block is dedicated to volunteering and social initiatives. Young people can familiarize themselves with the Dobro.rf platform, participate in charitable and volunteer projects, and continue this activity after the festival ends.
An excursion program is provided for foreign guests, extending beyond Yekaterinburg, allowing them to get acquainted with the natural, historical, and cultural heritage of the Urals. After the main stage of the festival, a thousand foreign participants will go on expeditions to the regions. 33 routes have been prepared for them, covering 35 subjects of Russia, the 'Sirius' federal territory, as well as Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Over five days of travel, guests will see local attractions, get to know nature and technological developments, participate in field research, and meet with Russian youth and representatives of indigenous small-numbered peoples.