The National Centre RUSSIA heads to the International Festival of Youth — 2026

The International Festival of Youth — 2026 will take place in Yekaterinburg from 13 to 17 September, with the National Centre RUSSIA taking part in the event for the first time. Young people from different countries will be able to try their hand at traditional crafts, discover unique products from across Russia, discuss visions of the future as part of the Open Dialogue, and join vibrant flash mobs at the National Centre RUSSIA stand.

The National Centre RUSSIA stand at IFY-2026 will be located at the heart of the "Cultural Code" thematic space. It will feature the flagship Department Store RUSSIA project, where guests will be able to discover a unique collection of Russian-made products — from leading contemporary brands to folk arts and crafts.

One of the main attractions will be the interactive "Nevalyashki" installation — a composition of 250 colourful nevalyashka (roly-poly toy) figures arranged in a single wave. Participants will be able to choose a nevalyashka, decorate it with a sticker featuring the flag of one of the world's countries and leave a personal message. With the help of volunteers, the toy can then be returned to the shared composition. At the end of the festival, the nevalyashka figures will become souvenirs for guests.

A separate part of the programme will be dedicated to traditional crafts. The creative workshops at the National Centre RUSSIA stand at IFY-2026 will offer a rare opportunity to discover the secrets of crafts preserved for centuries and passed down from generation to generation. Young participants from different countries will be able to learn the art of shaping an Orenburg down shawl, decorate wooden figures using techniques practised by Ural artisans, and create Ordynskoye painting patterns following the traditions of the Novosibirsk Region. Under the guidance of experienced mentors, they will try their hand at painting Dymkovo toys and weaving items from pine roots in the Kirov tradition, as well as designing and creating their own engravings on amber products from the Kaliningrad Region.

The programme will also include bone carving, gold embroidery and gingerbread painting, as well as making Chechen istang and Pomor kozuli. One group of workshops will be dedicated to the artistic painting of nevalyashka toys. Festival guests will therefore be able not only to see finished pieces, but also to understand exactly how they are made — from working with the material to creating the familiar form and ornament.

The National Centre RUSSIA programme at IFY-2026 will extend beyond the Department Store and traditional crafts. The central events will be Open Dialogue sessions taking place on 15 September. The session "The World of the Future: What Will We Create?" will be held especially for a young audience. Maxim Oreshkin, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office of Russia, will present the global megatrends that are already shaping the trajectory of world development for the coming decades and share his perspective on self-determination and development — where and how a young person can fulfil their potential in this world.

The dialogue will continue with "OD CAMPFIRE: Youth Meeting" — an open and informal conversation about the future that matters to young people. Young essay authors proposed including this format in the IFY-2026 programme to Maxim Oreshkin in April 2026, during a meeting held as part of the II Open Dialogue OD CAMPFIRE.

The main cultural event and culmination of the entire festival programme at the stand in Yekaterinburg will be the "Unity Khorovod" — a dance trend launched by the National Centre RUSSIA. There will be no first or last participants: everyone will come together through dance, music and traditions. Anyone will be able to join the khorovod. The stand will also host "The Beautiful Faraway" flash mob, bringing together representatives of different generations and cultures.

During the festival, the National Centre RUSSIA venue will also host meetings with participants in the III All-Russian Wedding Festival "Russia. Uniting Hearts" and graduates of the first season of the Young Journalists School. The young correspondents will also have an important mission: IFY-2026 will provide them with an excellent opportunity to gain practical experience and demonstrate their professional skills in creating content and covering all the events and activities planned as part of the National Centre RUSSIA's participation in the International Festival of Youth.

The National Centre RUSSIA stand will therefore offer several experiences at once: visitors will be able to choose a Russian product at the Department Store, try traditional craft techniques, contribute to the shared installation, join a dance flash mob and take part in a conversation about the future.