From September 11 to 17, Yekaterinburg has become the center of global youth diplomacy. The International Festival of Youth 2026 brings together 10,000 participants from 191 countries a record scope that makes it one of Russia's largest international youth gatherings this year.
At the heart of the venue, the Russian capital has installed its flagship stand: "Moscow City of the Future." Organized by the "Youth of Moscow" project of the Moscow Committee for Public Relations and Youth Policy, the pavilion blends cultural heritage with digital statecraft.
More than a showcase: Moscow's soft power playbook
The stand is designed as an immersive experience of a modern metropolis. Visitors can take a VR flight over Moscow's iconic landmarks, explore digital twins of VDNH's Central Alley and Cosmos Pavilion through the VDNH Metaverse, and test Moscow's e-government tools on interactive panels.
In the lounge area, tablet stations offer access to RUSSPASS, Moscow's digital travel service, where guests can build a personalized itinerary using its Route Planner.
The cultural layer is equally curated: a tea lounge serving Moscow's signature blend, a photo installation featuring "Katyusha the Panda" a nod to the Moscow Zoo star and a limited-edition pin collection created exclusively for festival participants.
Youth as a strategic audience: from bracelets to jobs
The most crowded zone is "Youth of Moscow." There, participants make their own bracelets and bag charms while learning about free educational programs, creative competitions, and career forums offered by the city.
This is paired with a pragmatic offer: one-on-one consultations with career experts on employment in Moscow. A multimedia space highlights innovation projects, while a Russian Post station allows participants to send a postcard to any destination in the world a low tech but effective public diplomacy tool.
Moscow's creative economy is also on display: 35 Moscow-based brands are showcased at the Art.Molodost International Design and Merchandise Market, alongside a presentation of the capital's film industry.
The volunteer corps behind the scenes
The operation is backed by more than 230 Moscow volunteers deployed across 17 functional areas: from accreditation and logistics to interpretation, support for delegations, assistance for participants with limited mobility, and social media content creation.
In a festival built on people to people contacts, volunteers are the infrastructure of hospitality and a key part of how Moscow is shaping perceptions among the next generation of global leaders.
The "Moscow City of the Future" stand will run until the closing of the festival on September 17.
Xandra Beyene
Media coverage : (+237)694810981
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