The United Nations Youth Townhall in Germany 2026

Young people are driving change around the world — from climate action and peacebuilding to technology, education, human rights and entrepreneurship. At the same time, many young people still face barriers to participating in decisions and processes that shape their lives and futures.

The first-ever UN Youth Townhall will bring over 1,000 participants together in Heidelberg, Germany, to build intergenerational trust, strengthen connections and create new opportunities for collaboration.

Table of Content

• Summary
• Benefits
• Requirements
• Interview Process
• Application Deadline
• How To Apply

Summary

• Application DeadlineSeptember 7, 2026
• Study Level
• SponsorUnited Nations
• Eligible CountryAll Countries

Benefits

• The Townhall will put intergenerational dialogue and co-creation at the centre of the convening.
• Alongside larger sessions, the programme will feature fireside chats, roundtables, small-group discussions and other interactive formats designed to build intergenerational trust by fostering meaningful exchange between young people, decision-makers and participants from different generations and sectors.
• Selected contributions from partners across the United Nations, civil society, academia, the private sector and other fields will help inform parts of the programme and bring a wider range of perspectives into the conversation.
• It will also offer organizations and partners structured spaces to showcase their work, initiatives and opportunities, and connect directly with young people.

Requirements

• More than 1,000 participants are expected to join the Townhall, including young leaders and representatives of youth-led organizations and movements, public sector leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators and researchers, as well as representatives from governments, the United Nations, civil society, academia, philanthropy and the private sector.
• The Townhall seeks broad geographic representation, gender balance and the inclusion of young people and communities that are often underrepresented in international policy and decision-making spaces.
• To ensure meaningful and diverse representation of young people at this milestone gathering, the United Nations Youth Office will support a limited number of young people (18-35 years old) to participate in-person at the Townhall.
   

Selection Process

• Selection of eligible young persons will be made by the UN Youth Office, with support from online volunteers and the Youth Advisory Group to the UN Youth Townhall.?Selection will consider gender balance, geographical representation and youth from underrepresented and marginalized groups. Preference will be given to applicants engaged in a grassroots organization who have had limited or no prior engagement with the UN. Additionally, please note that we are unable to sponsor youth who are currently under contract with the UN.
   

Check also:
2026 Fully Funded Humboldt Research Fellowship
2026 Eutopia PhD Co-tutelle Call

Application Deadline

How To Apply

• Applications are made via the Application Portal.

For more information, kindly visit the UN webpage.