The #YouthLead Festival is a week-long celebration of youth leadership and intergenerational action at the United Nations and beyond. Anchored around the 80^th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA80) and the 30^th Anniversary of the World Programme of Action for Youth (WPAY30), the festival brings together young people and their allies to reflect on progress made, create momentum and continue shaping the future of global decision-making.

The #YouthLead Festival is open to all young people and those working with and for youth — including UN entities, UN Country Teams, youth-led and youth-serving organizations, governments, civil society, academic institutions and other partners across sectors.

More than a celebration, this is a rallying point.

20-29 September 2025

UN Headquarters in New York & worldwide

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During UNGA High-Level Week, the #YouthLead Festival will come to life through a global wave of events celebrating youth action, promoting intergenerational collaboration, and showcasing local solutions to shared global challenges.

Recognizing that access to UN Headquarters is limited, the UN Youth Office is curating a public calendar of youth-led and youth-focused events taking place in New York and around the world — from grassroots gatherings to global discussions. These events will be self-organized by various partners and communities to ensure inclusive, broad participation.

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Please check back later this summer to browse the Festival calendar of events.

World Programme of Action for Youth at 30: Accelerating Global Progress Through Intergenerational Collaboration

25 September 2025 | UN Headquarters, New York

For the first time in its 80-year history, the United Nations will host a high-level meeting dedicated to youth affairs and mandated by UN Member States during the high-level week of the General Assembly, with participation at the level of Heads of State and Government. This milestone event will bring together youth leaders, governments, UN entities, civil society, and other partners and allies to:

• Take stock of what has been achieved over the last 30 years
• Share good practices and innovations for advancing the implementation of WPAY
• Identify current challenges and actionable solutions
• Chart the way forward through intergenerational collaboration.
• Click here to learn more about the 30^th anniversary event

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In the lead-up to the Festival, the UN Youth Office is mobilizing #YouthLead Dialogues —youth-led and youth-focused conversations hosted by partners and allies around the world.

These dialogues can take place in-person or virtually and can be formal or informal. They are encouraged to be intergenerational, inclusive and representative.

Key takeaways from the dialogues will contribute directly to the High-Level Plenary Meeting marking the 30^th Anniversary of the World Programme of Action for Youth. Organizers are invited to focus on key themes of the High-Level Meeting, including meaningful youth participation and the implementation of the World Programme of Action for Youth.

This is an open invitation to co-create this milestone moment by capturing diverse perspectives and bringing youth voices into global spaces of influence.

Whether you’re hosting a community forum, digital roundtable or classroom discussion, your voice matters. Host a #YouthLead Dialogue and join the global conversation today!

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