UN Youth Townhall Funding for Young Participants

The UN Youth Townhall 2026 is inviting young people, youth-led organizations, institutions, and partners worldwide to participate in a global intergenerational event in Heidelberg, Germany. The event will bring together more than 1,000 participants to strengthen youth participation, build collaboration with decision-makers, and co-create solutions for inclusive global development. Limited funding opportunities are available to help young people who may otherwise face barriers to participation.

What Is the UN Youth Townhall?

The UN Youth Townhall is a global platform focused on meaningful youth engagement and intergenerational collaboration.

The event is anchored in the UN Youth Compass, which seeks to strengthen youth participation across the work of the United Nations and wider decision-making systems.

The Townhall will bring together:

• Young leaders and youth representatives.
• Youth-led organisations.
• Public-sector decision-makers.
• Entrepreneurs and innovators.
• Researchers and academics.
• Civil society representatives.
• Philanthropic and private-sector partners.
• United Nations stakeholders.

The programme is designed to create direct interaction between young people and decision-makers rather than limiting youth participation to formal speeches or consultations.

When and Where Will the Townhall Take Place?

The UN Youth Townhall will take place:

• Location: Heidelberg, Germany
• Dates: 8–10 December 2026
• Expected participation: More than 1,000 participants
• Geographic scope: Global

Participants will engage in discussions and collaborative activities addressing youth participation, inclusion and global decision-making.

What Will Participants Do?

The Townhall will use interactive formats to encourage meaningful participation and collaboration.

Activities are expected to include:

• Fireside chats.
• Roundtable discussions.
• Small-group conversations.
• Networking opportunities.
• Intergenerational dialogue.
• Collaborative solution development.
• Engagement with decision-makers from different sectors.

The objective is to create opportunities for young people to contribute ideas, share experiences and participate directly in discussions about issues affecting their communities and the wider world.

What Is the Funding Opportunity?

A limited number of funding opportunities are available to support young people’s participation in the UN Youth Townhall.

The funding is intended to improve inclusion by helping young people who may otherwise face financial or other barriers to participating in international policy and decision-making spaces.

The opportunity particularly supports broader representation of young people who are often underrepresented in global forums.

Why Does the UN Youth Townhall Matter?

Youth participation is increasingly recognized as an important component of effective policymaking and sustainable development.

The Townhall aims to strengthen:

• Youth participation: Giving young people meaningful opportunities to influence discussions.
• Intergenerational collaboration: Connecting youth with experienced decision-makers and leaders.
• Inclusion: Increasing participation from groups traditionally underrepresented in international spaces.
• Global networking: Creating connections among young leaders and organisations from different countries.
• Co-creation: Encouraging young people and institutions to develop solutions together.
• Youth leadership: Supporting young people as contributors to global decision-making.

Who Can Apply?

The opportunity has a broad international scope.

Young people, organisations, institutions and partners from all countries are invited to apply to participate.

Potential participants may include:

• Young leaders.
• Youth advocates.
• Youth-led organisations.
• Community organisations.
• Entrepreneurs.
• Innovators.
• Researchers.
• Academic institutions.
• Public-sector representatives.
• Civil society organisations.
• Other organisations and partners interested in meaningful youth engagement.

A limited number of funding opportunities are specifically intended to support young people’s participation.

What Types of Applicants Are Encouraged?

The initiative seeks diverse perspectives and experiences.

Applicants who can contribute to discussions around youth engagement, inclusion, intergenerational collaboration, innovation, community development and global decision-making may be particularly relevant.

Young people from communities that are frequently underrepresented in international policy spaces are also an important focus of the funding opportunity.

How to Apply

Applicants should follow the official application process for participation in the UN Youth Townhall.

Step 1: Determine Your Participation Category

Identify whether you are applying as:

• An individual young participant.
• A youth-led organisation.
• An institution.
• A partner or other participating organisation.

Step 2: Explain Your Interest

Clearly describe why you want to participate in the Townhall and how your experience, work or perspective could contribute to the event.

Step 3: Demonstrate Your Contribution

Applicants should explain how they can contribute to:

• Youth-led discussions.
• Intergenerational dialogue.
• Collaborative problem-solving.
• Inclusion and diversity.
• Global youth engagement.

Step 4: Consider the Funding Need

If seeking participation support, clearly explain how financial assistance would help overcome barriers to attending the event.

The funding opportunity is intended to broaden participation, particularly for young people who might otherwise be unable to access international policy spaces.

Step 5: Submit the Application

Complete and submit the required application through the designated application process before the applicable deadline.

Applicants should ensure that all requested information is complete and accurate.

How to Strengthen an Application

Applicants can improve their applications by clearly demonstrating their connection to youth engagement and global decision-making.

Consider highlighting:

• Leadership or community engagement experience.
• Work with youth or marginalised communities.
• Relevant advocacy or research experience.
• Innovative ideas or solutions.
• Experience collaborating across sectors or generations.
• How participation could benefit the applicant’s community or organisation.
• Why financial support is necessary for participation.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Providing generic responses: Explain your specific experience and perspective.
• Ignoring the intergenerational focus: Show how you would engage constructively with decision-makers and other generations.
• Failing to explain your contribution: Describe what knowledge, ideas or experiences you would bring.
• Overlooking inclusion: Explain how your participation connects with broader youth representation.
• Leaving funding needs unclear: If requesting support, clearly communicate the barrier that funding would address.
• Submitting incomplete information: Review the application carefully before submission.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the UN Youth Townhall?

The UN Youth Townhall is a global event designed to strengthen meaningful youth participation, intergenerational trust and collaboration between young people and decision-makers.

When will the UN Youth Townhall take place?

The event will take place from 8 to 10 December 2026 in Heidelberg, Germany.

How many people are expected to participate?

The Townhall is expected to bring together more than 1,000 participants from different sectors and countries.

Who can participate?

Young people, youth-led organisations, institutions and partners from all countries are invited to apply to participate, subject to the event’s selection process.

Is financial support available?

Yes. A limited number of funding opportunities are available to support young people’s participation, particularly to broaden inclusion and enable participation from people who may face barriers to attending international events.

What activities will take place at the Townhall?

The programme will include fireside chats, roundtables, small-group discussions and other interactive formats designed to encourage networking, dialogue and collaborative solution-building.

What is the main objective of the event?

The central objective is to strengthen meaningful youth participation in global decision-making while building stronger relationships and collaboration between young people and decision-makers.

Conclusion

The UN Youth Townhall 2026 provides a global platform for young people to engage directly with leaders, policymakers, researchers, entrepreneurs and other stakeholders. Through interactive dialogue, networking and collaborative problem-solving, the event aims to strengthen youth influence in global decision-making while expanding opportunities for young people who are often underrepresented in international forums. Limited participation funding can further improve accessibility and help ensure a more diverse and inclusive Townhall in Heidelberg.