United Nations (UN) Youth Townhall 2026: Fully Funded to Heidelberg, Germany

United Nations (UN) Youth Townhall 2026

United Nations Youth Townhall 2026: Fully Funded to Heidelberg, Germany

Apply for the United Nations (UN) Youth Townhall 2026, a fully funded opportunity bringing over 1,000 young people worldwide to Heidelberg, Germany. Convened by the United Nations Youth Office, this first-ever UN Youth Townhall takes place from 8–10 December 2026, uniting youth leaders, governments, civil society, and the private sector to build intergenerational trust and accelerate progress on youth priorities.

The event is open to young people aged 18–35 engaged in grassroots, local, national, regional, or global youth-led initiatives. Benefits include roundtrip travel, daily subsistence allowance, terminal expenses, visa fee reimbursement, and accommodations for participants with disabilities. Selection prioritizes gender balance, geographical representation, and youth from underrepresented groups.

⏳ Application deadline: 7 September 2026, 11:59 ET. Participants must engage in all sessions, preparatory meetings, and commit to follow-up actions at local or national level. English proficiency is required.

Contents

• Overview
• About the UN Youth Townhall
• Core objectives
• Who can participate?
• Eligibility requirements
• Benefits package
• Selection criteria
• How to apply
• Frequently asked questions

Overview

Criteria	Details
Program	UN Youth Townhall 2026
Organizer	United Nations Youth Office
Location	Heidelberg, Germany
Event Dates	8–10 December 2026
Participants	Over 1,000 worldwide
Age Requirement	18–35 years old
Funding	Fully Funded
Language	English
Application Deadline	7 September 2026, 11:59 ET

About the UN Youth Townhall

The 2026 United Nations (UN) Youth Townhall marks a historic milestone as the first-ever event of its kind. This groundbreaking initiative will bring together more than 1,000 participants in Heidelberg, Germany, creating a unique space to build intergenerational trust, strengthen connections, and forge new opportunities for collaboration.

Convened by the United Nations Youth Office together with partners, the Townhall unites young people, governments, the United Nations, civil society, the private sector, and other stakeholders in one dynamic space.

Core objectives

The Townhall is built around three central goals:

Objective	Description
Shape a Collective Path Forward	Transform dialogue into commitments, build partnerships, and agree on actionable measures to accelerate progress on youth priorities and their participation in decision-making
Strengthen Inclusion and Diversity	Broaden participation by reaching young people and communities too often excluded from international spaces and processes
Reduce Fragmentation	Create stronger connections and collaboration between the many actors working across the global youth agenda

Who can participate?

The Townhall seeks broad representation across multiple sectors:

Participant Category	Examples
Youth Leaders	Representatives of youth-led organizations and movements
Public Sector	Government leaders and policymakers
Innovators	Entrepreneurs, innovators, and researchers
Institutions	UN representatives, civil society, academia
Private Sector	Philanthropy and business representatives

Eligibility requirements

To apply, young people should meet the following criteria:

Requirement	Details
Age	Between 18 and 35 years old at the time of the event
Engagement	Active in grassroots, local, national, regional, or global youth-led initiatives, projects, groups, movements, or organizations
Language	Comfortable engaging in English
Availability	Available for all event days and preparatory meetings

Benefits package

The UN Youth Townhall offers comprehensive funding and support:

Benefit	Details
Roundtrip Travel	Travel ticket from country of residence to the venue and back
Terminal Expenses	Transportation to/from airport (fixed UN rates)
Daily Subsistence Allowance	Based on fixed UN rates at time of travel
Visa Fee Reimbursement	Refunded after trip completion, upon receipt submission
Accessibility Support	Reasonable accommodations for young persons with disabilities
Invitation Letter	To support visa-related processes
Safety Information	Guidance on safe engagement in UN conferences
Preparatory Materials	Event materials and reading sources ahead of the event

Selection criteria

Final selection will be made by the UN Youth Office, with support from online volunteers and the Youth Advisory Group. Selection prioritizes gender balance, geographical representation, and youth from underrepresented and marginalized groups.

Key evaluation criteria include:

Criterion	What's assessed
Motivation	Commitment to actively participate in the event, preparation sessions, and follow-up actions
Grassroots Experience	Experience working with grassroots organizations/networks and/or volunteer work related to sustainable development, human rights, and/or peace and security
Leadership Expertise	Experience in youth leadership, youth-led advocacy, and/or intergenerational collaboration

How to apply

Follow these steps to submit your application:

1. Review eligibility — Confirm you meet all requirements (age, engagement, language, availability)
2. Prepare your information — Gather details about your youth initiatives and leadership experience
3. Complete the online form — Submit your application through the official Microsoft Forms portal
4. Highlight your motivation — Clearly articulate your commitment to participation and follow-up actions
5. Submit before the deadline — Ensure submission by 7 September 2026, 11:59 ET

Official links

Resource	URL
Apply Now	Application Form
Official Webpage	UN Youth Townhall

Apply before 7 September 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is the deadline for the UN Youth Townhall 2026?

Applications close on 7 September 2026 at 11:59 ET. The event itself takes place from 8 to 10 December 2026 in Heidelberg, Germany.

Is the UN Youth Townhall fully funded?

Yes. The package covers roundtrip travel from your country of residence, terminal expenses, a daily subsistence allowance at fixed UN rates, and visa fee reimbursement after the trip upon receipt submission. Reasonable accommodations are provided for young persons with disabilities.

Who is eligible to apply?

Young people between 18 and 35 years old at the time of the event, active in grassroots, local, national, regional or global youth-led initiatives, comfortable engaging in English, and available for all event days and preparatory meetings.

Do I need to belong to a large organization?

No. The eligibility criteria explicitly include grassroots and local initiatives, projects, groups and movements — not only established organizations. Selection also prioritizes youth from underrepresented and marginalized groups.

Are visa fees covered?

Yes. Visa fees are refunded after the trip is completed, upon submission of receipts. An invitation letter is also provided to support visa-related processes.

What commitment is expected from participants?

Participants must engage in all sessions and preparatory meetings, and commit to follow-up actions at local or national level after the event.

Young people passionate about leadership and innovation should also explore other transformative programs. For women entrepreneurs in technology, the Standard Chartered Foundation Women in Tech Accelerator for Egyptian Entrepreneurs offers valuable funding and mentorship opportunities to advance tech-driven ventures.

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