In Ekaterinburg, the world felt closer than I had imagined. Flags from many countries, people with different backgrounds, and one place bringing that diversity together. I was among them, having travelled from Libya after being selected to represent my country at the 2026 youth festival.
The journey began with travel connections. What stayed with me was the people and scenes I encountered: music, exhibitions, outings on my own, and the welcome I experienced. Here I share what made the trip meaningful to me, followed by a practical guide for anyone preparing for a similar opportunity.
In this article
- Bringing your country into the encounter
- Four stops on the way to Ekaterinburg
- When country names become people
- Culture you can listen to and experience
- What does a designer notice in an exhibition?
- The city beyond the program
- Between the bigger scenes
- What stayed with me
- How to apply and prepare for a similar experience
- Frequently asked questions
Bringing your country into the encounter
Taking part representing Libya meant more to me than reaching an international event. Being there meant bringing my background and experience, giving others a chance to meet someone from my country while getting to know their worlds.
That gave being selected a particular significance. I was a participant in a much wider gathering, with my connection to Libya present throughout. The photographs preserve parts of the story that grew from those two feelings.
Four stops on the way to Ekaterinburg
I travelled from Libya to Turkey in transit, then to Moscow and onward to Ekaterinburg. On a map, four stops become a line. In a journey, they become memories: waiting, moving on, and arriving somewhere new.
The photographs include the aircraft cabin and, from Moscow, Saint Basil’s Cathedral. Looking at this part of the album brings back the wider journey around the festival. Each city and stop has its own place in the experience.
When country names become people
Ekaterinburg hosted the International Festival of Youth 2026 on September 11–17, 2026, according to the official event website. The destination I had travelled toward became outdoor spaces, walkways, and places to meet others.
A short look around the festival venue’s outdoor space.
What I loved most was the sense of diversity. Countries you know from a map become people beside you, each with a language, background, and perspective. Being among them in one place creates an unusual opportunity to broaden your view of the world.
It felt like travelling around the world in one place.
That comes closest to describing the experience. I visited Russia, and the gathering also opened windows onto other countries and cultures.
Culture you can listen to and experience
Getting to know facets of Russia’s cultural diversity was one of the pleasures of the trip. There were details that kept my curiosity alive, particularly when culture became a live performance and an atmosphere shared with others.
The recordings I kept show accordion music and an evening gathering around a stage, followed by a performance on a small instrument held at the mouth. I enjoy returning to these moments because they carry something of the place’s rhythm and presence. Watching and listening brings part of the experience back.
What does a designer notice in an exhibition?
In the exhibition halls, curiosity takes another direction. Stands present ideas and technology: a robot on display, a driving simulator, and a drone within an agricultural technology exhibit. Different subjects sit alongside different ways of attracting a visitor’s attention.
With my interest in design and multimedia, I also find the presentation itself worth considering. How is the idea introduced? What makes you stop? How does information become a visual experience? This side of the visit gives me questions and ideas to carry beyond the journey.
The city beyond the program
Going out beyond the event gave me another way to encounter Russia. I explored on my own many times. Feeling safe and at ease, together with the welcome I experienced, left a particularly warm impression.
During those outings, everyday details become part of your relationship with a place: a street you pass through, a building you pause beside, a square changing color in the evening light. Some remain in photographs; others return as a feeling when you look through the album.
I am telling this part of the story as I experienced it: feeling comfortable while exploring and finding a welcome in the situations I encountered. Those details helped the place feel closer to me.
Between the bigger scenes
A journey also has simpler moments: a meal at a shared table, a rest between outings, and time away from a busy day. They may not headline the event, but they become memories and give the story its human detail.
That is why I like leaving space in the album for food, rest, sport, and everyday surroundings. They belong to the way I experienced the trip and to the pleasure of returning to its photographs.
What stayed with me
When I think about the festival, I return to the value of meeting people directly. Being there yourself, encountering different experiences at close range, and finding a welcome in a place you are visiting all add to your understanding of the world.
The stage, music, and audience bring together more of that visual memory: a host country, participants from different places, and me representing Libya while getting to know the people and setting around me.
It was a memorable journey to Russia and an opportunity to see my country as part of a wider encounter. What remains connects people as much as places: the feeling that the world becomes closer when we give ourselves a chance to meet.
How to apply and prepare for a similar experience
Application status checked on November 10, 2026: registration for the 2026 edition is closed. The guidance below is for preparing for later opportunities. Read each new announcement; previous deadlines and conditions do not automatically carry forward.
1. Start with the official platform and the right program
Follow the official WYF platform. Open an available program’s announcement and check its participant category, country eligibility, age, language, and deadlines. International participation, volunteering, and local programs have different application routes.
2. Prepare a clear account of who you are and what you can contribute
Gather a concise account of your experience and work, using real examples to explain your interests and motivation. The 2026 selection regulations required an essay and a self-introduction video, and at least B1 English. Those were that edition’s requirements; consult the new regulations for a new opportunity.
3. Understand what your acceptance covers financially
The official event FAQ lists accommodation, meals, and event transfers, while linking international travel coverage for adults to selection results. Do not assume every expense is funded: obtain written confirmation of what your acceptance covers before committing to bookings.
4. Russian visas for Libyan travellers: verify the appropriate route
At the time of review, Libya was not listed among the nationalities eligible for the Russian unified e-visa. Consult the competent Russian consular mission and your inviting organization about the visa and documents appropriate to your circumstances.
The Russian visa application portal distinguishes completing an online application form from obtaining a visa. It directs applicants to the relevant mission or application authority for complete documentary and procedural requirements.
5. Plan connections after confirming your documents
My route was through Turkey and Moscow. It is neither the only option nor a promise of future flight availability. Check the carrier, arrival airport, baggage arrangements, and connection time, including whether collecting bags or changing airports requires entering the transit country.
The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs distinguishes remaining in an airport transit lounge from leaving it when explaining visa requirements. Confirm your particular itinerary before tickets are issued.
A practical pre-departure list
- Acceptance confirmation, funding details, and required arrival and departure dates.
- Passport, visa, supporting documents, and insurance required for your circumstances.
- Accommodation address, reception point, and organizer contact details.
- Connections, baggage, internet access, and a suitable payment method.
- Saved document copies, with booking codes and passport details kept out of published photographs.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply for the 2026 youth festival now?
Registration for that edition is closed at this guide’s update date. Follow the official platform for later opportunities instead of relying on old registration links.
Is acceptance enough to travel to Russia?
Confirmation of participation does not replace checking the visa, entry, transit, and airline requirements that apply to you.
Did I feel safe during the trip?
I felt safe and comfortable while exploring, went out alone many times, and experienced a warm welcome. This is my personal account.
What was my route from Libya to Ekaterinburg?
I travelled from Libya to Turkey in transit, then to Moscow, and onward to Ekaterinburg. That was my personal route; flight availability and connection requirements need checking when planning a new journey.
Images and sources: The photographs and clips come from my travel album. My participation and impressions are a personal account; official sources appear beside application and visa information. Guide last reviewed: November 10, 2026.