The Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration, Sergey Kiriyenko, unexpectedly arrived in Yekaterinburg.

      The First Deputy Head of the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation, Sergey Kirienko, together with the Governor of the Sverdlovsk Region, Denis Pasler, inspected the main sites in Yekaterinburg on Wednesday, August 12, where the International Youth Festival will soon take place. Sergey Vladilenovich is the chairman of the organizing committee for this large-scale youth event, reports the regional information policy department.

      Less than a month remains before the arrival of the first guests—festival volunteers—to the Sverdlovsk region. Sergey Kirienko and Denis Pasler inspected the campus of the Ural Federal University and the International Exhibition Center "Yekaterinburg-Expo."

      The organization of the Festival was discussed at a meeting chaired by Kirienko with the participation of all interested federal and regional services and agencies, as well as businesses.

      This event will attract the attention not only of all of Russia but also of the world. It is important not only to warmly welcome 10,000 participants, show them the Urals, but also to make each person's stay in the region comfortable, safe, interesting, and unforgettable, noted Sergey Kirienko.

      A large-scale program has been developed for guests from 190 countries: creative laboratories, workshops in the fields of digitalization and IT, science and education, creative and sports venues. A total of about 650 events will be held.

      Guests can look forward to a gastronomic festival, performances by recognized experts from Russia and abroad, concert and show programs, and film screenings. A special block of the program, including theatrical performances, musical evenings, and dance master classes, will be dedicated to the culture of the participating countries in the festival.

      Special attention will be paid to safety issues, including compliance with sanitary and epidemiological standards.

      Residents of the Sverdlovsk region will be able to participate in the festival thanks to the "Citizens" program. More than seven thousand people have already registered for the project. And viewers across Russia will see television broadcasts of the opening and closing ceremonies.

      The International Youth Festival will take place in Yekaterinburg from September 11 to 17, 2026, at the Ural Federal University campus. The mascot of the IYF, chosen through a public vote, is the sable cub Uralik.

      Earlier in July, the international project "Summer University" took place at the Ural Federal University campus in the Novokoltsovsky microdistrict. It hosted more than 400 students from 16 countries.