Global Youth Festival 2026 in Paris: Apply for a Funded Seat at HISA's Flagship Summit
Apply for the Global Youth Festival 2026 in Paris. Four days of leadership, dialogue, and policy with 500 delegates from 120+ countries. Funded seats open.
CONFERENCES & FORUMSOPPORTUNITIES
Applications are open for the Global Youth Festival 2026, a four-day international leadership and dialogue summit hosted by the Headway Institute of Strategic Alliance (HISA) in Paris from 15 to 18 October 2026. Up to 500 delegates from more than 120 countries will gather at one of Europe's most consequential policy capitals to debate the issues shaping the next decade; climate, peace, governance, digital rights, and the future of work.
Around 350 scholarships are on the table across fully funded, partially funded, and self-funded categories. If you've been looking for a serious platform to put your work in front of an international audience, this is one worth applying to.
About the Host: Headway Institute of Strategic Alliance (HISA)
HISA is a youth leadership and public policy organisation operating across the United States, the UAE, and Europe. Over six years, it has run convenings in Washington DC, Sydney, Milan, Brussels, Oxford, Cape Town, Bangkok, and Istanbul; bringing emerging leaders into the same room as practitioners, diplomats, and sector experts. Its work sits at the intersection of policy dialogue, capacity sharing, and civic participation, with a focus on translating youth voice into actual policy engagement rather than tokenistic representation.
The Global Youth Festival is HISA's flagship programme and its most ambitious to date.
Why Paris, and Why Now
Paris isn't just a backdrop. It's a working capital for multilateralism; home to UNESCO, the OECD, and a corridor of human rights institutions; and it sits a short train ride from the EU's policy centre in Brussels. For a delegate working on climate finance, education reform, or civic tech, that proximity matters. You're not just attending a conference; you're embedded in an ecosystem where the policy is actually being written.
GYF 2026 lands at a moment when youth representation in formal policy spaces remains stubbornly thin. Hosting 500 delegates from 120+ countries under one roof, with structured speaking opportunities and policy simulations, is HISA's response to that gap.
What the Programme Covers
The Festival is built around six thematic tracks that map onto the SDGs and broader humanitarian-development priorities:
Climate action and environmental justice: adaptation, climate finance, just transition.
Peace, diplomacy, and conflict resolution: including the Triple Nexus and prevention.
Education, innovation, and the future of work: skills, digital labour, and access.
Governance and civic participation: open government, youth in decision-making.
Human rights and social justice: inclusion, equity, and rights-based programming.
Entrepreneurship and technology: social enterprise and responsible innovation.
Delegates can expect a mix of workshops, keynote sessions, policy simulations, mentorship engagements, and cultural exchange programming. Most participation categories include a Youth Statement opportunity; a short address to the full delegate assembly, which is rare at conferences of this scale and useful if you're building a profile in your area of work.
Who Should Apply
GYF 2026 is open to anyone aged 18 to 40, regardless of nationality. HISA is looking for emerging leaders, policy advocates, researchers, social entrepreneurs, civil society practitioners, and changemakers with a clear track record; or a clear trajectory; in their field. You don't need a fancy title. You do need to articulate, in your motivation statement, what you're working on and why you'd add value to the conversation in Paris.
How to Apply
The application is hosted online at headwayinstitute.org and runs in three short steps:
Complete the registration form and choose your participation category (Fully Funded, Partially Funded, Self-Funded, or Forum Access).
Submit a motivation statement explaining why you want to attend and what you'll bring.
Briefly describe a project or initiative you've led or contributed to.
Paid seats are released on a rolling basis, so submitting early helps. Accepted delegates receive an official invitation letter and visa support documentation; typically within 24 to 48 hours of confirmation for self-funded and Forum Access applicants. Accommodation is included for Fully Funded, Partially Funded, and Self-Funded categories.
Review the refund policy on HISA's website before you complete payment for any paid category.
Key Details at a Glance
Event: Global Youth Festival 2026 (GYF 2026)
Host: Headway Institute of Strategic Alliance (HISA)
Dates: 15–18 October 2026
Location: Paris, France.
Eligibility: 18–40 years, open globally.
Scholarships: 350 across multiple categories.
Delegates: Up to 500 from 120+ countries.
Visa Support: Yes, official letter provided.
Apply Here
Official application page: https://headwayinstitute.org/global-youth-festival-2026/
If you've been waiting for the right platform to take your work international, this is a strong one. Read the refund and scholarship terms carefully, prepare your motivation statement with specifics rather than generalities, and apply before the funded seats run out.
For more fully funded conferences, fellowships, and grants across the humanitarian and development sector, keep an eye on Community For Development.