Every year, Strasbourg becomes the world's debating chamber for democracy — and a delegation of young people sits at the table, not in the audience. The World Forum for Democracy Youth Delegation, organised by the Council of Europe's Youth Department, brings up to 50 young leaders from around the globe to France for a week of training, debate, and direct dialogue with political leaders, civil society actors, and journalists. Everything is covered: your travel, your visa costs, your bed, and your meals. If you work on youth participation, civic engagement, or democratic innovation anywhere in the world — from a neighbourhood association in Lahore to a campus movement in Nairobi — this is the stage built for voices like yours.
In short: The World Forum for Democracy Youth Delegation is a fully funded week-long programme in Strasbourg, France, for young democracy activists aged 18–30. The 2026 delegation (travel, visa, accommodation, and meals covered by the Council of Europe) applied by 14 August 2026, and the 2027 call has not been announced yet — this guide uses the 2026 edition as the model so you can prepare for the next call.
● Applications Closed
Quick Overview
- Host Country: France
- Host Institution: Council of Europe (Youth Department), in partnership with the European Parliament, French authorities, the Region Grand Est, and the City of Strasbourg
- Degree Level: No degree requirement — open to young people aged 18–30
- Program Duration: About one week in Strasbourg (the 2026 edition ran 30 October – 5 November 2026), plus online preparation in September–October
- Funding Type: Fully funded — travel, visa costs, accommodation, and meals
- Deadline: The 2026 delegation deadline was 14 August 2026, 14:00 Strasbourg time (closed). The 2027 call has not been announced yet; based on the annual rhythm, expect the next call around July–August 2027.
Benefits of the World Forum for Democracy Youth Delegation
This is one of the genuinely fully funded youth forums in the world — no participation fee, and the essentials are taken care of:
- Travel costs covered — your travel to Strasbourg is covered by the Council of Europe under its reimbursement rules, with prepaid tickets possible in justified exceptional cases.
- Visa costs covered — visa expenses are reimbursed too, which matters because Schengen visa fees and paperwork are often the biggest hidden barrier for young applicants from outside Europe.
- Accommodation and meals provided — you stay at the European Youth Centre Strasbourg, with board and lodging paid for the full duration of the activity.
- A week of world-class training and access — pre-event training with youth-department trainers, seats inside the Forum's plenary and lab sessions, and a dedicated Youth Day where the delegation shapes its own programme.
- A global network for life — delegates join a community of hundreds of alumni working in youth policy, civil society, and public life across every continent.
- No application fee — applying costs nothing.
Eligibility Criteria for the World Forum for Democracy Youth Delegation
The Council of Europe's call is clear about the profile it wants. Based on the 2026 edition:
- Age 18–30 — you must be between 18 and 30 years old at the time of the event.
- English working ability — you must be able to work autonomously in English. No test certificate is demanded; what matters is that you can hold your own in fast-paced discussions, group work, and follow-up writing.
- Connected to a youth organisation or movement — you should represent a youth organisation and/or youth movement active at local, regional, national, or international level on democracy, youth participation, or innovative democratic practices. Solo activists without an organisational link rarely make it through.
- Available for the entire engagement — this means the online preparations (September–October), the pre-event training in Strasbourg, the Forum itself, and Youth Day. Partial attendance is not accepted.
- Ready to follow up — you should be in a position to carry the Forum's results back into your organisation and community afterwards. The Council of Europe selects people who will multiply the experience, not just consume it.
- Previous Council of Europe involvement is a plus — experience with the Youth Department, the European Youth Foundation, or partners contributing to the New Democratic Pact for Europe is considered an asset, though it is not required.
- Open worldwide — the delegation aims to reflect the diversity of young people across the world, not just Europe.
How to Apply for the World Forum for Democracy Youth Delegation
The application runs through the Council of Europe's online forms. Based on the 2026 process, here is what to expect when the 2027 call opens:
1. Read the call and concept note on the official Council of Europe Youth Department page as soon as the call is published — check the exact dates, theme, and deadline before anything else. 2. Confirm your eligibility and availability — especially the full-date commitment. If you cannot attend every phase, do not apply this round. 3. Complete the online application form — this is the core of your application. You will describe yourself, your organisation or movement, and your motivation. Take your time here; this is where selection is won or lost. 4. Submit before the deadline — the 2026 call closed at 14:00 Strasbourg time, and late submissions are not accepted. Aim to submit at least a week early. 5. Wait for selection results — the selection committee reviews all applications after the deadline. Because of the very high number of applications, only selected candidates are typically contacted.
Required Documents
The official call does not demand an uploaded dossier of certificates — the application is form-based. Still, have these ready before you start filling it in:
- Your details — full name, date of birth, nationality, contact information, and English proficiency.
- Organisation profile — name, level of activity, and role of the youth organisation or movement you represent, plus your own role in it.
- Motivation statement — why you want to join, what perspective you bring, and how you will follow up in your community. Prepare this offline in a document first, then paste it in.
- Availability confirmation — confirmation that you can attend the online preparations and the full Strasbourg programme.
World Forum for Democracy 2027 Deadline
The 2026 Youth Delegation deadline was 14 August 2026, 14:00 Strasbourg time — it has passed, and the selection committee has been reviewing applications. The 2027 call (the 15th edition of the Forum) has not been announced yet. Based on the pattern of recent years, the call typically opens around June–July and closes around mid-August, with the Forum itself held in early November in Strasbourg. If you missed the 2026 round, do not wait for the announcement to start preparing: build your organisational profile, document your democracy work, and watch the Council of Europe Youth Department's calls-for-participants page from June 2027 onward.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the World Forum for Democracy Youth Delegation really fully funded?
Yes. The Council of Europe covers your travel to Strasbourg, your visa costs, and your accommodation and meals at the European Youth Centre for the full duration of the activity. You do not pay a participation or application fee. Personal spending money and anything outside the programme dates are your own responsibility.
Who organises the World Forum for Democracy?
The Forum was initiated in 2012 and is organised jointly by the Council of Europe, the European Parliament, the French authorities, the Region Grand Est, and the City of Strasbourg. The Youth Delegation itself is organised by the Council of Europe's Youth Department.
What happened at the 2026 edition?
The 14th World Forum for Democracy took place in Strasbourg from 2 to 3 November 2026 under the theme "Rupture or renewal? Democratic security for our future", within the framework of the New Democratic Pact for Europe. The youth delegation joined online preparations in September–October, training in Strasbourg on 31 October – 1 November, the Forum on 2–3 November, and Youth Day on 4 November.
Do I need to be a European citizen to apply?
No. The youth delegation deliberately brings together young people from around the world, and past delegations have included participants from dozens of countries across every continent. What matters is your age, your English, your organisational link, and your democracy work.
Do I need IELTS or another English certificate?
No formal test is required. The call simply says you must be able to work autonomously in English. Be honest with yourself about this — the programme moves fast, and struggling with the language would waste the opportunity.
Can I apply as an individual activist without an organisation?
It is very difficult. The call asks candidates to represent a youth organisation and/or youth movement, and selection favours applicants embedded in one. If you are not currently affiliated, join or start working with a relevant organisation well before the next call opens.
How competitive is the selection?
Extremely. The 2026 call drew an exceptionally high number of applications for up to 50 places. Strong motivation, a clear organisational mandate, and a concrete follow-up plan are what separate successful applications from the rest.
What is Youth Day?
Youth Day is the delegation's own day (4 November in the 2026 edition), following the main Forum. It is where young delegates consolidate what they have heard, shape their messages, and plan how to carry the outcomes back to their organisations and communities.
If I applied in 2026 and was not selected, can I apply again for 2027?
Yes — there is no rule against reapplying, and many strong delegates succeed on a second attempt. Re-read your previous application critically, strengthen the follow-up plan section, and show what your organisation has done since.
Is general attendance at the Forum free too?
Yes — registration to attend the Forum in person is free and open to anyone. The Youth Delegation is the separate, competitive, fully funded track for young people aged 18–30. If you are older or do not meet the delegation profile, you can still register to attend the Forum itself.
Final Words
Democracy is argued about in classrooms and comment sections everywhere — but very few young people get to argue about it in the room where Council of Europe ministers, parliamentarians, and grassroots innovators sit together. The Youth Delegation is that room. The 2027 call is still ahead of you, which is the best possible position to be in: you have months to build the profile, the organisation link, and the motivation story that will carry your application. Start now.
