To all the young aspiring leaders, Spain is calling! Applications are now open for the highly anticipated “Youth Global Forum 2026,” taking place in Madrid, one of Spain’s most vibrant and culturally rich cities, from January 15 to 18, 2026. A prestigious youth conference hosted by the Center for Global Dialogue and Leadership (CGDL) aims to bring together young changemakers from all around the world to lead and dialogue on the future they are dreaming of. The forum is calling for applications from all nationalities, regardless of academic background or profession. Whether you are a student, lawyer, healthcare worker, entrepreneur, or any other professional, if you are aged between 16 and 46 years and have a passion for making a positive impact, you are welcome to apply.
The YGF Spain 2026 serves as a dynamic platform that fosters dialogue, innovation, and action to tackle the most pressing global challenges, such as the rise of artificial intelligence, climate change, youth employment, and economic uncertainty, under the theme of “Leading the Future: Dialogue, action & Impact in an Age of Uncertainty. “YGF 2026 is not a typical conference; it offers real-world experience to young leaders through immersive workshops, policy dialogues, and culture exchange, followed by visits to the renowned Spanish institution.
The forum is offering a total of 150 seats that are further categorized into fully funded, partially funded, forum admission, and self-funded seats. The fully funded seats offer comprehensive support that covers all the costs related to the conference, which includes accommodation, meals, travel support, conference access, and more. The application window for the YGF 2026 Spain is currently open. The last date for the submission of the application is November 25th, 2025. Read more details about the forum below.
Youth Global Forum 2026 in Madrid, Spain: Overview
- Location: Madrid, Spain
- Open for: All Nationals
- Hosted by: Center for Global Dialogue and Leadership
- Dates: 15-18th January 2026
- Coverage: Fully/Partially/Self-funded
- Application: Online
- Deadline: November 25th, 2025
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Forum Themes
The theme of the YGF 2026 in Spain is “Leading the Future: Dialogue, Action, and Impact in an Age of Uncertainty,” which focuses on:
- Rise of Artificial Intelligence
- Climate Change
- Economic instability
- Mental health and well-being
- Peacebuilding & Human Rights protection
- Erosion of Democratic values
Total Seats
The YGF is offering a total of 150 seats that are categorized as follows:
- Fully Funded: 30 Seats
- Partially Funded: 40 Sears
- Forum Admission: 30 Seats
- Self Funded: 50 Seats
Fully Funded Coverage
The forum offers comprehensive support for the fully funded seats. The coverage includes:
- Round-trip air travel coverage
- Shared accommodation in a 4-star hotel
- Visa Assitance
- Meals during the program
- Full Forum Access
- Study tours
- Participation Certificate
- Access to networking events and cultural nights
Partially Funded
- The partially funded program provides similar perks and benefits as mentioned above, except for the airfare for the trip
Forum Admission
- The forum admission does not cover Airfare and accommodation; the rest of the perks are the same.
Self-Funded – Guaranteed Slots
- The self-funded slots of the forum offer guaranteed seats to the participants without undergoing a competitive selection process. Applicants interested in the self-funded positions can sign up here and select a self-funded category to apply.
Visa Invitation Letter
Need an invitation letter for a Schengen Visa? Well, Youth Global Forum has got you all covered. The program offers an official stamped invitation letter, with a comprehensive document checklist, followed up with personalized visa support. Visit here and register now for a “Visa Invitation letter”
YGF Key Activities
The delegates will engage in the following key activities:
- You-led plenary dialogues
- Skill building by participating in workshops
- Mock policy simulation
- Visits to the Spanish parliament, innovation spaces, and policy institutes
- Networking and Cultural Events
Eligiblity Criteria
Applicants meeting the following criteria are invited to submit their applications for the Youth Global Forum in Madrid, Spain:
- Accepting applications from all nationals
- Young leaders aged 16-45 years are invited to submit applications
- Whether you are an advocate, civil society actor, social entrepreneur, tech innovator, activist, or sustainable leader, student, educator, researcher, or storyteller, the forum is open for all regardless of any academic background or profession.
- There is no IELTS or language requirement for participation
- No prior experience is required
Why You Should Join?
- Connect with young leaders from 100+ countries
- Create solutions for the world’s pressing challenges
- Experience life in Madrid, Spain
- Build Valuable skills and networks with peers and experts
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How to Apply for YGF 2026 Madrid, Spain?
The application process is completely online; interested applicants need to submit an online application via the official portal. Make sure to upload all the required documents before submitting your application. The program requires an application fee for application submission. Shortlisted applicants will be notified about the selection via email.
APPLY FOR YGF MADRID, SPAIN 2026
Disclaimer: The YGF 2026 Spain requires an application fee to be considered for one of the scholarship categories. Opportunities Radar does not charge any application fees and is not responsible for any losses or damages.
