The International Youth Festival “THE PLANET OF ART – 2026” is a large-scale cultural and educational initiative that brings together children and young people from different countries to creatively explore, preserve, and reinterpret intangible cultural heritage through visual arts and other forms of artistic expression.

The project is implemented within the framework of Kazakhstan’s Chairmanship in the World Federation of Clubs and Associations for UNESCO (WFUCA) and is dedicated to the 80th anniversary of UNESCO and the 45th anniversary of WFUCA. The initiative aims to promote youth leadership, intercultural dialogue, and cultural diplomacy, while strengthening the role of culture as a foundation for sustainable development and peace.

A special focus in 2026 is placed on the role of women as bearers, guardians, and transmitters of living cultural traditions, as well as active contributors to their contemporary development and creative reinterpretation.

UNESCO, as the leading United Nations agency in the fields of culture, education, and science, encourages Member States to implement programs that promote cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue. A central element of UNESCO’s work is the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage, including living traditions, forms of artistic expression, knowledge, and practices that shape the identity of communities and are transmitted from generation to generation. Following the adoption of the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, the international community recognized the importance of protecting traditions and practices as an integral part of cultural diversity. In this context, particular emphasis is placed on engaging youth in the study and creative interpretation of cultural heritage. In many cultures around the world, women play a key role in preserving and transmitting intangible cultural heritage, serving as carriers of traditional knowledge, craft skills, and cultural values. The history of the project dates back to 1999, when a creative drawing competition for children was launched across UNESCO Member States. Over time, the initiative evolved into a large international cultural project and became an important platform for youth creativity. Since 2018, after the integration of the Federation’s art and music programs, the Festival has been held under the unified title “THE PLANET OF ART”.