The Russian House in Dhaka, in cooperation with the Bangladesh International Youth Foundation (BIYF), hosted a preparatory meeting for the International Festival of Youth 2026, bringing together Bangladeshi young people interested in international youth cooperation and opportunities to participate in youth programmes in Russia. During the meeting, participants were introduced to the upcoming International Festival of Youth 2026, which will be held in Yekaterinburg, Russia, from 11 to 17 September 2026. The festival will bring together young leaders and youth representatives from Russia and countries around the world, providing an opportunity for international interaction, exchange of ideas and experiences, and the development of connections among young people from different countries. The preparatory meeting also provided an opportunity for participants to learn more about the upcoming festival and its international youth engagement opportunities. Bangladeshi participants who attended the previous edition of the International Festival of Youth also joined the meeting. Drawing on their own experiences, they shared personal insights, practical advice and reflections with those preparing to participate in international youth programmes. Their firsthand experiences offered valuable guidance to the prospective participants and helped them gain a better understanding of the opportunities available through international youth programmes. The meeting reflects the continued efforts of the Russian House in Dhaka to promote youth engagement, international cooperation and people-to-people contacts, while creating opportunities for Bangladeshi youth to connect and exchange experiences with young people from Russia and other countries.