Trabzon to host 3rd Turkic World Youth Forum in 2026

Trabzon will host the 3rd Turkic World Youth Forum from October 17–21, 2026. Organized through a collaboration between the Trabzon Metropolitan Municipality and the International Organization of Turkic Culture (TÜRKSOY), the event is expected to bring together approximately 150 young people from 21 different countries.

Participating nations include Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, TRNC, Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Belgium, Georgia, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mongolia, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, and Turkey. The forum aims to preserve shared cultural values, strengthen brotherhood ties, and develop a sense of a shared future among the youth.

The program will address topics such as the digital age, artificial intelligence, and cultural heritage. Specific sessions include a presentation on combating disinformation by Deniz Demir and a discussion on protecting cultural memory in the age of AI by academic Murat Emeç. The opening ceremony is scheduled for October 19 at the Hamamizade İhsanbey Cultural Center, with attendance expected from Trabzon Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ahmet Metin Genç and other officials.