COY21 Cultural Programme 2026 to Celebrate Türkiye Through Youth and Culture
The COY21 Cultural Programme 2026 will officially celebrate Türkiye as the host country of the 21st Conference of Children and Youth on Climate Change (COY21), creating a platform where culture, creativity and climate advocacy intersect.
Organized by YOUNGO, the official youth constituency of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), COY21 is scheduled to take place in Antalya, Türkiye, from November 5–7, 2026. The conference will take place immediately before the UNFCCC COP31 summit, positioning young people and their climate priorities at the center of the international climate agenda.
The dedicated cultural programme will be held under the theme “One Planet, Many Cultures, Shared Future.” It aims to recognize the importance of cultural diversity, creative expression and intercultural collaboration in advancing meaningful climate action.
A Global Platform for Young Climate Leaders
The COY21 Cultural Programme is designed as an inclusive space for young climate leaders, Indigenous representatives, artists, cultural organizations and youth-led initiatives from different backgrounds.
Participants will have opportunities to share traditions, stories, creative work and perspectives connected to climate change. By bringing different communities together, the programme seeks to demonstrate that climate action can be communicated and strengthened through more than formal policy discussions.
Cultural expression can provide young people with alternative ways to communicate the realities of climate change, highlight community experiences and present locally relevant solutions. The programme therefore creates an opportunity for climate advocacy to be connected with identity, heritage and creativity.
Intercultural Dialogue Across Three Days
Activities are expected to take place throughout the three days of COY21, creating opportunities for participants to engage beyond the conference’s formal climate discussions.
The programme focuses on building cross-cultural friendships, knowledge exchanges and collaborations among young people and organizations. Such interaction can help participants understand how climate change affects different communities and how diverse cultural perspectives can contribute to solutions.
The emphasis on intercultural dialogue also supports the broader objective of ensuring that young people from different regions and backgrounds have opportunities to participate in conversations about the future of the planet.
Türkiye’s Youth Organizations to Support the Programme
As the host country, Türkiye will play an important role in shaping the cultural experience of COY21.
The programme includes collaboration with local Turkish youth organizations and platforms, including the Social Climate Association Coalition, Youth Climate Envoys Platform and Habitat Association.
Their involvement is expected to help connect international participants with Turkish youth initiatives and local perspectives on climate action. The programme will also feature co-hosts from Australia, adding another international dimension to the initiative.
The collaboration between local and international organizations reflects the programme’s broader emphasis on cooperation across cultures and regions.
Linking Culture With Climate Advocacy
COY21 will provide young people with an important opportunity to engage in climate advocacy immediately before COP31. The cultural programme adds a creative and community-centered dimension to this engagement.
The theme “One Planet, Many Cultures, Shared Future” recognizes that people around the world have different cultures, histories and traditions while sharing a common dependence on the planet’s ecosystems and natural resources.
Through music, art, storytelling, cultural traditions and other creative forms of expression, participants can communicate climate concerns in ways that reach audiences beyond conventional policy spaces.
This approach is particularly significant for young people, who are increasingly using creative initiatives and cultural platforms to raise awareness about climate change and mobilize communities.
Why the COY21 Cultural Programme Matters
The cultural programme provides an opportunity to bring together groups that contribute to climate action in different ways.
Young climate advocates can connect with peers and exchange experiences. Indigenous representatives can contribute community knowledge and perspectives. Artists and cultural organizations can demonstrate how creative expression can strengthen climate communication. Meanwhile, youth-led initiatives can showcase approaches to climate action developed within their own communities.
The resulting conversations can help create stronger connections between climate advocacy, cultural diversity and inclusive participation.
For participants, the programme may also provide opportunities to develop international networks and identify potential areas for future collaboration.
COY21 2026 Location and Dates
The 21st Conference of Children and Youth on Climate Change is scheduled to take place in Antalya, Türkiye, from November 5–7, 2026.
Its timing immediately before COP31 makes the gathering particularly relevant for young people seeking to engage with the international climate process. Participants interested in the cultural programme should follow official COY21 and YOUNGO communications for information about registration, participation arrangements and specific cultural activities.
Application Deadline
The information provided for the COY21 Cultural Programme does not specify an application or registration deadline.
Interested young people, organizations and other potential participants should monitor official COY21 and YOUNGO announcements for confirmed participation procedures, registration dates and programme updates. Applicants and participants should rely on official sources for the latest information before making travel or participation arrangements.
About COY21
The Conference of Children and Youth on Climate Change is a youth-focused climate gathering associated with the international UN climate process. COY21 will precede COP31 in Antalya and provide a platform for young people to engage with climate issues, exchange ideas and strengthen youth participation in global climate action.
The 2026 cultural programme expands this engagement by placing culture and intercultural dialogue alongside youth climate advocacy.
