Welcome to the United Nations
International Youth Day is commemorated every year on 12 August to highlight the challenges young people face, celebrate their contributions to society, and promote their meaningful engagement in building a better future.
The theme of International Youth Day 2025 is “Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond”. Localizing the SDGs refers to the process of adapting and implementing the global goals within specific local contexts, aligning them with community needs while maintaining consistency with national and international commitments. This approach is vital to ensure that development is inclusive, participatory, and sustainable. When young people are empowered to engage in this process, they become catalysts for innovation and resilience in their communities.
This year’s theme focuses on the power of young people in localizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and turning global commitments into local realities. Young people are not just beneficiaries of development; they are active leaders, innovators, and agents of change within their communities.
You can read the full concept note for International Youth Day 2025 here.
Official Commemoration
The global observance of International Youth Day 2025 will take place on 12 August in Nairobi, Kenya, in collaboration with UN-Habitat. The event will bring together youth leaders, municipal officials, policymakers, UN representatives, and development practitioners to exchange ideas and showcase solutions for strengthening youth engagement in local development.
Planned activities include:
- Interactive Dialogue: The event will feature an interactive dialogue between youth and other decision-makers. Topics will cover urban planning, climate resilience, social inclusion, innovation, and digital transformation, all through a youth lens.
- Youth Innovation Showcase: Youth organizations and social enterprises will have the opportunity to exhibit their work both in the community and at the UN compound.
- Commemoration of 2025 IYD: This will bring together youth, UN, and government representatives. The commemoration will be held in person on the UN compound and virtually, ensuring global participation of youth and youth partners.
Knowledge Products
In support of the 2025 theme, DESA is preparing a set of knowledge products to amplify youth voices and inspire action at all levels:
- Infographic featuring the contribution and role of youth in localizing the SDGs.
- Youth storytelling series showcasing stories from young people implementing local solutions.
- Social media engagement package, with ready-to-use digital materials designed for dissemination by youth networks, Member States, and UN agencies to increase outreach and engagement.
These materials will be available in the coming weeks to support partners in planning and promoting their own International Youth Day activities.