Yo!Fest – Europe’s biggest political Youth Festival – is coming to Brussels

The 2019 edition of Yo!Fest, the European Youth Forum’s political and music youth festival, will take place on the Esplanade of the European Parliament in Brussels on Tuesday, 30 April.

The theme of this year’s event is ‘youth and democracy’ as we mobilise young voters and European politicians to ‘#YouthUp the European Elections’ (23 -26 May) as part of our wider #ChangeIsComing campaign to increase youth participation and turnout.

Anna Widegren, Secretary General of the European Youth Forum:

Yo!Fest is a unique, fun and inspiring experience, but it’s also an opportunity for young Europeans to share their experience of European life and challenge our politicians to #YouthUp the European Elections! In 2014 only 28% of young people in Europe voted in the European elections. Our generation needs to make its voice heard on some of Europe’s most challenging problems and help shape the solutions.

The full activity programme for Yo!Fest 2019 is an exciting mix of live music acts, debates with politicians and leading political candidates, interactive workshops on digital activism and advice on how to engage with this year’s elections. Some workshop highlights include:

- #ClimateStrike: How one girl started an international movement

- Voting for Europe: Why should I take part in this year’s European Elections?

- Boosting Young Women in Politics

- Election Integrity 2.0: Voter participation in the digital era

- Memes, Dreams and activism: Being a Human Rights campaigner in the age of the algorithm

The Yo!Fest does not end as the sun goes down! Join us for a spectacular open-air concert featuring music performances from Belgian and international headliners as well as winners of our emerging bands competition. Some pre-Yo!Fest events will also take place at the same venue on Monday, 29th including a live screening and ‘watch party’ of the Maastricht Debate between young Europeans and candidates to be the next European Commission President.

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European Youth Week

Yo!Fest 2019 is extra special as we join the European Commission and the European Parliament to celebrate European Youth Week - with events happening across Europe (29 April to 5 May).

Maastricht Debate ‘Watch Party’

European politics is coming to the big screen on the European Esplanade on Monday, 29 April (18.30 – 21.00). Come and watch leading candidates from major European political groups battle it out to tell YOU (the voters) their vision and plans for the future of Europe.

This live televised debate between leading candidates for the position of President of the European Commission is co-organised by the European Youth Forum and will focus on 3 main themes that matter to young people: Digital Europe, Future of Europe, and Sustainable Europe.

Voters from all over Europe are invited watch the debate live on TV or on Facebook and to give their reactions and opinions online with #MaastrichtDebate.

#ChangeIsComing Campaign

The road to a new European Parliament must include youth! The European Youth Forum’s #ChangeIsComing campaign aims to amplify young people’s vision, ideas and opinions and bring European democracy closer to us, as young Europeans. We are calling on every political party and every candidate to engage with us, listen to us and represent us!