12 August this year marks twenty-five years of celebrating International Youth Day. The United Nations has a long history of spotlighting youth and bringing issues surrounding and championed by young people to the attention of the global community. In December 1999, a recommendation that 12 August marked International Youth Day was passed by the General Assembly and what has followed has been a quarter of a century of recognising the importance of young people.
12 August 2025 will see Cities of Literature from across the world take part in virtual and in-person events to celebrate young people and their contributions to society. The theme for this year is local Youth Actions for the Sustainable Development Goals with a particular focus on the essential role of local and regional governments.
Iowa City of Literature will be celebrating International Youth Day with a series of social media messages to promote discussion. To mark International Youth Day 2025, Dunedin City of Literature was proud to commission a short film by Ajax Banstola (aged 11), host of podcast Factbeast on Dunedin’s OAR FM, who considers how words and technology connect young people. On 12 August check out the video on the Dunedin City of Literature website, YouTube and social media to learn more. Tukums City of Literature will also be joining the celebrations with events taking place at their local Youth Centre.
On Saturday 9th August, Nottingham City of Literature’s Youth Advisory Board will be hosting a pop-up event in Victoria Centre from 11am to 3pm. Attendees will be invited to enjoy a display of creative pieces from members of the board as well as submissions from the public. There will also be multiple stands from Nottinghamshire based creative organisations.
As chair of the Youth Advisory board, Annie Cross had this to say;
“International Youth Day is a hugely important time in our calendar each year. It gives us the amazing opportunity to reconnect with the youth of Nottingham with the aim of reinvigorating their interest in creativity and the arts. I actually first got involved with the Youth Advisory Board after attending an International Youth Day event three years ago and I really hope this year’s event will do the same for others.”
International Youth Day takes place on 12 August. It was established at the general assembly in 1999. For more information on International Youth Day, please visit: https://www.un.org/en/observances/youth-day/background
UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN): Established in 2004, the UCCN aims to foster collaboration among cities that recognise creativity as a crucial element in achieving sustainable urban development. 350 cities worldwide are part of this network, united in their pursuit of a shared goal: integrating creativity and cultural industries into their local development strategies while actively cooperating on the global stage. The Network encompasses seven creative fields: Crafts and Folk Art, Design, Film, Gastronomy, Literature, Media Arts, and Music.
Fifty-three UNESCO Creative Cities of Literature from 39 countries are currently members of the Network, diligently working together to harness the transformative power of literature in fostering sustainable and inclusive societies.
For more information on the UCCN, please visit: https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities/home
To learn more about the UNESCO Creative Cities of Literature Network: