The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe has received a record-breaking number of applications for its “Rejuvenating Politics” initiative for 2026.

By the 15 December deadline, 830 applications had been submitted from 46 member states and one Partner for Local Democracy, almost doubling the number received last year and marking the highest level of interest in the programme since its launch.

Up to one young person from each of the 46 member states of the Council of Europe may be selected as a Congress youth delegate. The selected delegates will be invited to actively participate in the Congress plenary sessions in March and October 2026 and to develop their own grassroots projects in their home countries.

The Congress warmly thanks all partners, institutions and individuals who helped promote the call for applications across various platforms, contributing significantly to the success of this year’s campaign.

The 2026 cohort of Congress youth delegates will be announced in February 2026.