Passionate about renewable energy and looking for a platform where your ideas actually reach global decision-makers? The IRENA Youth Forum 2027 brings young energy leaders from around the world to Abu Dhabi, fully funded, to shape conversations happening at the heart of the global energy transition.
Now in its eighth edition, the Forum is organized by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and runs alongside the IRENA Assembly, the agency’s key annual decision-making event. This year’s theme, “Youth Energising the Future: Grids, Storage and Flexibility for Renewable Energy Systems,” focuses on how young people are driving grid modernization and energy storage solutions to expand renewable access worldwide.
However, spots are limited to a small, selective cohort, and applications close on September 30, 2026. Therefore, getting your application in with a clear, specific account of your work in the sector matters far more than a generic interest in sustainability.
Quick Facts
- Host City: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Program Type: Fully funded youth forum and conference
- Organized By: International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)
- Eligible Applicants: Youth worldwide, all nationalities
- Forum Dates: January 6–7, 2027, with a closing session January 8 and youth-led activities through January 13
- Application Deadline: September 30, 2026
About the IRENA Youth Forum
The IRENA Youth Forum has run since 2020 as IRENA’s flagship platform for youth empowerment and intergenerational dialogue on renewable energy. As a result, it’s become one of the more established fully funded youth conferences in the energy space, with a track record spanning eight editions.
The 2027 edition takes place directly alongside the Seventeenth IRENA Assembly at St. Regis Saadiyat Island, giving selected delegates direct exposure to the same room where governments and global energy leaders set policy direction. If you’re weighing other fully funded international programs, the Chevening Scholarship 2027 in the UK is a useful comparison point for a longer-term, degree-based alternative.
What’s Covered (Financial Benefits)
For selected delegates, the Forum provides comprehensive sponsorship. Benefits include:
- Full travel sponsorship to and from Abu Dhabi
- Accommodation for the duration of the Forum
- Access to the IRENA Youth Forum sessions, including the High-Level Opening and interactive workshops
- Access to the Closing Session during the Seventeenth IRENA Assembly
- Participation in youth-led activities, including the Youth Booth and Lounge and the IRENA Pavilion at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week
Callout: There is no application fee to apply, which makes this a genuinely low-barrier opportunity compared to programs that require upfront costs even before selection. It’s a similarly accessible structure to the Open Doors Scholarship 2027 in Russia, which also charges no fee to apply.
Eligibility Criteria
To apply for the IRENA Youth Forum 2027, you should be:
- Actively engaged in renewable energy, sustainability, innovation, or related fields
- Leading or contributing to projects, startups, research, or advocacy initiatives that advance the energy transition
- Motivated to collaborate with peers and partners to scale impact globally
- Able to submit your application in English
Applications are welcome from all countries worldwide, with selection also taking into account geographic and gender balance. Just as with the University of Milan DSU Scholarship, demonstrating a genuine, specific track record matters more here than a broad personal statement.
Required Documents
While the exact document checklist is confirmed through the official application portal, applicants should be prepared with:
- A clear account of your current work or project in renewable energy, sustainability, or innovation
- Evidence of leadership or contribution to relevant initiatives, research, or advocacy
- A completed application form, submitted entirely in English
- Basic identification and contact details
How to Apply
- Visit the official IRENA Youth Forum application portal.
- Complete the online application, describing your work in renewable energy or related fields clearly and specifically.
- Submit before September 30, 2026 — late applications are not accepted.
- Wait for selection results, since the Forum accepts a small, competitive cohort rather than an open-enrollment format.
- If selected, confirm your travel details with the organizing team ahead of the January Forum dates.
Therefore, applying early rather than at the last minute gives you room to fix any technical issues with the online submission process.
Why This Opportunity Is Worth the Effort
Few youth programs place delegates directly alongside an intergovernmental assembly where real energy policy decisions are made. In addition, the multi-day format — from the Forum itself through the Assembly’s closing session to youth-led activities at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week — gives selected delegates sustained access and networking time well beyond a single-day event.
If you’re exploring more fully funded international opportunities, browse our full list of scholarships to see how this compares to other global programs.
Yes. Selected delegates receive full travel sponsorship and accommodation for the duration of the Forum.
No. There is no application fee to apply for the IRENA Youth Forum.
The application deadline is September 30, 2026.
Applications are open to youth of all nationalities worldwide, with selection also weighing geographic and gender balance.
The main Forum runs January 6–7, 2027, with a closing session on January 8 and youth-led activities continuing through January 13 in Abu Dhabi.