In 2026, the international event Youth at the Top will take place once again. The 12th edition is scheduled for 16–17 July 2026 (or according to local conditions during the week of 13–19 July 2026).
Protected areas and nature protection associations and organisations across the Alps and the Carpathians are invited to take part in this cross-border event and to offer children and young people a meaningful experience in the mountains. Youth at the Top aims to bring participants closer to the Alpine environment, biodiversity, and the cultural heritage of the Alps, while fostering curiosity, awareness and responsibility for mountain landscapes.
As in previous years, all events will be connected by a shared theme. The theme for Youth at the Top 2026 is:
One Mountain – Many Ecosystems
Mountains are not uniform landscapes. From valley floors to high alpine zones, they are made up of many different ecosystems such as forests, alpine grasslands, wetlands, rocky habitats and freshwater systems. Each of these ecosystems has its own conditions, species and functions – yet they are closely connected and interdependent. Within each ecosystem, individual plant and animal species play specific roles. Some species are key to keeping an ecosystem in balance, while others are highly specialised and depend on very specific conditions to survive. By focusing on local species, participants can explore the needs of different species, how they interact with each other, and how changes in their habitat affect the entire ecosystem.
The theme allows for flexible implementation: activities can explore several different ecosystems within one mountain landscape, or they can focus in depth on a single ecosystem and its species, functions and challenges. Both approaches help participants understand how ecosystems work and why they are important for mountain biodiversity.
The theme also highlights the interaction between ecosystems. Mountain ecosystems do not exist in isolation – they form a connected ecological network along altitude gradients and across landscapes. Forests, meadows, wetlands and rocky areas act as stepping stones that allow species to move, adapt and survive, especially in the face of climate change. This introduces the concept of ecological connectivity and shows why protecting individual sites is not enough if connections between ecosystems are lost.
Humans are an integral part of mountain landscapes. Through land use, tourism, infrastructure and climate impacts, people influence ecosystems both positively and negatively. This theme encourages participants to reflect on human responsibility: how sustainable use, habitat protection and mindful behaviour can help keep ecosystems in balance and ensure that plant and animal species are protected for the future.
We look forward to another inspiring edition of Youth at the Top and to many local events across the mountain regions!