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AzerNEWS Staff

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The “Modern Cities and Technology” camp, the fourth camp of the Yay Fest 2026 youth festival, has concluded in Azerbaijan’s Shamakhi district with a five-day programme focused on smart cities, artificial intelligence, innovation and sustainable development.

Supported by the Youth Foundation of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the camp aimed to strengthen young people’s knowledge and skills in modern urban planning, architecture, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, innovation and sustainable development, while fostering creative thinking, leadership and teamwork.

At the start of the camp, participants visited the monument to National Leader Heydar Aliyev in Shamakhi and laid flowers in his memory before heading to the camp site to begin the programme.

According to AzerNEWS, the five-day programme brought together representatives of government institutions and the private sector for discussions on urban development, reconstruction, security, artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.

Sessions included “A New Vision for Urban Planning: Experience, Innovation and Inclusivity”, “From Return to the Future: Security and Sustainable Development”, “AI for Digital City” and “Smart Robots, Smart Future”.

Participants were briefed on reconstruction and redevelopment projects in Karabakh and East Zangezur, modern urban planning practices, mine risks and safe return, as well as the role of artificial intelligence in planning and managing the cities of the future.

The programme also explored smart city solutions, robotics and emerging professions, giving young participants an insight into how technology could reshape urban life and the future labour market.

An interactive session organised by IDEA Public Union focused on environmental challenges and innovative solutions amid rapid urbanisation. Participants also met Azerbaijani statesman, diplomat, scholar and Doctor of Historical Sciences Hasan Hasanov to discuss Azerbaijan’s rich history and statehood traditions.

The educational programme was complemented by a range of practical and recreational activities, including the “Your Idea: The City of the Future!” ideathon, the “KOD Karabakh” intellectual game, the “Revival” Urban Art workshop, an airsoft tactical game, an excursion to the Observatory Museum, sports competitions and team-building activities.

Evenings at the festival featured music, dancing and informal conversations around a campfire, adding a social dimension to the programme.

Organisers said the “Modern Cities and Technology” camp helped participants develop skills suited to contemporary challenges, build innovative perspectives on the cities of the future and expand their networks with other young people.

Yay Fest 2026, described by organisers as Azerbaijan’s largest youth festival in terms of participant numbers and duration, will continue until September 4 with five further camps focusing on “Science, Ethics and the Future”, “Engineering and Coding”, “Start-ups and Entrepreneurship”, and “AI – Sport and Health”.

The festival is supported by the Youth Foundation of the Republic of Azerbaijan, with IDEA Public Union as a partner, and is jointly organised by the National Council of Youth Organisations of Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan Student Youth Organisations Union, Azerbaijan Volunteer Organisations Union, Azerbaijani Students and Alumni Platform, “CAVAN” Youth Movement Public Union, “Great Return” Youth Organisation and “Young Volunteers” Public Union.

The Youth Foundation has invited young people to register through the Yay Fest website and take part in interviews for the upcoming camps. Applicants aged 18 to 25 who demonstrate active civic engagement will be given preference. Each participant may attend only one camp.