Democracy lives from active participation. That is why the registration phase for the Vienna Children’s and Youth Parliament 2025/26 starts on the international day of democracy. From Monday the September 15, until October 24th can register kindergarten groups, entire school classes and young people in order to shape the city of tomorrow together with politics and administration.
Mayor and youth councilor Bettina Emmerling: “Democracy lives up from participation- and that from an early age. Young people in particular have to learn that their ideas and perspectives count. The Vienna Children’s and Youth Parliament is an important instrument for this: It makes democracy experienced and shows that say is not just a right but also a great opportunity. I am happy about every registration and invite all children and adolescents to become part of this process.”
Young people shape Vienna’s future
With the Vienna Child and Youth Strategy 2025–2030, the city of Vienna has set itself the goal of becoming the most child and youth-friendly city in the world. The strategy will soon be presented to the Vienna municipal council for decision -making. The children’s and youth parliament enables young people to bring their concerns and, together with experts, to develop concrete measures on the goals and fields of action of the child and youth strategy. These measures flow directly into the city’s work.
“In the children’s and youth parliament, young people experience that their voice counts. They appear in direct exchange with the city government, discuss their ideas and represent their concerns confidently. This not only strengthens their role as a mouthpiece in political discourse, but also shows how important their perspectives are for a child and youth-friendly city,” emphasizes, “emphasizes Benjamin Schmid, head of the Junge Vienna coordination office near Wienxtra.
Drain and participation
The Vienna Children’s and Youth Parliament meets between November 2025 and April 2026. After a kick-off and introductory date, they work on specific measures in thematic committees. Experts of the administration are integrated into the process. At a final event in the Vienna town hall, the results of the city government will be handed over.
Who can participate?
The children’s and youth parliament has been filled with it since 2021 and around 300 young people from all over Vienna take part every year.
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Children’s parliament: Groups from the last year of kindergarten and school classes from 1st to the 8th school level (selection by lottery).
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Youth parliament: Young people between the ages of 14 and 20 from all over Vienna (individual registration).
Registrations are from September 15 to October 24, 2025 above junges.wien.gv.at possible.
Viennaxtra – make democracy tangible
The Junge Vienna coordination office near Wienxtra organizes the children’s and youth parliament. In addition, Wienxtra implements numerous other offers for democracy education. From this semester, two new democracy workshops for school classes start in the Wienxtra city box: with “Democracy things” (for 1. – 6th school level) children discover playfully how rules arise and why participation is important. The workshop “Verplan on Ned!” (from 7th school level) lets young people slip into the role of city politicians and experience political decisions in the business game. Both offers are free. More information: wienxtra.at/stadtbox
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