The Mainz Youth Conference is entering its fifth year: On Thursday, November 5, up to 300 young people will gather at the Hechtsheim Community Center to develop their own project ideas for their city and present them to representatives from the city administration, politics, and other institutions. The event is open to young people between the ages of 13 and 17 who live in Mainz or attend school there. Registration is open online here (opens in a new tab) until October 29, 2026.

Jana Schmöller, Commissioner for Children and Youth: “This year we’re celebrating a small milestone: in 2026, the Mainz Youth Conference will be held for the fifth time. This year, too, we want to implement an inclusive participation model. We want as many young people as possible—from diverse backgrounds and all types of schools—to take part. In particular, we want to attract younger students who haven’t been involved yet. I’m already looking forward to the conference’s results.”

Here’s how the conference day will unfold

The day begins with a crash course in local politics. The young people learn what the city is responsible for and which issues they should bring to the city administration. Afterward, they have the entire morning to exchange ideas, develop their own project ideas, and document them on posters.

In the afternoon, the event opens to the public: During the “Gallery Walk,” the young people present their ideas to representatives from the city administration, politics, and other partner organizations. This leads to project sponsorships and the formation of project groups. They have one year to develop and implement the proposals. Half of the spots are reserved for eighth-grade classes from all types of schools; the remaining spots are open for registration.

Democracy in Action for Young People

Democracy thrives on participation, and that applies to all age groups. Under the motto “Shaping Mainz Together,” the state capital of Mainz focuses on participation rather than a passive role: Citizens contribute their ideas, the city takes them up, and makes its actions transparent. For young people, the “Mainz Youth Conference” was launched in 2022 to give the younger generation a voice.

A Look Back: The Mainz Youth Conference Since 2022

More than 1,000 young voices, one goal: At the past four youth conferences, a total of 1,041 young people from 24 schools discussed what should change in their city. They were joined by a total of 270 representatives from city administration, politics, and other institutions, who showed great interest in the young people’s ideas and were willing to serve as mentors. Whether buses and trains, bike paths, environmental protection, digital services, or recreation and sports: the range of topics was broad.

As the organizer, the Office for Youth and Family places great importance on a clear principle: The young people are not merely idea generators; rather, they are in the driver’s seat and decide how their projects take shape. Those who experience an idea turning into a project gain firsthand experience of political self-efficacy. The groups receive backing from their project mentors, who support them in implementing their plans.

The first four years have shown that posters can turn into projects. The 2022 conference gave rise to the “Rein am Rhein” trash collection challenge: For six weeks, around 150 children and young people cleaned up Mainz. The idea made a comeback, as in 2025 the “Grüne Stadt” group—which had emerged from the 2024 conference—organized a new challenge. This time, around 300 participants took part. Also at the request of young people, a calisthenics and basketball court was built in the Volkspark, and the Bretzenheim Youth Center has since had a solar bench where cell phones can be charged using solar energy.

Other groups sought dialogue or took the stage right away. At the public transit summit, ten young people described to Mainzer Mobilität staff how buses and trains are faring in everyday life, for example regarding cashless payments. At the “Summer on the Dancefloor” youth event hosted by the Mombach Canoe Club, around 50 young people celebrated a party they had organized themselves. The youngest group is also making progress: Students are advocating for more bike parking spaces around their school, and the project is underway. In addition, “sport boxes”—from which balls and training equipment can be borrowed—are set to be installed in the Volkspark and on Goetheplatz. Not every idea can be implemented immediately, but every one is heard, and many become reality. The ideas the young people will bring this year will be revealed on November 5 at the Hechtsheim Community Center.

Registration and Further Information

Young people can register online through October 29, 2026:
https://jugend-in-mainz.de/juko-anmeldung (opens in a new tab)

Further information and updates on the project groups can be found on the “Jugend in Mainz” website: https://jugend-in-mainz.de/juko (opens in a new tab)