Youth Democracy Summit  & Civics Fair 2026 

On Election Day, November 3, 2026, more than 100 students, educators, civic leaders, policymakers, and community partners from across Arlington County and surrounding communities will gather at the historic Dorothy Hamm Middle School in Arlington, Virginia, for Youth Democracy Institute's inaugural Youth Democracy Summit & Civics Fair. Culminating YDI's America 250 commemoration, this daylong gathering will bring together students in grades 4–12 with leaders and representatives from Arlington Public Schools, the Arlington County Board, Arlington School Board, the Bill of Rights Institute, the League of Women Voters of the United States, Boolean Girl, the Forum for Youth Investment, Mastercard, and other institutions to experience democracy in action, elevate youth voices, and inspire the next generation of civic leaders.

Through three grade-based tracks—Civic Foundations, Digital Citizenship, and Power Building—students will participate in interactive workshops, engage with civic leaders, and explore solutions to challenges facing their schools and communities. Students will also elect representatives to YDI's Youth Advisory Council and begin identifying priorities for a Youth Policy Agenda, while high school participants showcase civic action projects and compete for cash prizes during the Civics Fair, supported by the Bill of Rights Institute. More than a one-day event, the Summit empowers young people to use their voices, exercise civic leadership, and help shape the decisions, policies, and investments that affect their futures.