Workshop on political youth education: Democracy under pressure, target group issues and outlook for 2026

In the project and practical insights, it became clear how differently political youth education reacts to current social challenges. Among other things, the exchange focused on right-wing extremist attempts at appropriation, dealing with an organising right-wing extremist youth movement, historical-political educational work, qualification offers for democracy education and formats with a view to upcoming elections. It became clear that political youth education must both react to specific political developments and create its own alternative spaces, narratives and approaches.

Another focus was on current professional issues and needs. It was discussed how political education can better reach disadvantaged young people and which educational programmes are needed for non-German-speaking young people and for young people with links to authoritarian regimes. It became clear that political youth education needs to further refine its target groups, approaches and formats if it wants to fulfil its aim of enabling participation and strengthening democratic agency.

The annual overview of developments in political youth education and democracy education also took up a lot of space. Current debates and activities in the field of civic education, developments in the federal "Live Democracy!" programme, changes in federal actors as well as new publications, monitoring and transfer projects were discussed. It became clear that political youth education continues to be under high political pressure and at the same time is dependent on strong professional networking, resilient structures and continuous further development.

Finally, the focus turned to the workshop itself. In an exchange on needs and proposed topics for 2026, the focus was on how the workshop can better support the transfer into practice, provide new impetus and further strengthen professional dialogue. Once again, it became clear how important continuous spaces for understanding, reflection and networking are for political youth education in youth association work.

Further dates for the Political Youth Education Workshop can be found at Dates and events to find. For further networking and the exchange of information, impulses and events in the field of political youth education in youth organisation work, there is a mailing list for political youth education. Inclusion in the mailing list is open to all interested, active and responsible parties in the field of political youth education in youth organisations and associations. Political Youth Education Centre for inclusion in the mailing list.