Porto, September 9, 2026: The Global Youth Impact Summit 2026 (GYIS 2026) concluded in Porto-Gaia, Portugal, with more than 50 young delegates from over 45 countries adopting and signing the Porto Youth Declaration, pledging collective action for sustainable development, international cooperation and inclusive participation.
Organised by the Council for Global Affairs & Development (CGAD), the four-day summit was held from September 3 to 6 at the Holiday Inn Hotel in Porto-Gaia, bringing together emerging youth leaders, diplomats, civil society representatives, entrepreneurs, innovators and educators from across Africa, the Americas, Asia-Pacific, Europe and the Middle East.
The Porto Youth Declaration was the principal outcome of the summit, with delegates reaffirming their commitment to advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The declaration focuses on climate action, education, economic opportunities, gender equality, inclusion and peace-building, while calling for meaningful youth participation in addressing global challenges.
Young leaders also engaged with diplomats and international experts during the summit. Participants included Belgian Ambassador to Portugal Bart Lammens, Kosovo Ambassador Dr Edona Maloku Bërdyna and Philippine Ambassador to Portugal Paul Raymond P. Cortes.
Alyson Reneau, a Harvard Emerging Leader from the United States and President of GYIS 2026, also played a prominent role in the summit.
Participants endorsed an SDG Leadership Framework prioritising nine of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals for youth-led action and called for greater youth representation in policymaking and decision-making processes.
The summit’s Innovation Lab explored entrepreneurship, social enterprise partnerships and technology-driven solutions to development challenges.
Speaking at the conclusion of the summit, Reneau said GYIS 2026 had brought together diverse voices from around the world united by a shared commitment to creating positive change.
The Council for Global Affairs & Development described the Porto Youth Declaration as more than a document, calling it a movement representing young people from more than 45 nations working together for a fairer and more sustainable world.
The organisers announced that the Global Youth Impact Summit 2027 will be held in Paris, France, continuing the initiative’s mission of connecting young leaders across borders and promoting youth-led action for sustainable development.
The Porto summit built on earlier youth-led international dialogue, particularly the Youth Forum on Global Goals held in Istanbul, and reaffirmed the growing role of young people as innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers, community leaders and active partners in developing solutions to global challenges.
