ITU's Global Youth Celebration 2025, held on 16 November, brought hundreds of young leaders from around the world together. The celebration in Baku, the Republic of Azerbaijan, highlighted ITU's continued efforts to develop digital skills, foster future leadership, and their choice: to place youth at the center of digital development and transformation, not as mere beneficiaries but as active co-architects.

The event took place on the eve of the World Telecommunication Development Conference and was hosted by the Government of Azerbaijan, with support from Intersputnik and ZTE. A central feature of the program was an intergenerational dialogue that brought together young visionaries, policymakers, and industry leaders. This exchange underscored the shared responsibility of shaping an inclusive digital future and demonstrated how youth perspectives can strengthen global digital development strategies.

Beyond the dialogue, participants joined immersive, hands-on learning experiences that offered a front-row view of the digital technologies shaping tomorrow. Three parallel tracks explored key areas of aviation and space communications. At the National Aviation Academy, youth engaged in discussions with leaders from the aviation sector before experimenting with Boeing and Airbus flight simulators and visiting a drone and aviation model laboratory. A second track at Azercosmos introduced participants to orbital antennas and telecommunications links that enable communication with the International Space Station. Meanwhile, an interactive session at STEAM Azerbaijan allowed young delegates to hear directly from astronauts about how telecommunications support space exploration.

By day's end, the energy remained high as participants reconvened to share reflections and insights from their site visits. The enthusiasm underscored a broader message echoed throughout the event: that young people must remain central to every aspect of ITU’s work. As ITU continues advancing global digital development, the celebration reaffirmed a core principle: nothing about youth should be decided without youth. It called for sustained investment in digital skills, meaningful connectivity, and formal roles for youth in decision-making processes.