Building the Future of Youth Ultimate: EUF Youth Conference 2026 in Vienna
European Youth Conference 2026 © European Ultimate Federation / Oliver Hülshorst
On 8 and 9 August 2026, representatives from across the European Ultimate community came together at the ÖFB Campus in Vienna for the EUF Youth Conference 2026. Held alongside the European Youth Ultimate Championship U17, the conference created a dedicated space to exchange experiences, share successful projects and discuss how sustainable youth programs and new opportunities for young people can be developed across Europe.
“The EUF Youth Conference was a wonderful experience and a valuable opportunity to learn about successful approaches from other countries’ youth programmes,” said Hemma Gritsch, Youth Coordinator of the Austrian Ultimate Federation. “The exchange showed that, despite national and structural differences, there are many similarities and shared challenges, and that we can learn a great deal from one another.”
At the heart of the conference was one central question: How can we create sustainable youth programmes and career opportunities within European Ultimate?
From successful projects to shared solutions
The first day focused on the journey from an initial idea to a sustainable youth project. Following the welcome and an interactive opening session, speakers presented practical examples of youth initiatives from different countries and organisations.
Emma from Jeugd Ultimate Nederland, Max and Sylvia Calza together with Marco Delavedova from ASD Libera, Hemma Gritsch and Ine Lanckriet from Gentle Ultimate shared their experiences, challenges and lessons learned. Their presentations demonstrated the different ways in which youth programmes can be created and developed, while also highlighting many of the challenges shared by organisations across Europe.
The sessions were followed by a panel discussion moderated by Jakob Dunshirn, giving participants the opportunity to ask questions, compare approaches and explore how successful ideas could be adapted within their own clubs, organizations and national federations.
Beyond the official program, shared meals, informal conversations and a relaxed evening walk through Vienna’s Prater offered additional opportunities for participants and speakers to connect and exchange ideas.
Participation, volunteers and federation support
The second day turned the focus towards the structures and people needed to make youth programmes sustainable in the long term.
Dillon Richardson presented the work of the WFDF Academy and its youth programmes, while Caroline Tisson from DOSB Youth addressed volunteer management and sustainability. Siiri Turonen from ENGSO Youth explored youth representation and the importance of actively involving young people in the organisations and decisions that affect them.
Dillon Richardson presented the work of the WFDF Academy and its youth programs, while Caroline Tisson from DOSB Youth addressed volunteer management and sustainability. Siiri Turonen from ENGSO Youth explored youth representation and the importance of actively involving young people in the organizations and decisions that affect them.
A further panel discussion examined how federations can better support youth initiatives and how cooperation at national and European level can help promising projects grow. Throughout the weekend, the open and collaborative atmosphere encouraged participants to speak honestly about the challenges they face and to work together on possible solutions.
The conference started after the EYUC U17 final, which made the discussions especially meaningful. Just outside the conference room, hundreds of young athletes were still present, having competed, connected and experienced Ultimate at an international level throughout the tournament – a strong reminder of why continued investment in youth development is so important.
Turning ideas into action
The conference concluded with a practical action-planning session. Participants were encouraged to identify a concrete action for their own organisation, the support they need from their federation, a possible European-level initiative, potential partners and their next step following the conference.
The results will be reviewed by the EUF Youth Committee and will help guide future cooperation and youth development activities. The conference presentations and resources will also be made available through the WFDF Academy, supporting continued exchange, feedback and the development of a wider community of practice beyond the weekend in Vienna.
The EUF would like to thank all speakers, moderators, participants, volunteers and partners who contributed to the conference. Their openness, experience and willingness to collaborate made the weekend a valuable step towards a stronger and more sustainable future for Youth Ultimate in Europe.
The conference may have ended, but the work now continues through the projects, partnerships and ideas that participants will take back to their communities across Europe.
