Munich’s historic Olympic Park will welcome thousands of budding change-makers for the 2025 One Young World Summit Nov. 3-6. The summit’s return to Munich marks a significant milestone following its modified 2021 gathering there during COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.
“We are really excited to be returning to the city of Munich. The opening ceremony will take place at the Olympiahalle in the historic Olympic Park, which remains architecturally iconic,” says Ella Robertson McKay, managing director of One Young World.
The summit accepts applications from leaders aged 18 to 30 who demonstrate measurable impact in their communities. Successful candidates typically bring a strong track record of community engagement, proven leadership experience, and a clear vision for implementing summit learnings in their local contexts. Evaluators look closely at applicants’ previous work, current initiatives, and plans for future development. Strong applications typically include concrete examples of leadership, clear implementation strategies, and thoughtful approaches to measuring impact.
Selected delegates gain access to a global network of alums who continue collaborating long after the summit ends. This network facilitates ongoing project partnerships, resource sharing, and mentorship opportunities throughout the year.
Successful applications demonstrate both individual achievement and potential for broader impact through the summit network.
Scholarship Opportunities
Helping to change the world doesn’t have to be costly: One Young World offers a comprehensive scholarship program. “Our scholarships remove barriers, ensuring access for talented individuals who might otherwise miss out. If you’re a young leader making a difference in your community, this is your opportunity to shine on the world stage,” Robertson McKay explains. These scholarships cover participation fees, hotel accommodation, economy travel costs, catering, and local transportation.
Applications have varying deadlines depending on the scholarship. For example, the Pernod Ricard Scholarship has a March 31, 2025, deadline. Pernod Ricard, in partnership with One Young World, is offering a fully funded scholarship for 10 to attend the 2025 One Young World Summit in Munich. The scholarship, which focuses on building positive social spaces and addressing harmful drinking, targets both hospitality professionals and individuals working on projects related to responsible drinking, social inclusion, and community safety. Recipients will join Pernod Ricard’s delegation at the summit, receive mentorship, and participate in post-summit sessions about the future of socializing. Applicants can view more scholarship opportunities at oneyoungworld.com/scholarships.
Countdown to the Main Event
The main summit proceedings will take place at Messe München, the city’s premier convention center. The program structure combines keynote speeches from global figures with hands-on workshops, facilitated networking sessions, and practical action-planning segments. Cultural exchange is central to the experience, with numerous opportunities for delegates to share their unique perspectives and local solutions.
“We are working on polling our global community as to what the themes for the summit will be,” Ella Robertson McKay shares. “But you can certainly expect to see themes very relevant to the city of Munich, like responsible technology and innovation like peace and security on the cards, as well as focuses on things like climate change.
“Obviously, Munich is the home of the Munich Security Conference. That’s clearly something where there’s a lot of expertise in the city of Munich.”
Ella Robertson McKay highlights the summit’s role as a catalyst for action. “The One Young World Summit in Munich will be a launchpad for the solutions our world so desperately needs. We can’t wait to welcome this year’s scholars and watch their journeys unfold.”
