The Department of the House of Representatives and Y Australia are pleased to announce that 150 participants for the National Youth Parliament 2026 have been selected.
The National Youth Parliament, to be held in Canberra from 16-20 August 2026, will empower young Australians from all walks of life with the knowledge, confidence and skills to actively participate in Australia's democratic and parliamentary system.
The fully-funded initiative will bring together 150 secondary school students – who will each represent one of Australia's federal electorates – to Parliament House and the Museum of Australian Democracy (Old Parliament House) for an immersive five-day program.
Through hands-on learning experiences, including simulated parliamentary debates, workshops with parliamentary leaders, and by engaging with real-world policy challenges, students will gain a deeper understanding of how Parliament works and the process by which bills are drafted, debated and passed into law.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Honourable Milton Dick MP, said 'We received 2,200 applications for National Youth Parliament, reflecting the strong interest among young Australians in learning about civics and our parliamentary system.'
'The future of Australia is in the hands of our young Australians, and the National Youth Parliament will give them real opportunities to learn how our system works and engage with our country's great democracy.'
Y Australia is a nationally recognised leader in youth civic engagement, with over 40 years' experience delivering Youth Parliament programs across the country.
CEO of Y Australia, Alexandra Ash, said 'The Y prides itself on being a leading platform for youth leadership, civic participation and youth-led change, while also giving young people a genuinely meaningful experience that helps them grow in confidence, capability and voice.'
'We can't wait to join our 150 young Australians in Canberra as they debate ideas, help shape policy thinking and bring their perspectives into broader conversations about social issues.'
