The 2026 WCF opens on Saturday, July 25, with Health & Environment Day to scaffold mutual empathy with common interests and shared visions, while teaching kids to care for themselves and the Earth. On the following, Creativity & Imagination Day, the delegates will co-imagine and collaboratively create the “Children’s Earth Flag” for NASA’s first human mission to Mars. On the final Peace & Leadership Day, seminars on America’s founding principles and empathy training will culminate in the creation of a large mural as the children’s gift to America on its 250th birthday.

The WCF opens at 10 AM each day and ends around 5 PM. The festival is located near 12th Street, NW, across from the Smithsonian Castle, and a block away from the Smithsonian Metro Station. 

Each workshop lasts 50 minutes, and several take place simultaneously. Subject matter experts can apply to host a workshop https://worldchildrensfestival.org/workshops.

The WCF’s educational intervention is based on STEAM education, integrating Art and Sports with the STEM disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Activities can take one or two hours. Subject matter experts can apply to host an activity https://worldchildrensfestival.org/workshops.

The WCF is known for electrifying performances by school troupes, ensembles, bands, choirs, dance groups, musicians, and singers. No adult performers are allowed. See this 3:42-minute music clip. Schools or individual performers ages 8 to 20 can apply to showcase their talents on the National Mall https://worldchildrensfestival.org/performers. To maintain WCF’s focus as a children’s celebration, no professional performers or entertainers are allowed.

The WCF paves the way for children to transform our wounded world into a wondrous one.

For festival program, click below: