The St. Kitts-Nevis Youth Summit 2026 is underway, engaging young people ages 7 to 21 with the aim of empowering them to shape national policy, voice their concerns and drive meaningful change in St. Kitts and Nevis.

The week-long summit is being held at the Park Hyatt Resort at Banana Bay and concludes on Friday, August 14^th.

During Monday’s opening ceremony, Programme Director, Terrence Drew Jr. challenged young people to reject the idea that they must wait until adulthood to influence national development:

According to the SKN Youth Summit website, the programme is built around five arenas and five demands: governance, education, economy, health and wellbeing, and culture and identity.

The agenda calls for a National Youth Advisory Committee, strengthened financial and entrepreneurial education, and a National Youth Enterprise Fund, offering grants and loans to young entrepreneurs. It also proposes a free National Youth Mental Health Programme, including school counsellors and dedicated support services.

In culture and identity, the summit is calling for a National Youth Culture Fund and registration of certified young cultural practitioners.