Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — The municipal government has announced the ‘Great Month of Youth 2026,’ a program featuring more than 30 free activities throughout August aimed at promoting inclusion, civic participation, and youth development for over 10,000 young people in Playa del Carmen and Puerto Aventuras.
The initiative, led by the Municipal Youth Institute, expands the International Youth Day commemoration into a full month of sports, cultural, educational, recreational, social, and prevention-focused activities. Special emphasis is placed on historically vulnerable groups, including youth with disabilities, chronic illnesses, those deprived of liberty, and members of LGBTQ+ and religious communities.
José Gabriel Pérez Álvarez, director of the Municipal Youth Institute, said during the presentation at the old City Hall that the goal is to create spaces where young people can strengthen skills, build life projects, and actively participate in community transformation. ‘We want no one to be left out,’ he said, stressing equal opportunities for all youth.
Key activities include a geocaching contest aimed at addiction prevention, a photography competition on youth identity, the Señorita Independencia pageant focusing on oratory and creativity, summer courses, boxing exhibitions for peace, color and neon races, entrepreneurship workshops, sexual health prevention sessions, and a ‘Youth Time Capsule 2026.’
The program also features meetings tied to the state youth congress, women’s empowerment activities, and the Municipal Youth Award. Ongoing free classes in English, Portuguese, French, karate, and public speaking will continue, along with psychological counseling and social service programs in coordination with the Youth Integration Center, Women’s Institute, and Civic Justice offices.
Instead of a registration fee, participants are asked to donate school supplies, which will be distributed to children and adolescents in communities such as Campamento Hidalgo and Cortés, as well as families referred by the Municipal DIF system.
Another highlight is the ‘My Collective XV Years’ program, which will help vulnerable teenagers celebrate their quinceañera through a socioeconomic selection process. Additionally, the ‘ODS 2026 Summer Camp,’ aligned with the UN 2030 Agenda, will focus on leadership skills and networking with young Quintana Roo residents who have excelled nationally and internationally.
Officials also announced the upcoming opening of a free gym at Ciudad Juventud, part of a strategy to promote healthy lifestyles, prevent addictions, and improve physical and emotional well-being among youth.
