Youth Dialogue Brings 250 Delegates to Manchester
Young people from across the EU and UK gathered in Manchester to discuss their relationship and Erasmus+ opportunities.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Youth
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Over 250 young delegates gathered for the 2026 EU-UK Youth Dialogue, hosted by the University of Manchester. The two-day event featured panel discussions and workshops on the EU-UK relationship and Erasmus+ participation.
Why it matters
The UK government has said it wants UK participation in Erasmus+ to be bigger than before. The Dialogue's message is intended to add to discourse ahead of the November 20 EU-UK Summit.
The fourth annual EU-UK Youth Dialogue drew over 250 young people across two days of panels and workshops in Manchester. The extraction does not report specific outcomes or recommendations from the delegates.
The players
Pia Ahrenkilde Hansen
Pia Ahrenkilde Hansen is the European Commission's Director-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture, overseeing EU education and youth policy.
Lucy Powell
Lucy Powell is the UK Secretary of State for Education, responsible for the UK government's education policy.
Bev Craig
Bev Craig is the Mayor of Greater Manchester, the elected leader of the region hosting the Dialogue.
Prof Malcolm Press CBE
Prof Malcolm Press CBE is Vice-Chancellor of The Manchester Metropolitan University and President of Universities UK, the representative body for UK universities.
The details
Delegates took part in panel discussions and workshops over two days, meeting leaders from both sides of the Channel. Speakers included European Commission and UK government officials, along with EU and Irish ambassadors and Greater Manchester's mayor.
Timeline
2026: Fourth annual EU-UK Youth Dialogue held in Manchester.
November 20, 2026: EU-UK Summit.
Youth Exchange Ties
The Dialogue centers on UK participation in Erasmus+, the EU's education and youth exchange programme that has long linked young people across Europe. The UK government's stated goal of expanding that participation makes the debate a test of how far youth exchange can anchor post-Brexit relations.
Young people in the UK and EU may gain new opportunities to study and train abroad if UK participation in Erasmus+ expands. The Dialogue offers a direct way for youth to shape how those opportunities are developed.
The takeaway
Young people's voices are being built into EU-UK policy discussions ahead of the November Summit. Those interested in study or exchange abroad should watch how Erasmus+ participation develops.
What happens next
The EU-UK Summit is scheduled for November 20, 2026, where the Dialogue's message is intended to inform discussion.
Further reading
For more on youth-focused coverage, explore our Youth section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Europa.
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Should the UK expand its participation in the Erasmus+ student exchange program?
