Pretoria: Ahead of Youth Day, the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture will host a Creative and Cultural Industries Youth Career Expo on Monday, 15 June 2026, at the South African State Theatre in Pretoria. The expo aims to expose young people to career pathways, entrepreneurship opportunities, and technical skills within the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI).

According to South African Government News Agency, the expo is organized in collaboration with the Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, the Department of Basic Education, State Theatre, and the National Youth Development Agency. The event will begin at 8 am and will be held under the theme 'RESET@50 - The Future Calls', with the slogan 'Our National Commitment to the Future, for Freedom Lives in Every Generation'. The focus is 'Mapping the Barriers: Auditing Access for Economic Inclusion'.

The department emphasized the sacrifices made by the nation's youth towards freedom, justice, and equality, recognizing them as drivers of transformation. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the symbolic struggle, commemorated with a year-long program to honor the legacy of the class of 1976. The commemoration bridges the historic struggle for youth empowerment through equal education, inclusive economic participation, and skills development.

The initiative seeks to mobilize society towards practical pathways connecting young people to opportunities, promoting active citizenship, and showcasing interventions supporting youth employment and entrepreneurship. It intends to strengthen partnerships across sectors and restore hope for young people facing unemployment, exclusion, and related challenges.

Cabinet has called on all sectors of society to support initiatives empowering young people through education, skills development, entrepreneurship, and employment opportunities. Youth Month, observed annually in June, provides an opportunity to honor the legacy of the youth of 1976 and reflect on progress made in expanding opportunities for younger generations in a democratic South Africa.

The 2026 national Youth Day commemoration is set to take place at the FNB Premium Parking in Nasrec, City of Johannesburg, under the theme: 'RESET @50 - Our National Commitment to the Future for Freedom Lives in Every Generation.'