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First Youth Reception 2026
If, as a young person, you want to help shape politics, that doesn't mean waiting to be invited — it means actively inviting yourself.
That's exactly what the Umbrella Association of Youth Municipal Councils Baden-Württemberg did together with the Aramis Orchestra on June 6th. You have to meet people where they are in their everyday lives — that's why the Youth Reception didn't take place just anywhere, but in the White Hall of the New Palace in Stuttgart. With the Minister of Social Affairs, ten members of the state parliament, and over 200 guests in total, the evening was a complete success. I had the honor of moderating it.
Between musical performances and the presentation of political demands, I also got to moderate a short discussion round with our Minister of Social Affairs. One task in particular is tricky: getting concrete statements from political figures on behalf of young people, keeping sight of what matters, and asking pointed follow-up questions without breaching political etiquette. Certainly no easy feat.
As a moderator, I also feel committed to another goal: creating a space where genuine encounters and honest exchange are possible. There's enough division in this society already. What matters is how we can shape things together despite differing perspectives.
The best way to predict the future is to create it.
The fact that most of the politicians stayed in the foyer long after the stage program ended, actively engaging with the young people, isn't just proof of the reception's success. It also shows what young people can achieve when they share a common goal.
The Aramis Orchestra's musical accompaniment played a major role in filling the words spoken on stage with emotion. It became clear what moves young people in our country and I'm very proud to give that movement expression through my moderation.
White Hall, New Palace Stuttgart – encounters, music, and political voices
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