16 projects were selected as finalists for the World YMCA Impact Awards, which were presented at the 21st YMCA World Council in Toronto on Thursday 23 July 2026.

“It was an exceptional response to our call for Award submissions,” said World YMCA Secretary General Carlos Sanvee.

“And all were winners: the global YMCA Movement; its National YMCA Movements and Local YMCA Associations which carried out these exceptional programmes; and the young people and communities who were served by them.

“It wasn’t easy to arrive at these 16 projects, and we thank all YMCAs who proudly presented their work. We committed to sharing and multiplying it all, in the spirit of our wider work in ‘learning, innovation and impact’.

“We very much looked forward to revealing the winners in Toronto. The 16 finalists offered the Movement a glimpse into the remarkable work taking place across the YMCA, alongside a summary of all the submissions from which they were chosen. Together, they told a story rich in content, excitement, energy and impact.”

From an initial 70 submissions, the 16 projects selected as finalists represented inspiring examples of the YMCA Movement’s work across the four Pillars of Vision 2030.