Organized by Youth for Energy Southeast Asia (Y4E-SEA)

Applications for

SAYEF 2026

Now

Open!

Southeast Asia
Youth Energy Forum 2026

"Youth for Energy Security and Catalyst for Accessibility in Southeast Asia”

Y4E-SEA's Flagship Program

Manila,
Philippines

02 - 03 October
2026

Funding Support Available

About SAYEF

The Southeast Asia Youth Energy Forum (SAYEF) is a flagship regional youth forum organized by Youth for Energy Southeast Asia (Y4E-SEA). SAYEF will bring together youth, young professionals, academics, policymakers, industry leaders, and civil society actors from across Southeast Asia to exchange ideas and co-create solutions for the region’s energy and climate future.

The first edition of SAYEF was held in Bali in 2023, during Indonesia’s 2023 ASEAN Chairmanship, with key ideas and recommendations presented directly to the ASEAN Energy Ministers. Y4E-SEA organized the second edition of SAYEF in Kuala Lumpur in 2025, during Malaysia’s 2025 ASEAN Chairmanship, with the conference and related events convening over 2,000 participants and adoption of the first Southeast Asia Youth Declaration on Energy and Climate Action.

SAYEF provides a platform for knowledge-sharing, policy dialogue, and innovation through expert panel discussions and workshops, and networking opportunities. The forum serves as a platform for youth to voice their vision for a just, clean and sustainable energy future in Southeast Asia, while empowering them with the knowledge and skills to deliver.

SAYEF 2025 OVERVIEW

SAYEF 2025

1/3

SAYEF 2025 in Kuala Lumpur demonstrated that this generation exists. The forum brought together regional youth participants, energy stakeholders, and experts from across Southeast Asia, and produced the first Southeast Asia Youth Declaration on Energy and Climate, adopted with a call for intergenerational collaboration on a just and sustainable energy transition by 2030. SAYEF 2026 builds directly on that foundation. Sustainability remains the long-term horizon, and energy security and accessibility are the immediate levers that make it achievable and catalyzing accessibility – which falls under the second half of this forum’s theme, means reliable, affordable energy reaching every community. This includes accessibility as a seat at the table for every generation. Both are preconditions for a just transition, and this forum is designed to advance both.

SAYEF 2026

This year, SAYEF will be held in Manila following the Philippines’ 2026 ASEAN Chairship, with the theme “Youth for Energy Security and Catalyst for Accessibility in Southeast Asia”.

In SAYEF 2026, we are going to have 2 tracks that the delegates can register to.

Track 1: HELIX Energy Council

The HELIX Energy Council is a stakeholder-based energy policy simulation designed to provide young people with practical experience in navigating the complexities of energy governance and decision-making in Southeast Asia. Unlike traditional Model United Nations or Model ASEAN simulations that focus on country representation, HELIX places participants within a single integrated ASEAN energy system, where they assume the roles of key stakeholders from government, industry, academia, and civil society.

HELIX serves as a youth-led policy laboratory that draws inspiration from our 2025 SAYEF Essay Competition winner idea, and operationalises the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) 2026–2030. Throughout the simulation, delegates will evaluate competing interests, respond to emerging energy challenges, and develop evidence-based policy recommendations that balance economic, social, environmental, and technological considerations.At the conclusion of the program, delegates will collectively produce policy recommendations and strategic outcomes that reflect the decisions and negotiations undertaken throughout the simulation.

Track 2: IRENA NewGen Hackathon

The IRENA NewGen Hackathon is the innovation and implementation track of SAYEF 2026, designed to transform ideas into practical solutions that address real-world energy challenges across Southeast Asia. While the conference and policy discussions explore the region’s energy priorities at a strategic level, the hackathon serves as a platform for participants to develop tangible, scalable, and community-focused solutions that can contribute to a more secure, accessible, and sustainable energy future.
The 10 selected teams will work in multidisciplinary teams of three to five members to develop innovative solutions that respond to the needs of communities, industries, and energy systems within the ASEAN region. The program includes the following phase

For full details of SAYEF 2026 and the two tracks,

please view our Delegates Guide:

Delegates Guide

Helix Energy Council Registration:

Individual Registration

IRENA NewGen Hackathon Registration:

Group of 3-5 Registration

You may only apply to one of the two available tracks.

Please read the Delegates Guide before deciding which track best suits you.

Choose Your Track

General Eligibility Criteria

Youth aged 18 – 35 years old
Must be a Southeast Asian national
Must hold a valid passport and entry to Philippines
Preferably residing in SEA (if not, will only eligible for partially-funded or self-funded)
Strong interest in energy, climate, and sustainability
Available to travel to Manila, Philippines (2 - 3 October 2026)
Commitment to contribute, engage, and make impact

Registration Process

There will be a total of 4 types of registrations:

A

Fully-Funded

B

Partially-Funded

C

Self-Funded

D

Day Pass*

*This registration type will open closer to the forum date, intended for students/young professionals.

Registration period: now until 27 July 2026 (23.59 PM GMT+7)
Selection process: Applications reviewed based on eligibility, motivation, ideas, and potential impact. This will be reviewed based on the answers filled on the forms
Announcement of selected delegates: Approximately on the 3rd week of August 2026 (*exact date to be announced)
Register through our website www.youthenergysea.com/SAYEF2026