The festival has been held regularly since 1947 as an event of global youth solidarity for democracy and against war and imperialism . The largest festival was the 6th , held in 1957 in Moscow , when 34,000 young people from 131 countries attended the event . This festival also marked the international debut of the song " Moscow Nights " , which subsequently went on to become perhaps the most widely recognized Russian song in the world . Until the 19th festival in Sochi , Russia in 2017 ( with 185 countries participating ) , the largest festival by number of countries with participants was the 13th , held in 1989 in Pyongyang when 177 countries attended the event
6th
6th World Festival of Youth and Students
World Festival of Youth and Students