Melbourne: The Australian Catholic Youth Festival (ACYF) 2025 has reached full capacity, with more than 6,000 young people registered to attend the dynamic celebration of faith at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre from Sunday, November 30, to Tuesday, December 2.
Young pilgrims will journey from across the nation, accompanied by bishops, clergy, religious leaders, and youth coordinators, creating a diverse and spirited gathering. The festival will feature keynote speakers, interactive workshops, live music, over 200 volunteers, and more than 100 exhibitors, promising a rich experience of the Church’s vibrancy in Australia. A waitlist has been established for those still hoping to join the event.
With the festival less than a month away, preparations are in full swing not only by organisers but also by schools, parishes, and faith communities preparing groups of young pilgrims. A specially crafted Pilgrim Formation Guide, inspired by this year’s theme, “Pilgrims of Hope,” has been made available to support both practical planning and spiritual readiness. Additionally, online briefing sessions for group coordinators will guide leaders in the weeks leading up to the festival.
A dedicated ACYF event app will soon launch, offering full details of plenary sessions, workshops, speakers, exhibitors, and essential festival information, ensuring that every participant can navigate the program with ease.
Melbourne Archbishop Peter A. Comensoli expressed delight at the overwhelming response and encouraged pilgrims to engage deeply in preparation: “After many months of planning, it is a joy to welcome thousands of young Catholics from across Australia to Melbourne. God has something extraordinary in store for each of you. Enter into this festival with prayerful hearts and openness to what He wishes to do in and through you. Remember, the Church walks with you, prays for you, and believes in you.”
The ACYF promises to be a celebration of faith, hope, and community, bringing together young Australians to encounter God, one another, and the wider Church in a spirit of joy and fellowship.