Registrations open for Australian Catholic Youth Festival

Registrations for the 2025 Australian Catholic Youth Festival (ACYF) have officially opened, with organisers also announcing the first line up of keynote speakers.

A national celebration of faith and mission, ACYF is a three-day festival for young people from Year 9 through to 25 years of age, blending liturgy, music, workshops, keynote addresses and service opportunities. The Festival will take place from Sunday 30 November to Tuesday 2 December 2025 at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre (MCEC).

‘Hosting the 2025 Festival is a joyful privilege,’ Festival Director Teresa Rhynehart said. ‘In a world that can sometimes cloud hope, thousands of young people gathering in our city will be a radiant sign of the Gospel. We can’t wait to welcome every pilgrim and see the young Church of Australia gathered together,’ she said.

Registration costs are based on geographical location, in light of those travelling from regional Victoria and interstate having additional transport and accommodation costs.

A number of keynote speakers have also been announced, including the internationally-renowned Fr Rob Galea, Australian-born Sister of Life Sr Mary Grace SV and the award-winning US author and podcaster Katie Prejean-McGrady. Also featured are US speaker and author Maggie Craig and hip-hop artist and poet Angie Angrisano.

Festival highlights include plenaries, hundreds of workshops, live music, opportunities for prayer and the Sacraments, as well as an expo space featuring ministries, universities and social-justice initiatives.

This year’s festival will open with a special pilgrimage walk from St Patrick’s Cathedral through the heart of the city and along the banks of the Yarra River en route to MCEC followed by an evening concert.

‘Melbourne is ready, and so are the youth across the Church in Australia,’ Teresa said.

‘If you’re searching for direction, friendship or simply a place to live joyfully, ACYF is where you’ll find it. I encourage every parish, school and movement to put the dates in the diary, fundraise generously and come with open hearts,’ she said.

The most recent festival, hosted by the Archdiocese of Perth in 2019, attracted more than 7,000 participants from every Australian state and territory—a momentum organisers are determined to build on in Melbourne.