Australian
Catholic
Youth
Festival
Melbourne, Victoria • 30 Nov - 2 Dec 2025
Australian Catholic Youth Festival (ACYF) is a national gathering of Catholic young people established by the Australian Bishops more than ten years ago.
Run over three days, the Festival provides young people from all across Australia with the opportunity to come together to connect, deepen their relationship with Jesus, be empowered to live their faith in the world and experience the breadth of the Church in Australia.
The Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne is excited to be hosting ACYF from 30 November – 2 December 2025 and is looking forward to welcoming thousands of young people to Melbourne.
What is ACYF?
ACYF (Australian Catholic Youth Festival) is a three-day national Catholic festival for young people in Year 9 – 25 years of age.
This year, the Festival will be held from Sunday 30 November – Tuesday 2 December.
When and where will the next ACYF be held?
The next ACYF will be hosted by the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne and held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC). Located within Melbourne’s vibrant city centre, MCEC is conveniently situated along the banks of the Yarra River, a short walk from two major city train stations as well as accessible by tram and bus (with designated drop off zones).
The Festival will begin on Sunday 30 November (afternoon) and finish on Tuesday 2 December (evening). Find out more about the Festival program here.
Who is ACYF for?
Young people from Year 9 (in 2025) up to those 25 years of age are invited to come along. Those aged 18-25 years are welcome to register as part of a group (uni, school, parish etc.) or as an individual. Those aged under 18 will need to register as part of a group (school, parish etc.) and be supervised an adult group leader. Find out more about how to register here.
What does ACYF involve?
ACYF is a three-day festival bringing together thousands of young people from all across Australia. The Festival will include opportunities for engagement with other young people, school and youth groups, Bishops, musicians and speakers. Each day will include the opportunity to engage in a wide range of activities including prayer, Mass, workshops, talks, live concerts, games, justice issues and an interactive expo. More information about the Festival program can be found here.
Who will be at the Festival?
Just like previous festivals, we are expecting thousands of young people and leaders from schools, parishes and communities from all across Australia, as well as many of our Bishops. Along with participants, we will also have a large range of presenters, performers and expo stall exhibitors.
We are currently in the process of securing a range of engaging and quality speakers on a variety of topics. Find out more about our confirmed speakers here.
What does it cost to register?
Registration costs are based on geographical location, as we understand that those travelling from regional Victoria and interstate will have additional transport and accommodation costs.
Groups will be responsible for all travel to/from the Festival as well as organising any accommodation needs. Meals from vendors at the venue will be available at additional cost.
More information about registration, including costs and how to register can be found here.
How do I find out more?
To express your interest in the Festival, please fill out this form.
Or contact us via: acyf@cam.org.au | (03) 7064 3995.
If you would like to be nominated as a key point of contact for your diocese or organisation and receive specific communication about the Festival, please let us know.
