Program

ACYF is a three-day festival bringing together thousands of young people from all across Australia. The Festival will be held over three days from 30 November – 2 December 2025 and offers young people from across Australia a chance to come together in fellowship, grow in their faith, strengthen their relationship with Jesus and be inspired to live out their Catholic values in everyday life. The Festival will include opportunities for engagement with other young people, school and youth groups, bishops, musicians and speakers.

The Festival is shaped around the following foundations:

Encounter

Offering high-quality formative and experiential opportunities for young people to encounter Jesus Christ, in the context of the Catholic Church.

Evangelise

Evangelising young people and empowering them to share their faith with others.

Listen

Listening to young people and providing them with the opportunity to share and discuss the unique challenges they face in today’s world.

Experience

Providing local experiences for young people to discover more about vocation opportunities, social action, liturgy, prayer, music and catechesis.

The program for the Festival will include the following elements:

Pilgrimage walk: Pilgrims are invited to embark on a pilgrimage walk together from St Patrick’s Cathedral, East Melbourne to the Festival venue – the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, South Wharf. A special feature of the walk will be the presence of the World Youth Day Cross and Icon – gifted to the youth of the world by Pope John Paul II – which will journey to Australia for the Festival.
Main stage plenaries: A highlight of the Festival program is all pilgrims coming together to start and end each day as one group. These sessions provide the opportunity for celebration and learning through music, prayer and keynote addresses from dynamic Catholic speakers.
Workshops: A “choose your own adventure” experience designed so pilgrims can follow what sparks their curiosity and speaks to their heart. With over a hundred interactive and engaging sessions, pilgrims can explore how to pray, live their faith authentically and wrestle with the big questions of life. Pilgrims will hear from passionate experts, inspiring young leaders and bishops alike.
Sacred Spaces: Offering opportunities for a variety of prayer types and experiences, reflection and participation in the Sacraments – including a dedicated Festival Chapel.
Expo and Justice Activity Centre: A vibrant and interactive space in which pilgrims are invited to explore, discover and embrace their person vocation and how they can make positive and hope-filled contributions to the Church and the broader world. The Justice Activity Centre provides hands-on service projects and outreach initiatives that bring faith into action.

ACYF 2025 Program

Sunday 30 November 2025

See the itinerary

Morning: Sunday Mass & lunch
Pilgrims are welcomed at parishes across the Archdiocese and the City of Melbourne for Sunday Mass.

After a self-catered lunch, groups will journey to St Patrick’s Cathedral in East Melbourne to begin their pilgrimage.

1.30pm: Welcome to Melbourne Festa
At Melbourne’s beautiful Cathedral, pilgrims will have the opportunity to pray with the World Youth Day Cross and Icon, walk the pilgrim path, and enjoy live performances and activities around the Cathedral grounds.

2.30pm: Official Welcome
Official welcome and prayer, led by the Catholic Bishops of Australia, with the World Youth Day Cross and Icon being carried out of the Cathedral to take pride of place in the pilgrim walk procession.

3.00pm: Pilgrimage Walk
Pilgrimage walk with the World Youth Day Cross and Icon through the heart of Melbourne to the Festival venue.

5.00pm (approx.): Arrival at venue & dinner
Arrival at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, where pilgrims can visit the Expo & Justice Centre, enjoy music and live performances and grab an early dinner from food trucks and vendors.

7.00–8.30pm: Opening Plenary
Opening Plenary hosted by Festival MCs Zahra Hanratty, Mark D’Silva and Katie Prejean McGrady, featuring an address by Cardinal Mykola Bychok, keynote by Archbishop Peter A Comensoli, music led by Emmanuel Worship, along with prayer and creative elements.

Monday 1 December 2025

See the itinerary

9.30am: Morning Plenary
Morning Plenary featuring keynote speaker Sr Mary Grace SV, music led by Fatai, an address by Bishop George Kolodziej along with prayer, music and creative elements.

11.00am–7.00pm: Expo, workshops, talks & live performances
“Choose your own adventure” with hundreds of activities to pick from, including workshops, forums, Expo, social justice activities, games, prayer experiences, Reconciliation and Synodal spaces. Masses will be celebrated in the Chapel throughout the day.

12.00–2.00pm: Lunch
Pilgrims can take a break and enjoy lunch at their own preferred time. A great moment for groups to reflect on their experiences so far.

5.00–6.30pm: Dinner
Pilgrims can rest and enjoy dinner at their own preferred time. A good opportunity for groups to unpack their experiences of the day and share reflections.

6.30–8.30pm: Evening Plenary
Evening Plenary with keynote speaker Fr Chris Ryan MGL, music by Louisa Daniels and the house band, along with prayer, music and creative elements.

Tuesday 2 December 2025

See the itinerary

9.30–11.00am: Morning Plenary
Morning Plenary with keynote speakers Maggie Craig and Bishop Mark Edwards, plus music led by Fr Rob Galea, Alyssa Agius and Natasha Pinto, followed by a time of Adoration.

11.00am–4.00pm: Expo, workshops, talks & live performances
“Choose your own adventure” with hundreds of activities to pick from, including workshops, forums, Expo, social justice activities, games, prayer experiences, Reconciliation and Synodal spaces.

12.00–2.00pm: Lunch
Pilgrims can take a break and enjoy lunch at their own preferred time. A good moment for groups to reflect on their experiences.

4.00–6.00pm: Commissioning Mass
Commissioning Mass, celebrated by Archbishop Peter A. Comensoli, marking the official close of the Festival, with pilgrims sent on mission back to their own communities.

6.00–8.00pm: Expo & live performances
The Expo & Justice Centre will re-open, with food trucks and activations on the Expo Stage for those remaining in Melbourne.

6.00–7.30pm: Dinner
Pilgrims can enjoy dinner as suits them.