AYC 2026
4–8 August
Valencia, Spain 🇪🇸
The largest gathering
of Adventist Youth in Europe
You were made for so much more
You were designed by God for a life rich with
purpose and beauty.
In a world marked by loneliness, pain, and injustice, it’s easy to forget the “more” you were made for. Step into the journey of becoming who God created you to be. You were made for more, and this is where the journey begins.
European
Adventist Youth Congress 2026
Join a community where you are loved, where you belong, and where your faith is given room to flourish.
Location
Feria Valencia
Valencia, Spain
Av. de les Fires, s/n
Pobles de l’Oest
46035 València
Valencia, Spain
Included
A Transformational Experience
This is a journey that unfolds in three stages, to remind us that we are made for belonging, made for believing and made for becoming the best we can be.
Accommodation
The full package includes accommodation in tents from Tuesday, 4 August to Sunday, 9 August 2026.
Meals
Both congress packages include meals. The first meal is breakfast on Wednesday, 5 August and the last meal is picnic breakfast on Sunday, 9 August 2026 (given out at dinner on Saturday, 8 August).
Schedule
What’s in store for you?
11:30-23:00
Get your congress ID badge, wristband and tote bag to start on your AYC26 adventure.
14:30-17:30
Art Activities
20:00-21:30
At the Table
Who does God welcome?
Every invitation reveals something about the one extending it. In this message, we’ll discover that His grace welcomes us in ways we may not expect. If you’ve ever wondered whether there’s a place for you in God’s kingdom, this message is for you.
Key Bible Passages: Luke 15:1–2; Revelation 3:20
Speaker: Damian Chandler
21:30-23:00
Night Lounge
07:00-07:30
Early Worship / Personal Time with God
07:00-08:30
Breakfast
9:00-10:10
Made for Belonging
From the ambitions of historical empires to the promises of modern marketing, the phrase ‘Made for More’ captures a timeless human desire to make an impact, succeed and outgrow limits. With endless memberships and subscriptions competing for our attention today, what is the ‘more’ that the God of the Bible offers? Where does God invite us to belong?
Come to our first Teaching Session! We’ll unpack a key biblical passage and discover fundamental biblical concepts.
10:30-11:00
Small Groups
11:30-12:30
Workshops Session 1
12:30-14:30
Lunch
14:30-17:30
Including a trip to the beach.
14:30-17:00
Take part in any activity of your choice. Choose between:
- 14:30-15:30 Mass Choir Rehearsal
- 14:30-17:00 Art Activities
- 14:30-17:00 Social Activities: AYC Olympics, Icebreaker Games, Conversation Cards and Board Games
- 14:30-16:00 Sports Activities: Chaos Relay and Dodgeball
- 16:00-17:00 Sports Activities: Football and Team Building
- 14:30-17:00 Day Lounge
15:30-16:30
Workshops Session 2
16:45-17:45
Workshops Session 3
18:00-19:30
Dinner
20:00-21:30
Still His
What happens when you drift away from God? Do you stop belonging?
Through one of Jesus’ most powerful stories, we’ll discover that God’s grace is greater than our wandering. If you’ve ever felt distant from God—or wondered whether you still belong—this message is for you.
Key Bible Passages: Luke 15:4–7; Matthew 18:10–14; Psalm 139
Speaker: Damian Chandler
21:30-23:00
Night Lounge
07:00-07:30
Early Worship / Personal Time with God
07:00-08:30
Breakfast
9:00-10:10
Made for Believing
Where you live shapes how you live. This morning, we are exploring certain characteristics of the land God entrusted to the Israelites. We’ll look at how God intended to use this environment to build trust and belief among His people. Come and discover how the timeless principles of living and relying on God in ‘that land’ can still inspire our daily walk with God—no matter where we come from.
Speaker: Ivana Mendez
10:30-11:00
Small Groups
11:30-12:30
Social Activities: Speed Friending, Meet Your Colleague, Conversation Cards and Board Games
14:30-17:30
What if diversity wasn’t something to manage, but something to celebrate?
At AYC26, the Exhibition of Nations turns the corridors of Feria Valencia into an adventure across Europe. Every stop is a country, every moment a discovery, every encounter an opportunity to learn something new.
Be curious, complete games, challenges and missions, and explore cultures in a fun and interactive way as you move through the experience.
Step in, explore, play, and discover Europe.
Take your map… and let the journey begin.
Collect stickers and win a limited-edition congress pin!
12:30-14:30
Lunch
14:30-17:00
Take part in any activity of your choice. Choose between:
- 14:30-15:30 Mass Choir Rehearsal
- 14:30-17:00 Art Activities
- 14:30-16:00 Sports Activities: Badminton, Table Tennis and Volleyball
15:30-16:30
Workshops Session 5
16:45-17:45
Workshops Session 6
18:00-19:30
Dinner
20:00-21:30
Daddy
Everything changes depending on what you believe about God.
The way we see God shapes the way we relate to Him. In this message, we’ll discover the heart of the Father Jesus came to reveal—a God whose love,compassion, and mercy may be far greater than we’ve imagined.
Could the God you’ve imagined be different from the Father Jesus came to reveal?
Key Bible Passages: Luke 15:11-32;
Speaker: Damian Chandler
21:30-23:00
Night Lounge
07:00-07:30
Early Worship / Personal Time with God
07:00-08:30
Breakfast
9:00-10:10
Made for Believing
In our final Teaching Session, we will once again use maps and history to bring the Bible to life. We will explore how Israel’s unique location reflects God’s purpose for His people. Discover how an understanding of ancient geography can impact the aspirations we have for our own lives and who we desire to become. Don’t miss!
Speaker: Ivana Mendez
10:30-11:00
Small Groups
11:30-12:30
Workshops Session 7
12:30-14:30
Lunch
14:30-17:30
Including a trip to the beach.
14:30-17:00
Take part in any activity of your choice. Choose between:
- 14:30-15:30 Mass Choir Rehearsal
- 14:30-17:00 Art Activities
- 14:30-17:00 Social Activities: AYC Olympics, Icebreaker Games, Conversation Cards and Board Games
- 14:30-16:00 Sports Activities: Football (Finals), Protect Your Balloon and Nations Tug of War
- 16:00-17:00 Sports Activities: Floor Is Lava and Football (Finals)
- 14:30-17:00 Day Lounge
15:30-16:30
Workshops Session 8
16:45-17:45
Workshops Session 9
18:00-19:30
Dinner
20:00-21:30
Shame tells us to hide.
Shame has a way of convincing us that our failures define us and that we no longer belong. But the heart of God tells a different story. In this message, we’ll discover what God has done with our shame—and what it means to live in the freedom only He can give.
Could the God you’ve imagined be different from the Father Jesus came to reveal?
Key Bible Passages: Luke 15:20–24; Romans 8:1; Isaiah 53:3–5
Speaker: Damian Chandler
21:30-23:00
Night Lounge
07:00-08:30
Breakfast
10:00-12:00
Lost in the House
How does God find people who don’t even know they’re lost?
It’s possible to be surrounded by faith and still feel spiritually distant. In this message, we’ll discover the relentless heart of a God who never stops seeking those He loves—even when we don’t know we need to be found.
Key Bible Passages: Luke 15:8–10
Speaker: Damian Chandler
12:30-14:30
Lunch
14:30-17:00
Right now, at this Congress, you are experiencing what it truly means to be Made for More. To hold onto this vision when you go back to your everyday life, take a few moments to write a letter to the person you will be in six months. Share your prayers, the promises God is whispering to you right now, and the old labels you are leaving behind. Seal it, write your address on the envelope, and drop it in the mailbox—in half a year, this letter will arrive at your door as a powerful reminder of who God called you to be.
14:30-15:15
Join us in this live recording session of the Made for More (M4+) podcast: a space for reflection and conversation. Our guest speaker is Kari Clewett, psychologist, sexologist, and couples therapist with more than 70,000 followers on social media. Her conviction is that, “If God created sex, then His children should be the experts.”
Note: After the congress, eight additional episodes will be released weekly on aycongress.org.
Speaker: Kari Clewett
Podcast Hosts: Joe Philpott and Patricija Oberte
15:30-17:30
Mass Choir Rehearsal
16:45-17:45
Workshops Session 9
18:00-19:30
(Pick up picnic breakfast for Sunday)
20:00-21:30
Last Minute Shot
Is it ever too late to say yes to God?
As Jesus hung on the cross, one dying thief made a last-minute decision that changed eternity. It’s a story of hope, grace, and a God who never gives up on people.
If you’ve been waiting for “the right time” to take your next step with God, this message asks one simple question: What are you waiting for?
Key Bible passages: Luke 23:32-55
Speaker: Damian Chandler
21:30-23:00
Night Lounge
* Schedule is subject to change.
Speakers
Damian Chandler
Pastor Damian Chandler, born in Toronto and raised in Barbados, encountered Jesus at 16 through the prayers of believers meeting in his home. He has since served in churches across the U.S.—from Seattle to Huntsville to Sacramento—and will soon serve as associate youth director for the South Central Conference, planting a new church in Nashville. A gifted storyteller, he authored The Crooked Christmas Tree and I Am Jon, inspiring many through his simple, relatable view of the gospel. Above all, Damian treasures his family—his wife Tanzy, and their children Zoe, Salem, and Levi.
Ivana Mendez
Ivana Mendez holds an MA in Education from the Matej Bel University, Faculty of Humanities in Slovakia and an MA in Theology (New Testament) from the Friedensau Adventist University (Newbold College). She worked as a teacher, translator, project manager in the Slovak Bible Society, pastor in the South England Conference of Seventh-day Adventists and in the Scottish Mission. Currently, she is a lecturer of biblical languages and in biblical studies at Newbold College of Higher Education.
Pricing
The final cost of attending the European Adventist Youth Congress depends on your country of residence, as you will be attending as part of a country delegation. Some countries may offer additional trip experiences. Check with your Union or Conference Youth Director for the specific details and final pricing in your country.
If you live in a country that is outside of Europe, please contact us to register.
How to Register
To attend the European Adventist Youth Congress, you must register through your Union or Conference Youth Director. Find the confact information for your country below.
Registration is now closed.
SID
South Africa India Ocean Division
Registration closed
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Frequently Asked Questions
The plenary sessions will be in English, but translation will be offered into the following languages: Bulgarian, Czech, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian, Spanish.
For workshops, you will need to contact your Union youth director to find out what workshops, if any, will be translated into your language.
We offer three registration options for AYC26:
- Option A: Includes the congress fee, meals and accommodation in tents in a sleeping hall at the venue. For this option, you need to bring your own floor mat and sleeping bag.
- Option B: Includes the congress fee and meals.
- Option C: Sabbath day pass. This option enables you to attend the congress on Saturday, 8 August, and INCLUDES lunch and dinner. (You may not bring your own meals)
For prices, please contact your Union youth department.
The registration options A and B with meals work as follows:
The first meal included is breakfast on Wednesday, 5 August. The last meal onsite is dinner on Saturday, 8 August, where you will also be given a picnic bag for breakfast on Sunday, 9 August.
All meals are vegetarian.
The registration package (option A) with accommodation includes sleeping in tents in the sleeping halls at the venue.
This means you will need to bring:
- Towel and personal hygiene items (shampoo, soap, etc.)
- Sleeping bag or bed sheets
- Sleeping mat
- Pillow (optional)
- Lantern or flashlight
We won’t have a specific place for participants to keep their valuables. So we recommend you take essentials with you: purse with money, passport, and phone, and take these with you at all times. As a congress participant, you are responsible for your belongings.
Sabbath morning will be very special because we plan to have a baptism ceremony. If you would like to get baptized then, please contact your union/conference youth director.
If you have any additional questions, please contact us at youth@eud.adventist.org and youth@ted.adventist.org.