Seoul prepares to host World Youth Day 2027

Preparations are underway for World Youth Day 2027, which will be held in Seoul, South Korea, from August 3 to 8. The event is expected to feature Pope Leo XIV and will mark only the second time the international Catholic youth festival has been hosted in Asia.

Organizers have intensified planning, with representatives from the Vatican’s Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life recently visiting South Korea to review logistics. Archbishop Peter Soon-taick Chung of Seoul stated that the archdiocese has spent three years laying the groundwork to ensure the gathering serves as a “celebration of hope.”

In addition to the main event, pilgrims will have the option to participate in “Days in the Diocese” from July 29 to August 2, staying with local communities across 15 dioceses. To address social concerns such as mental health, programs like psycho-spiritual counseling through the Jeon Jin Sang Spirituality Center are being integrated into the preparations.