In 2026, the Franciscan Centenary year, the city of Assisi is preparing to welcome thousands of young people from all over Europe for the “GO! Franciscan Youth Meeting,” an international gathering aimed at bringing young people from across Europe to Assisi to rediscover the message of St. Francis through encounter, prayer, and celebration.
The meeting will take place August 3-6, 2026, and is open to young people aged eighteen to thirty-three, both believers and non-believers. It offers a unique opportunity to meet in the spirit of St. Francis, during the year that commemorates the 800th anniversary of the transitus of the Saint of Assisi.
The GO! Franciscan Youth Meeting was created to provide a common space where participants can experience authentic moments of listening, dialogue, and formation. The program is designed to alternate times of prayer and spirituality with moments of joyful celebration and shared life, allowing young people to reflect on the fundamental questions of existence within a context of universal fraternity.
During the four-day meeting, participants will take part in various educational and cultural activities. August 4 and 5 will be dedicated to thematic workshops designed to inspire and actively engage young people in deeper personal reflection. This “Chapter of Mats” will also feature “Jubil Music,” a singing competition dedicated to music born from the heart and soul, offering a unique platform for musical talent.
The GO! Franciscan Youth Meeting is the result of some intensive collaboration among several Church and civic institutions. The event is jointly promoted by the Order of Friars Minor, the Order of Friars Minor Conventual, and the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin, together with the City of Assisi and the Diocese of Assisi. The initiative is also supported by the National Committee for the Celebration of the 8th Centenary of the Death of St. Francis of Assisi.
“Our goal is to share the life and joy of St. Francis of Assisi and to help others personally experience the happiness that flows from coming together around the Gospel. This spirit inspires and guides all our preparation,” say the friars organizing the event. “We hope to help young people recognize, in the poor and the marginalized, the face of God made present and close to every person, and to renew the world with the freshness and vitality of the Saint of Assisi. This, and much more, is what we hope participants will experience during the course of the GO! Franciscan Youth Meeting.”
The logistical organization of the meeting reflects the Franciscan spirit of simplicity and sharing. Accommodations will be provided using local facilities such as gymnasiums and exhibition areas, fostering a sense of adaptability and community. Hospitality and meal services will directly involve the local community and places connected to the memory of St. Francis, creating a deep bond between participants and the Seraphic City.
Registration for this extraordinary event is now open.
The organizers invite all interested young people to visit the official website at https://www.goassisi.org/it/ to learn more about how to participate and secure a place on this journey of discovery and international friendship.
Information about GO! Franciscan Youth Meeting
Where: Assisi (Perugia, Italy)
Who: Young people ages 18-33
When: August 3-6, 2026
Program: https://www.goassisi.org/en/plan/
Registration: https://www.goassisi.org/en/
Email:
Facebook: facebook.com/goassisi/
Instagram: instagram.com/goassisi/
TikTok: tiktok.com/@goassisi
Andrea ROSSI
Press Room, Sacred Convent of St. Francis
