Countdown to World Youth Day Seoul 2027 begins: Here’s what we know so far
South Korea is preparing to host World Youth Day 2027, an international Catholic gathering scheduled for August 2027. The event will feature various religious ceremonies and cultural performances, with Pope Leo XIV expected to preside over key events.
Why it matters
This marks only the second time an Asian nation has hosted this major global religious event, highlighting the growing influence of the Catholic Church in the region.
Pilgrims wave a South Korean flag as they wait for the start of the evening prayer vigil with Pope Francis at Parque Tejo during World Youth Day, Aug. 5, 2023, in Lisbon, Portugal. ROY LAGARDE
One year from now, Catholics from around the world — alongside Pope Leo XIV — will gather for World Youth Day 2027 in Seoul, South Korea, from Aug. 3–8, 2027.
The announcement was made by Pope Francis at the closing Mass of World Youth Day 2023 in Lisbon, Portugal. Catholics from South Korea in attendance responded with happiness and excitement to the news.
This is only the second time an Asian country has hosted a World Youth Day — the last being in Manila, Philippines, in 1995 — and the first hosted in a nation where Catholicism is a minority religion.
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