Registration for the 2027 ELCA Youth Gathering, the Multicultural Youth Leadership Event (MYLE), the tAble and the Young Adult Gathering will open on Oct. 21, 2026. All ELCA congregations are eligible to participate.
Eligibility
Youth participants in the ELCA Youth Gathering, MYLE and the tAble must be in eighth to 12th grade at time of registration (fall 2026). Adult leaders accompanying youth to the Gathering must be at least 21 years old at the time of the Gathering.
MYLE is designed for youth of color or whose primary language is other than English. For a full congregational group to attend, we ask that at least half of its members be youth of color.
The tAble is open to youth who are ages 14 to 18 or are engaged in a high school youth group or are enrolled in high school or the vocational education equivalent. Youth who attend the tAble must be accompanied by an adult caregiver, whose registration fee to attend the 2027 ELCA Youth Gathering will be waived.
Interested in attending the Young Adult Gathering? Visit the Young Adult Gathering page and click on the “Attend” tab.
Cost
Registration fees support the Gathering’s programmatic, logistic and administrative operations. A nonrefundable deposit of $175 per person is required at time of registration for the ELCA Youth Gathering and Young Adult Gathering. A $50 deposit is required for MYLE or the tAble and will be applied to overall housing costs for the pre-event.
Priority Registration
Oct. 21–Nov. 11, 2026 Regular Registration
Nov. 12, 2026–Feb. 10, 2027 Late Registration
Feb. 11–March 17, 2027
Gathering $450 $525 $575
Add-on: SERVE
(Monday) $100* (space is limited; first come, first served)
Pre-events (MYLE or the tAble) $50 deposit (to be applied to housing costs)
Young Adult Gathering tbd tbd tbd
Meals, Housing and Travel
Note that the Gathering registration fee does not cover housing, meals or travel.
There is no registration fee for MYLE or the tAble; however, a nonrefundable hotel deposit of $50 is required per person. Meals are included during these pre-events.
We encourage congregations to budget approximately $75 per person, per day for meals and $198 per room, per night (plus tax) for housing. Rooms typically accommodate three individuals.
Payments, Substitutions and Cancellations
All registration and hotel payments are due by April 30, 2027. This is also the final date to cancel or make substitutions without penalty.
After April 30, any registration changes will incur a $25 administrative fee, which must be paid before check-in.
Financial Assistance
Financial assistance is available for the 2027 Gathering through your congregation’s registration account. Applications open Oct. 1, 2026 (prior to the start of Priority Registration) and close Oct. 16, 2026. Applicants will be notified on Oct. 20, 2026, if they have been awarded assistance.
The primary adult leader is responsible for applying on behalf of the youth participant. Assistance is offered based on the financial need of the youth participant and their family, not the financial status of their congregation or local community.
Financial assistance is available to youth participants only in the form of registration-fee credits. Unfortunately, funds are not available for housing, transportation or food-related expenses. Up to $275 per youth participant may be provided to cover registration fees (except for the deposit). Financial assistance will appear as a credit on the congregational account. Groups may receive assistance for up to 10 youth per congregational ID. Those that receive financial assistance must register before the end of Priority Registration or forfeit the assistance.
Ratio
Be mindful that this event is designed for young people, not adults, and bring only enough adult leaders for a successful experience. The Gathering suggests the following ratios:
# of Youth # of Adults
2-6 2-3
7-13 3-4
14-20 4-5
21-27 5-6
28-34 6-7
35-41 7-8
42-48 8-9
If these ratios do not fit your group or congregation, we encourage you to connect with the Gathering office (gathering@elca.org) for guidance.
Why should I register in Priority?
Groups that register the majority of their participants during the priority period will have the opportunity to share their preferred price point for housing. We’ll do our best to match congregations registering early with housing options that fit their budget.
Hotel accommodations in downtown Minneapolis are limited and in high demand. Congregations that register the majority of their group during Priority Registration will receive priority consideration for downtown assignments.
Finally, priority registrants will receive their hotel assignments prior to the 2027 ELCA Youth Ministry Network Extravaganza in Minneapolis.
If you have questions about the registration process, contact the Gathering office (gathering@elca.org).
