Lutheran Youth Association

Schedule

Convention Book (coming soon)

LYA 2026, “In the Beginning,” will be held in Cincinnati, OH at Xavier University from July 23-26, 2026.

Early Registration

$375 | Until June 1

Subsidized cost by the ELS Board for Youth Outreach
Includes Lodging, Food, Activities, Sectionals, Keynotes, Conference Materials, T-Shirt, etc.
(Activities and Sectionals will have limited capacity: register early to ensure your top picks.)
Cost is for youth participants* & adult chaperones**
* Open to confirmed youth (exceptions can be made for groups bringing those in confirmation).
* Every church needs to send at least one youth leader/chaperone of the same gender as the students (consider paying their way as a church). If your church is unable to send a youth leader/chaperone, consider partnering with another congregation.

YOUTH Registration Opens in February

ADULT Registration Opens in February

Late Registration

$425 | After June 1 until July 1

Includes Lodging, Food, Activities, Sectionals, Keynotes, Conference Materials, T-Shirt, etc.
(Activities and Sectionals will have limited capacity: register early to ensure your top picks.)
Cost is for youth participants* & adult chaperones**
* Open to confirmed youth (exceptions can be made for groups bringing those in confirmation).
* Every church needs to send at least one youth leader/chaperone of the same gender as the students (consider paying their way as a church). If your church is unable to send a youth leader/chaperone, consider partnering with another congregation.

Registration Closed

Highlights of the 2026 LYA Youth Convention include…

Morning & Evening Chapel Services and Sunday Divine Service

Daily chapel services as well as Sunday Divine Service (holy communion celebrated).

Panel Discussion from Keynote Speakers & Professionals

Keynotes & Panel Discussion

BLC Science professors Dr. Doyle Holbird and Dr. Chad Heins will be keynote speakers.

Bible history comes to life at the Creation Museum! This family-friendly attraction near Cincinnati explores creation science with stunning exhibits, dinosaur bones, fossils, botanical gardens, zip line course, and more. The Creation Museum shows why God´s infallible Word, rather than man´s faulty assumptions, is the place to begin if we want to make sense of our world. This 75,000-square-foot facility allows families to experience earth history as God has revealed it in the Bible. Nearly 150 exhibits feature fearsome animatronic dinosaurs, talking heroes of the faith, and professional displays that honor God´s Word. The museum also boasts a fun-filled, 200-seat special effects theater, a state-of-the-art planetarium, a petting zoo, and nature trails!

The Ark Encounter features a full-size Noah’s Ark, built according to the dimensions given in the Bible. Spanning 510 feet long, 85 feet wide, and 51 feet high, this modern engineering marvel amazes visitors young and old. As you enter Noah’s world aboard the massive Ark, you’ll tour three decks filled with scores of world-class exhibit bays. These stunning exhibits allow you to experience what Noah’s life may have been like. Ark Encounter is situated in beautiful Grant County in Williamstown, Kentucky, halfway between Cincinnati and Lexington and right off I-75.

Two Excursions

Two full-day excursions will be offered at LYA: the Creation Museum and the Ark Encounter. More than museums, these are whole themed complexes filled with exciting and entertaining experiences.

In order to have as much time exploring these two places as possible, these will take the place of our normal sectionals. Sectionals will return next year.

Vendor and advertising opportunities for LYA.

We are currently seeking conference vendors, advertisers, and sponsors. We’ll have a space reserved for tables so you can display your resources, ministry or other information to hundreds of youth and youth leaders. Additional print advertising opportunities are available in the LYA Conference Lanyard booklet. Cost for a table is $10, and cost for a table + ad space is $75. Friday of LYA will be the best day for tables, but they can be left set up all weekend. (Vendors who attend are responsible for paying the cost of registration, prorated for their length of stay to cover meals and lodging and any speakers). Email Rev. Jeff Hendrix to learn more.

We look forward to seeing you at the ELS Youth Convention from Thursday, July 23 through Sunday, July 26, 2026!