Pope Leo XIV at the Stade de France: how to obtain a ticket for the big youth vigil?

The countdown has begun. Pope Francis XVI is due in France from September 25 to 28, 2026, with stops in Paris, Lourdes, and Metz. In the capital, one of the standout events will take place on Friday, September 25, at the Stade de France, in Saint-Denis: a youth prayer vigil for 17- to 35-year-olds. Ahead of the solemn Mass the next day on the Place de la Concorde and along the Champs-Élysées, this evening is expected to be one of the high points of the visit. The question now is how to secure a spot...

Visite du pape Léon XIV à Paris : le pape's papamobile, Notre-Dame, Stade de France... the itinerary is taking shape
Pope Leo XIV will make a stop in Paris on September 25 and 26, 2026, before continuing his apostolic journey to Lourdes and then to Metz. In the capital, his schedule is taking shape around several major events: a papamobile ride, Vespers at Notre-Dame de Paris, a youth vigil at the Stade de France, and a large open-air Mass between the Place de la Concorde and the Champs-Élysées. [Read more]

An evening vigil for 17-35-year-olds

The event targets young people from all across France. While the full program hasn’t been unveiled yet, the evening is expected to feature prayers, songs, testimonies, and opportunities to speak, centering on Pope Léon XIV.

The Stade de France can accommodate around 80,000 people at full capacity. However, the exact turnout for the vigil will depend on technical spaces, the stage setup, and security arrangements. Schedules, entry gates, and practical guidelines still need to be finalized.

Free tickets, but mandatory

According to Famille Chrétienne and several Catholic media outlets citing Hervé Wattecamps, the general coordinator of the pope's trip to Paris, the ticketing should open around July 27, 2026. This date has not yet been officially announced by the organizers.

Registration should be free but mandatory to enter the stadium. It should also be individual, even for participants coming with a parish, a chaplaincy, a diocese, or a movement. Each person, however, could indicate the group they wish to be affiliated with in order to stay with their delegation.

What if the Stade de France is sold out?

Even with nearly 80,000 seats, the vigil could quickly reach full capacity. A backup location would then be considered at the Saint-Sulpice Church, where the gathering could be watched remotely. The arrangements are still to be confirmed.

Designated spaces should also be set aside for people who are ill, disabled, in severe poverty, or particularly vulnerable.

• To be read
• This week's top picks in Paris and Île-de-France, July 20–26, 2026.

Early registrations are already open

Several dioceses have already opened their own pre-registration to gauge interest among young people and to coordinate bus and train trips. One caveat: these registrations are not a substitute for the final ticket required to enter the Stade de France.

Any charges claimed by some dioceses typically cover travel, insurance, or the arrangement of the trip, and not access to the vigil itself, which organizers had said would be free.

How to make sure you don't miss the opening?

To give yourself the best possible chance, it’s worth doing the following:

• pre-register with your diocese when possible;
• check the pope’s official visit website;
• follow your diocese’s social media, your parish, or your youth ministry;
• see if a group trip is being organized nearby.

If ticket sales open around July 27, don't hang about: even with a capacity near 80,000 attendees, tickets won't be unlimited!

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