Registration
EARLY BIRD: $169 (October 1, 2025 – January 31, 2026)
LIFE CHANGE: $179 (February 1 – April 30, 2026)
AT THE DOOR: $199 (May 1 – June 29, 2026)
BEYOND EXPECTATIONS:
How IYC 2026 is still changing lives
Jeff Mugford
Jeff says, “The best years of our lives were spent in youth ministry serving churches in Wyoming and Arizona.” Jeff Mugford has also served as lead pastor for churches in Arizona, California, and Oregon. He and his wife Cindy are currently TIPS pastors (transitional, interim) serving Rustic Hills Church in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Michael Thigpen
A visionary leader, Michael has served the body of Christ for almost thirty years. He has worked in a variety of ministry areas, both nationally and internationally. Mike is a graduate of Anderson University, having completed both a bachelor of science in organizational leadership and a master’s in business administration. Mike has the unique ability to capture, and connect with, all types of audiences.
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He seeks to encourage, empower, and motivate audiences to become passionate servant leaders, impacting the world by sharing the true and authentic love of God.
John Michael Hinton
Using no sorcery at all, John Michael Hinton performs captivating illusions that make people doubt their senses, question their reality, and search for answers. He fakes the supernatural to cause people to desire the Real Supernatural! In his words, “My goal is simply to be a tool that God can use to spread his incredible gospel. If my illusions earn me the right to be heard, awesome!
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But it’s the heart of God that I want you to truly walk away remembering.” For more information, and to see him in action, please visit www.JohnIsMyFriend.com.
Heather Thompson Day
Dr. Heather Thompson Day is an interdenominational speaker who has been a contributor for Religion News Service, Christianity Today, Newsweek and the Barna Group. She is also the host of Viral Jesus, a podcast with Christianity Today, which is in the top 200 of all Christian podcasts in the country.
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Accommodations
Provisions for all IYC meeting space is a joint venture of Visit Cincinnati, the First Financial Center, and our convention hotels. Therefore, any person attending IYC and not staying in one of our official convention hotels will be charged a one-time fee of $150 per person.
Do not contact the hotels directly. Please register only through the link provided in your housing packet email.
How to Book
- Register at least one person from your group.
- Watch your inbox for a housing packet email.
- Inside the email will be a link to a single website where you can book rooms at any IYC property.
| HOTEL | RATE |
|---|---|
| Hyatt Regency (SOLD OUT) | $189/night |
| Hilton Netherland Plaza | $179/night |
| Westin Cincinnati | $179/night |
| Renaissance Cincinnati Downtown (SOLD OUT) | $179/night |
Hotel Room Waiting List:
We understand that the current housing situation may feel stressful, and we want to reassure you—please don’t panic. We have secured additional hotel rooms and are actively working to add even more accommodations.
If your group still needs rooms, simply complete the form at the button below and our team will work directly with you to secure housing.
Because rooms are still available within our IYC housing system, groups should not seek lodging outside of our contracted hotels at this time. Our current housing policy, including the $150 per person fee, remains in effect. If there are any changes, we will communicate them clearly and promptly.
SAVE THE DATE for 2028!
Speakers
MONTÉ DILLARD
Prior to being appointed as Interim Director of Church of God Ministries, Pastor Monté L.G. Dillard, Sr. served as the Senior Pastor of the First Church of God Christian Life Center in Evanston, IL for more than 14 years. […]
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Prior to full time ministry, Pastor Dillard was employed as a banker for more than 10 years, 8 of which he spent in management. Pastor Dillard shares the Gospel and provides leadership on a local, state, and national level. He and his wife of 20 years, Tina, are the blessed parents of three daughters (Nia, Kennedi, Morgan) and one son (Monté, Jr.). Pastor Dillard’s strong belief that the church is only as strong as the family makes maintaining a Godly home his first ministry.
Learn why in CHOGnews he sees the Movement’s best days ahead.
BETH WOLFF
Beth Otchy Wolff grew up (mostly) in Fairfax, VA. She attended Anderson University and earned her Master of Theology degree from Fuller Theological Seminary. In 2009, after a stint as a public educator […]
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in Indianapolis, IN, Beth served as the pastor of student ministry at Mountain Park Church in Phoenix, AZ. In 2016 she, along with her husband and two children, moved to Clarksburg, MD to become the lead pastor at Clarksburg Church (a church restart and part of the Fairfax Collective). For the past 10 years, God has been rewiring Beth’s ambitious, driven, strategic, visionary nature, to trust in a God who uses the small, unimportant, forgotten things (like rest), places (like a small town in the middle of a metropolis), and people (like skeptic detangling Christians), to demonstrate the Kingdom of God.
HOSANNA WONG
Hosanna Wong is an international speaker, best-selling author and spoken word artist helping everyday people know Jesus for real and live with purpose. Widely known for her spoken word piece, […]
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“I Have A New Name,” Hosanna preaches and performs in churches, conferences, prisons, and other events around the world, reaching across various denominations, backgrounds and cultures.
Born and raised in an urban ministry on the streets of San Francisco, Hosanna currently serves on teaching teams at churches throughout the United States. She and her husband, Guy serve in various ministries equipping the local and global Church with tools to share the gospel of Jesus in today’s world.
Hosanna is the best-selling author of How (Not) to Save the World and You Are More Than You’ve Been Told, as well as the children’s book, What God Says About You!
ANDREW MILLER
Andrew Miller currently serves as Executive Pastor of Outreach and Operations at Church at the Crossing in Indianapolis, IN. He and Lauren have been married for over a decade, and they love sharing good coffee, […]
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traveling, and raising their son, Shepherd.
Andrew holds a Doctorate of Ministry from Fuller Theological Seminary, and he is passionate about preaching the gospel, preparing leaders for ministry, and prayer ministry.
The International Youth Convention of the Church of God, better known as IYC, was launched in 1924 as a youth day. In 1930, the first three-day, biennial youth convention was held. Over the years that have followed, International Youth Conventions have been held in all regions of the United States—as well as in three Canadian provinces. In the late 1990s, the Youth Ministry Team developed an overall purpose statement for IYC: to create a moment for life change. This purpose drives everything that happens at the convention. Because of IYC, thousands of young men and women have made life-changing decisions. Hundreds have decided to go into full-time vocational ministry or missions, and hundreds more have indicated they are serious about living as Christ-centered leaders.
Since 1992, participants have given back to each host city with over $1,000,000 worth of total volunteer service hours. Still, the giving goes beyond the IYC host cities. Since 1998, thousands of attendees have participated in IYC-related mission experiences in eleven countries. Nearly 45,000 students and leaders have attended IYC since 2002. IYC wants to make a lasting difference. Since 2006, IYC has partnered with churches in communities where the event has been held to help plant churches and serve in various ways with existing churches. IYC also helps to nurture a giving heart and a lifetime focus on others. Collectively, students have given hundreds of thousands of dollars in support of missions, both locally and globally.
IYC welcomes all churches and leaders from any Bible-believing church group or denomination.
Seventh-grade graduates to high school seniors (class of 2026) and adult leaders.
IYC is designed for the age group above. You as the leader of your group may make exceptions to this guideline as needed based on the maturity level of your students.
Can I bring my child to the convention?
All individuals attending IYC must be registered in order to participate. This is a junior and senior high school event; therefore, we discourage you from bringing younger children. If it is absolutely necessary to bring a younger child to the convention, the child must be registered, regardless of age. Anyone six years old and under are free.
Do I bring the kids in my group who are not very committed to the Lord?
Absolutely! Bring the whole group, regardless of spiritual commitment. You will find that this experience is all about life change, whether it is a memory made, a small change to become more like Christ, a major decision to accept Jesus as Savior or pursue ministry, or something you haven’t even yet dreamed of! God works in mighty ways and in small ways through IYC.
I am a student, but don’t have a youth leader or my group isn’t coming. Can I still come?
For your safety, we do not allow unchaperoned students and insist that you must be a part of a youth group to come to IYC. You might want to check with other Churches of God in your area to see if you can connect with one of their youth groups. We have found that groups are usually very willing to accept others as long as you follow their guidelines, meet their deadlines for payments, and attend meetings as part of their group in preparation for IYC. If you are unable to find a group near you that is attending, please contact us at iyc@chog.org and we will do our best to assist you.
I am an adult who is not bringing students, but I just want to experience the convention. Can I still come?
For the safety of our students and the intent of the convention, our policy is that adults must be a leader of students in order to come to IYC (exceptions would be specially invited guests, speakers, exhibitors, etc.) The Church of God offers adult conferences that you can be a part of in the future. We encourage you to check them out at jesusisthesubject.org.
The 55th International Youth Convention of the Church of God to be held in Cincinnati, Ohio.
First Financial Center
528 Elm Street
Cincinnati, OH 45202
IYC is a four-day biennial gathering of junior and senior high school students and their adult leaders.
Where will we stay during IYC?
We have partnered with several quality hotels in Downtown Cincinnati, all located within two blocks of the convention center.
To begin your reservation process, simply register at least one person for IYC. Once registered, you’ll receive an email with the official housing packet and booking details.
Please note: To provide the best locations and rates, IYC secures hotel contracts that guarantee a set number of rooms each night. Because of this commitment, groups that choose NOT to stay in an official IYC hotel will be charged a $150 per person fee.
The convention will be held Monday, June 29 – Thursday, July 2, 2026
How are the dates for IYC decided?
Rates of hotels and city availability play into what dates we choose. Often, we find the week of July 4 offers some of the best hotel rates, which is why we have had IYC over the holiday in recent years. In addition to this, the holiday allows some adult leaders to participate in IYC while using fewer vacation days to cover their time away from work. Also, many school systems declare a “moratorium” during this week of July, which means student athletes are more likely to be able to participate in IYC without missing events or practices.
IYC is an opportunity for life change.
You will find that this experience is unique for each participant. God does some amazing things at IYC and brings about life change in both great and small ways. It may be a challenge to change, growth in relationships in a youth group, a first step toward salvation, or a calling to vocational ministry. How will God work in your life and in the lives of your students? Here are some stories from people who experienced life change at a previous IYC.
The theme for IYC2026 is BEYOND.
In a world filled with noise, distractions, and conflicting voices about what’s true, IYC2026 invites students to quiet the noise and lean into the words of Colossians 2:6-7: to live their lives in Christ, rooted in Him as their foundation, built up by the family of believers, strengthened through His Word, and overflowing with thankfulness. At IYC, we want to create space for God to move beyond expectations, to deepen connections that last beyond the week, to strengthen a faith that endures doubt and difficulty, and to help students see what’s next as they take their faith beyond IYC—knowing the One who is Truth and learning who they are because of Him.
Transportation
All attendees are responsible for arranging their own transportation to IYC. For those flying into Cincinnati, the airport is about 20 minutes from the convention center & IYC hotels. The hotels DO NOT offer airport shuttle service. Uber, shuttles, and taxies typically cost around $30-$40, one-way. There is a bus system available; details are available at TankBus.org.
Parking
Wondering where to park? Check out this parking map, or find more details on the Visit Cincy website here.
ALL WAIVERS MUST BE SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY. WAIVERS ARE ONLY REQUIRED FOR STUDENTS WHO WILL BE UNDER THE AGE OF 18 AT THE BEGINNING OF IYC –JUNE 29, 2026.
Give the link below to students/parents. There is a place at the bottom of the waiver where parents may enter an email address to receive a copy of the signed waiver. Group leaders may want to consider giving parents their own email address to use, so that leaders can receive and track waivers as they are submitted. We recommend texting this to parents during an IYC informational meeting, so they can sign and submit on the spot, using their smart phones. Laptops, iPads, tablets, etc. may also be used. At least one parent must sign for each minor child attending IYC2026.
The updated waiver is available here.
We expect students and leaders to dress in a way that is respectful and honoring to God.
What should I pack for IYC?
Not sure exactly what to pack for your time with us at IYC? Below is a sample packing list to help you get started.
- Bible, notebook, and a pen
- Clothes for however many days your trip is (shorts, t-shirts, etc.)
- Sweatshirt or a light jacket (the AC keeps it cold inside the convention center)
- Sneakers and/or closed-toed shoes
- Toiletries (deodorant, toothbrush/toothpaste, soap, shampoo, etc.)
- Medications (original containers placed inside a clear zip lock bag with the student’s name)
- Swimsuit (modest)
- Towel
- Sunscreen/Sunblock
- Small bag/fanny pack or book bag
- Sunglasses
- Water bottle (reusable)
- Snacks
- Photo I.D. (Required to fly if you are 18 years or older)
- Spending money
- $20-$30 for Missions offering
- IYC merchandise (t-shirts will range from $17-$20 with 4+ options to choose from)
- Merchandise from IYC artists
- Snacks (Starbucks, ice cream or treats)
There are numerous restaurants available within walking distance of the convention center and hotels, Here are some tips for you:
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- Breakfast—Consider bringing easy breakfast items with you, such as granola bars, dry cereal, instant oatmeal, etc. and/or plan a trip to a local grocery store to buy these items and keep them in your room during the convention. There is a mini-fridge in every hotel room for cold items. Don’t have transportation? Consider doing an online order for your group with a grocery store, schedule a designated pick-up time, then take a taxi or Uber to pick up all your food at once. We’re sure your students would be happy to meet you in the lobby to unload all the goodies!
- Food Delivery – You can order food from local restaurants and have them delivered to your hotel.
- Convention Center—NO OUTSIDE FOOD OR DRINK IS ALLOWED INSIDE THE CONVENTION CENTER. Please follow this guideline that they have given us.
- Outside the hotel—There are a lot of options outside the hotel for those with AND without transportation. The area is full of restaurants and shops. If you plan to eat at a restaurant, we recommend calling ahead to see if they take reservations or call ahead seating.
Is there a mission experience before or after IYC that I can be involved with?
Lead222 is offering a group missions experience in conjunction with IYC2026. This missions experience will take place in the greater Indianapolis area June 24-27. For more information on this trip, click here or contact Andy & Candace Stephenson at Andy@lead222.com or Candace@lead222.com. Please know that space is limited for this opportunity.
Will there be a Missions Offering at IYC?
Yes, there will be opportunities for students to give to Missions, and those funds will be used to continue providing tools for evangelism around the world. Our goal is for each person to give at least $20 in the offering. If we do that, we can raise over $66,000 at IYC2026.
Impact Day returns in 2026!
What is Impact Day?
Impact Day is an opportunity for groups to serve the IYC host city. For 2026, “Impact Cincy” will be on Wednesday, July 1 from 1:00-4:00 PM. If you would like some help coordinating a service project for your group, fill out this form!
The IYC High School Band consists of students who are current 9th-12th grade students, selected from CHOG congregations from around North America, under the direction of Jake Seaton. To audition for the IYC High School Band, click here.
IYC is a convention that is FOR teenagers primarily planned BY teenagers! The IYC Student Leadership Team consists of students selected from around North America that have been nominated by their Youth Pastor/Senior Pastor. These students meet several times to establish the IYC theme, specific speakers and artists, as well as the breakout sessions and other components of IYC. To nominate a student for the IYC2028 Student Leadership Team, click here. Nominations are due by January 1, 2026.
Once again, we are having a 5K at IYC2026! The race will be on Tuesday, June 30 at 7:15 AM.
How Much?
The cost of registration is $26.
Churches may apply for tax exemption in Ohio and, if eligible, save a portion of the sales tax from your hotel rooms.
To be eligible for the exemption, OHIO law requires that nonprofit organizations obtain a sales tax exemption certificate.
Click here for more information.
Churches will need to apply as religious institutions with an established Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN).
Once you have received your tax exemption paperwork, make copies and bring it with you to IYC. Turn in a copy at the hotel desk upon check-in to save a portion of the sales tax off your rooms. You might be able to use the additional copies at various restaurants and for activities, etc. – it never hurts to ask!
What type of seating will there be for the main sessions at IYC2026? We will all be in one ballroom at IYC2026. There will be staggered admission by geographical region.
Will there be an offering time at IYC2026 ? Yes, we are asking everyone to set a goal to bring $20 or more for the Missions offering. Funds are used for evangelism around the world!
What is the pre-convention prayer service? This is a focused time of prayer and worship that anyone may attend. You do not have to be checked in or wear your lanyard to get in.
What do you recommend for tipping during IYC? As you plan your trip to IYC, include tip money in your budget. A tip shows our appreciation, and we want to represent IYC by showing others the generosity that Christ has shown to us. Let’s be a blessing to the people of Cincinnati! Here are some general tipping guidelines:
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- Restaurant and coffee shop servers: 18% minimum, 20% recommended
- Baggage handlers at airport, hotel: $1-$2 per bag
- Airport limo, van, and shuttle drivers: $1-$2 per bag
- Taxi drivers: 10%-15%, minimum of $1
- Parking valets: $2 minimum
- Room service: Check your bill to see if service fee is included. If not, tip 17%-20%.
- Tour guides: $1-$2 per person
- Hotel housekeepers: $1-$2 per person, per day
Planning begins four to five years in advance. The Church of God Ministries & IYC leaders visit the convention city to contract with the convention center and the hotels.
Several years ago, the Youth Ministry Team (YMT) decided on a sequence of four rotating cities (San Antonio, Texas; Orlando, Florida; Denver, Colorado; and Nashville, Tennessee) with the option of a fifth wildcard city. These cities provide different types of experiences for students from all areas of the country.
Once the city is confirmed, the Student Leadership Team (SLT) meets with the YMT in the convention city around eighteen months before the upcoming convention. Together, through much prayer and discussion, they set the theme, schedule, and decide on artists and speakers. They come back together around one year prior to the convention to complete the student conference schedule and select the leaders of those conferences.
CGM & IYC key staff members make numerous trips during the two-year period between conventions to make sure that things are in order for you to have a great experience. Everything we do is driven by one question: “Will this help create a moment for life change?” We never seek to do anything at IYC that doesn’t set attendees up for that a powerful connection to God and the Holy Spirit.
Additionally, we believe that prayer unleashes God’s power; therefore, hundreds of prayer partners start to pray for the convention months before it starts; a prayer guide goes out to all churches in the early months of the convention year; the name of every preregistered attendee is sent to a prayer counselor to pray over before the convention; the day before the event our on-site staff and team of prayer intercessors are praying for IYC participants.
As IYC2026 approaches, begin to pray with us for that moment of life change for all who attend.
