NYC 2026 – Salt Lake City
Nazarene Youth Conference
Hosted by the Church of the Nazarene, NYC is a powerful youth event that has been held in different locations over the past six decades. It takes place every few years and provides an opportunity for high school students from the USA and Canada to be united in a time of worship, teaching, and community service. Imagine–8,000 teenagers coming together in Salt Lake City, Utah!
What happens in Salt Lake City?
About NYC:
- 4-day youth conference for high school students
- Ministry With Others community service projects that impact the host city
- Plenary sessions featuring engaging speakers and creative artists
- Worship services led by a skilled worship band
- Live concerts featuring top Christian recording artists
- Daily teachings that challenge and unite students
- Resources students can take home after the event
- Interactive experiences designed for group discipleship and creative learning
- Recreation Hall with individual group activities, games, and exhibits
This year’s Theme
God is so much bigger than we give Him credit for. Even bigger than we can imagine. Think about the mountains and valleys, the oceans, the sky, the entire universe – then go bigger, and you still haven’t reached God-sized. Yet it all works perfectly, exactly as it should. There are countless displays of the precision of wonder in which the earth and mankind work in one with each other. His fingerprints are evident in all the natural wonders we see. But it’s easy to lose that, isn’t it? It’s easy to lose our sense of wonder. That outward wonder becomes an inward wonder – who am I? Where do I belong? Why am I here? Let’s remember who we are and who we belong to and lose ourselves not in the world, but in the wonder of God.
The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders; where morning dawns, where evening fades, you call forth songs of joy. (Psalm 65:8)
How can YOU get involved?
Nothing happens in the NYC movement without prayer.
Prayer makes a difference. It prepares hearts, opens doors, and invites the presence of God in powerful ways. While at NYC 2026, we believe our students will encounter the awe and majesty of God like never before–but it starts with prayer.
As thousands of students and leaders gather in Salt Lake City, Utah, we ask that you join us in lifting up this powerful youth event. Pray for the teens and adults that will attend and pray for Salt Lake City–that God’s presence would go before us, preparing the way for transformation in the lives of all who gather there.
Praying at 8:26pm is a simple way to connect daily with NYC 2026. The time 8:26 represents August 2026, when our students and thousands of their peers will gather to experience the wonder of God. We’ve provided some prayer prompts below, and invite you to set an alarm and join us in lifting up Ashley, Brodie, Delia, Desi, Griffin, and Jillian every day, July 1 thru July 7.
Pray for
Resurrection Courage
Look at each of these students’ faces and pray that they will trade any hidden fears, social anxieties, or insecurities for a bold, active faith.
“Lord, fill them with the courage of the Resurrection. Don’t let them hide in the crowd, give them the strength to stand up as a unique voice in Your story!”
Pray for
Childlike Wonder
Pray that their eyes are widened to see God’s Kingdom clearly. Pray that they don’t treat this trip as just another “hype” event, but as a space for lasting, intimate connection with God.
“God, open their eyes to the sheer majesty of who You are. Let their knowledge of You move from a shallow puddle to a deep ocean, igniting a love that draws them closer to You daily.”
Pray for
Radical Unity
Our teens live in a culture that screams at them to fly solo. Pray that these six students form an unbreakable “squad”–a true corporate community that takes care of one another long after returning home.
“Father, make them one. Protect them from comparison, gossip, or division. Help them build life-giving rhythms of fellowship, prayer, and mutual support.”
Pray for a
“Bridge-Building” Mindset
Pray that their eyes are widened to see God’s Kingdom clearly. Pray that they don’t treat this trip as just another “hype” event, but as a space for lasting, intimate connection with God.
“God, open their eyes to the sheer majesty of who You are. Let their knowledge of You move from a shallow puddle to a deep ocean, igniting a love that draws them closer to You daily.”
Pray for
Empowered Action
During their Ministry With Others (MWO) service projects, pray that our teens don’t just stand by as passive observers. Pray that their faith turns into immediate, physical obedience.
“Holy Spirit, don’t let our teens leave this trip with just ‘good feelings.’ Move them to action. Let the active grace they practice in Salt Lake City follow them right back into their schools and families here in Marysville.”
Pray for
Fruit That Lasts
When you look at the pictures of our six attendees, pray that the decisions made, the habits started, and the spiritual fire ignited in Salt Lake City do not fade when they return to “normal” life.
“Lord, we pray that the spiritual breakthroughs they experience at NYC become a permanent fundation, not a temporary peak. Give them the endurance to resist the post-trip fade, and grant our church community the wisdom to support, encourage, and walk alongside them as they bring the wonder of your Kingdom home.”
Ashley Allen
Class of 2026
Brodie Durst
Class of 2028
Delia Lauderback
Class of 2029
Desi Miller
Class of 2029
Griffin Lauderback
Class of 2030
Jillian Knurek
Class of 2028