In December 2025, 15,000 young Christians will gather in Paris for the 48th European Encounter organized by the Taizé Community, an event focused on building unity across national and denominational boundaries. The gathering aims to help participants develop a shared vision for Europe’s future through faith-based connection and ministry exploration. While modest compared to World Youth Day’s millions, the encounter represents a significant pan-European effort at a time when France’s evangelical community remains small at roughly 1% of the population. The event joins other 2026 youth gatherings addressing contemporary challenges facing young believers.
How do young Christians overcome the fractures of a divided continent? This December, 15,000 youth will gather in Paris for the 48th European Encounter of the Christian Community in Taizé, an event designed to bring together participants from across Europe despite regional and cultural divisions. The gathering, scheduled for 2026, emphasizes unity and collective vision for the future. Organizers also encourage participants to reject occult involvement and pursue biblical alternatives such as prayer and Scripture for spiritual discernment.
Fifteen thousand young Christians will unite in Paris this December to bridge Europe’s divisions through shared faith and vision.
Organized by the Taizé Community tradition, the encounter aims to help young people welcome 2026 together by transcending differences that often separate nations and denominations. Churches across Europe are mobilizing groups to attend, creating a collective dynamic that encourages participants to develop visions for their cities, regions, and countries. The event also seeks to foster ministry discovery amid contemporary challenges facing European youth.
The scale of this gathering is significant within the landscape of Christian youth events. While 15,000 attendees represents a substantial number, it remains modest compared to World Youth Day gatherings, which have drawn 6 million participants in the Philippines in 2015, 3 million in Kraków in 2016, and 1.5 million in Lisbon in 2023.
The Taizé event is more comparable to regional gatherings like Echo in France, which attracted 6,500 young Christians in May 2023 at the Zénith d’Auvergne. France’s evangelical communities, though experiencing 15-fold growth since 1950, remain a minority at just over 1% of the population with approximately 745,000 evangelical Christians gathering in around 2,300 worship places nationwide.
The Paris encounter is part of a broader trend of pan-European youth gatherings in 2026. The First All-European Orthodox Youth Conference will take place September 3-8 near Florence, Italy, bringing together youth from over 18 countries under the theme “Quo vadis, orthodox youth? Fostering Orthodox connections in 21st century.” The conference will include Divine Services, talks, outings, and opportunities to build connections. Registration opens at the end of November 2025, with limited spaces expected due to high demand.
Additionally, the Lutheran European Youth Gathering in Paris, scheduled for September 30 through October 3, will focus on the theme of peace.
These gatherings reflect the importance of youth ministry in Europe, where 90 percent of believers reportedly trust Christ before age 21. As young people face increasing anxiety, loneliness, and depression, events like the Taizé encounter provide opportunities for connection and shared purpose across national boundaries.
