The 21st YMCA World Council begins in Toronto on Sunday 19 July

Date: 14 July 2026

The biggest event in the global YMCA calendar is in sight! The 21st YMCA World Council will be held in Toronto from Sunday 19 to Friday 24 July and the theme is ‘Transform’. 

“The world is changing before our eyes,” says World YMCA Secretary General Carlos Sanvee. “It is transforming, and so in turn must the YMCA.”

Over 1300 people from over 100 countries will be attending, including nearly 200 external guests representing 86 organizations from across the corporate, philanthropic, nonprofit, academic, and international sectors. The event will be hosted by YMCA Canada.

Whether you will be in Toronto or not, please follow the news on the World YMCA website and social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads) and the World Council website and its World Council News page (World Council News #7 was issued on 19 June). 

Our call to action to you: share updates with your local YMCA communities, using the hashtag #YMCATransform2026

If you’re attending YMCA World Council:

  • don’t forget to download the Cvent Events (Attendee Hub) app and use it to see your assigned excursion details, create your personal schedule, learn more about our speakers, sponsors, exhibitors, and much more!

  • watch the recording of the ‘Meet the Officer candidates’ webinar that took place on Wednesday 8 July

  • read about the 16 finalists of the YMCA Impact Awards which will be announced on 23 July

  • And get your strength up for 2 days of rich debate (with 45 sessions and 150 speakers) around our responses to global challenges in our shared work across the four Vision 2030 Pillars of Community Wellbeing, Meaningful Work, Sustainable Planet and Just World

“YMCA World Council is for the entire worldwide YMCA Movement,” says Carlos. “In Toronto or not, we are with each other in ‘body, mind … and spirit’! We’re celebrating all that we have done  – please do check out this Compendium of Vision 2030 projects from across the worldwide YMCA Movement – and we are charting our way forward towards its Bicentenary in 2044. See you very soon!”

Contact us at worldcouncil@ymca.int for any further information.