Our staff and volunteer teams are excited to welcome you to Dublin, Ireland. While we have planned and prepared an excellent event, the preparation, attitude, and approach that you bring with you to GYPC is a critical component of your experience at the event.

Read and share this post with all attendees. If you would like a slide deck that follows this information, one is available here.

For the most current event updates, visit umcyoungpeople.org/gypc2026

Arriving in Dublin

After your flight lands, please plan for 60–90 minutes to de-plane, collect luggage, and clear immigration. Once you have gone through customs, GYPC welcome crew members (with signs!) will be available on July 7 between 8am-5pm to help direct you toward shuttle transportation. A welcome group will be located just as you enter the main terminal of the Dublin Airport from immigration/customs, and a second welcome group will be waiting in the parking lot where shuttle buses run.

A shuttle bus will run every 30 minutes from the airport to the Crowne Plaza Dublin Airport, the main event hotel. When you arrive, you will first check in for GYPC and then check in to your hotel.

At GYPC check-in, each participant will receive a name tag, printed participant handbook, drawstring bag, and umbrella. Upon arrival, if there are errors on your name tag, please let us know so that we may correct them quickly. Name tags are required to be worn during all GYPC programming. Attendees receive orange lanyards with their name tag while volunteers and event staff have green lanyards. If you need help, look for a green lanyard!

After completing check-in for GYPC on July 7, you can continue to hotel check-in. For those at the Crowne Plaza Dublin Airport, this means walking a hallway. For those staying offsite at GYPC hotels, we have shuttle buses for you.

If you need to check-in on July 8, check-in will be available until Noon on that day.

Event Schedule

Tuesday, July 7 is arrival and check-in day. Once checked in for GYPC and your lodging, the rest of the day is yours to enjoy, and meals are your responsibility.

You will notice that Ireland uses the 24-hour clock. If you are used to a 12-hour clock with am/pm, think of this time system as “Everything up until noon is am. Everything after noon is 12+ the hour of the afternoon.” For example, 1pm on the 12-hour clock would be 13:00, 8pm would be 20:00, and so on”

On July 8, 9, and 10, worship begins at 10:00 and the doors to the large room open at 9:30.

Learning opportunities and workshops will be offered each afternoon from 14:00–15:30 and 16:00–17:30. Lunch includes opportunities to sit at tables with staff from a variety of United Methodist General Agencies.

Evening communion will take place July 8, 9, and 10 from 20:30-21:30.

Dinner on July 9 is sponsored by Wespath. In the large room, WesPath will share a bit about their mission and ministry while we enjoy our meal.

Workshops and Learning Opportunities

The initial estimate for attendance at GYPC was 350…the excitement and demand were such that we currently have more than 600 registered for the event. Because of that fact, our event hotel is truly operating at maximum capacity. Navigating this challenge will require grace and understanding from all attendees, volunteers, and staff.

Due to the size of the meeting rooms where workshops will take place, workshop capacity will be limited, and doors will close when rooms are full. Please honor room capacities for everyone’s safety and comfort.

Because this is a worldwide event, attendees from the United States are asked to allow attendees from countries other than the USA first choice for workshops. Likewise, adults and chaperones are asked to give youth and young adults priority and then select their own workshop.

July 8 and 9 from 14:00-15:30, a workshop will be hosted in the large room, meaning that all attendees have the opportunity to sit in a workshop, even if it is not their first choice.

July 8 and 9 from 16:00-17:30, and on July 10 during both workshop times, only smaller breakout rooms are available, and the total capacity of all workshops is about 400 people.

Workshops are not mandatory. It is completely appropriate to rest, socialize, or take a break when needed. There are excellent gathering spaces in the hotel and a beautiful park with walking trails just outside. GYPC is a full experience, and part of creating sanctuary together is giving one another permission to breathe.

Meals

On July 8, 9, and 10:

Breakfast will be at your own hotel.
Lunch will be served from 12:00–13:30.
Snack break will be at 15:00.
Dinner will be at 18:00.

Please use the available dining spaces, extend grace during mealtimes, and ask a GYPC planning team member for support if you need help communicating dietary restrictions or food allergies with hotel staff.

Safety, Security, and Help

The GYPC Registration/Help Desk will be located near the large worship room (Redwood). It will be open July 7 and the morning of July 8. By lunch on July 8, the services of that desk will transfer to the Event Office, located in Room 19. This is the place to go for lost items, incident reports, immediate feedback, or other event leadership support.

GYPC does not offer medical services, advice, or medications. There are general physicians and pharmacies nearby if you feel ill or experience a minor injury during the event. We do ask that any illnesses, accidents, injuries, or incidents be reported to the event office so that we can help support those impacted.

For emergencies in Ireland:

Phone call: 999
SMS text: 112

*Use these numbers only if someone is in immediate danger, a life is at risk, or you are witnessing a crime or emergency incident. These numbers connect directly with emergency services and do not go through the GYPC planning team.

Hotel Information

Crowne Plaza Dublin Airport
Northwood Park, Santry Demesne, Dublin, D09 KN66, Ireland
+353 1 862 8888

Crowne Plaza Dublin – Blanchardstown
Blanchardstown, Centre, Dublin, Ireland
+353 1 897 7777

Travelodge Dublin Airport North Swords
Pinnock Hill Roundabout, Swords, Co. Dublin, Ireland
+353 1 807 9400

The Hendrick Dublin Smithfield
6–11 Hendrick St, Smithfield, Dublin 7, D07 A8N1, Ireland
+353 1 482 6500

Translation, Accessibility, and Hospitality

Translation will be available during programming in the large room, and some workshops will have translation support through headsets, microphones, and volunteer interpreters. Please speak slowly, allow time for translation, and ask clarifying questions when needed.

GYPC will bring together young people and leaders from many places, languages, cultures, and contexts. Please practice patience, kindness, and mutual care. That is how we help create sanctuary for one another. The Participant Handbook includes the following 13 Behavior Guidelines in detail. You are encouraged to become familiar with them and live them while we are together.

1) Listen to Understand, Not to Respond
2) Use Clear, Simple Language
3) Honor Names and Pronouns
4) Practice Patience
5) Be Mindful of Nonverbal Communication
6) Avoid Assumptions
7) Respect Shared Spaces and Schedules
8) Be Aware of Power Dynamics
9) Address Harm Constructively
10) Find and Honor Quiet Time
11) Groups of 3 or more outside Crowne Plaza
12) Avoid the use of alcohol and illegal drugs during GYPC
13) No firearms, weapons, or items intended to cause harm

Come Ready to Connect

GYPC is about more than attending sessions. It is about meeting people, learning from one another, worshiping together, and building relationships across the connection. Bring your questions, your curiosity, your patience, and your openness to what God may do in and through this gathering.

Bring excitement, a willingness to meet new people, and embody grace. Make new friends!If it has been a while since you have had to meet a complete stranger, take initiative by being open and friendly. Invite someone new to sit by you in worship or at a meal. We know you aren’t coming all the way to Dublin just to talk with people you already know well. When starting conversations with a new person, consider the following suggestions, which again are explained in detail in the participant handbook.

• Start Simple
• Ask Open Questions
• Be Curious
• Use Shared Moments
• Invite Connection
• Exchange Pins & Stickers

We look forward to our time together in Dublin. Please hold event organizers and leadership in prayers as we do the same for you. Traveling mercies!