Free tickets for Pope Leo XIV’s youth vigil in Lima go on sale on Monday 9 November 2026. The event takes place on Thursday 12 November at the Estadio Nacional, Peru’s National Stadium.
Leo is the first US-born pope, so many Americans will want a place in the crowd. Anyone aged 16 to 35 can apply, and a passport is accepted as identification.
The tickets cost nothing, but they are personal and cannot be passed on to anyone else. The Archdiocese of Lima, the Catholic Church’s governing body for the capital region, is organising the evening.
- Who: Young people aged 16 to 35 meet Pope Leo XIV, the first US-born pope.
- What: About 51,000 free tickets via Teleticket, Peru’s ticketing platform, from Monday 9 November.
- Where: Estadio Nacional (National Stadium), Lima, Peru.
- When: Thursday 12 November 2026. Gates open 11:00 a.m., vigil starts 6:00 p.m. Lima time (UTC-5).
- Status: As of 3 November 2026, 19:00 GMT
What We Know
The vigil is an evening prayer gathering where the pope meets young people, with his arrival set for 6:00 p.m. Lima time. Gates open at 11:00 a.m., and preparatory activities begin at 2:00 p.m.
Capacity is about 51,000 young people. Reports differ slightly, with one citing 52,000.
The venue changed earlier, moving from the Estadio Monumental, a football stadium in Lima, to the Estadio Nacional, as we reported in our earlier article on the youth rally. Cardinal Carlos Castillo, the Archbishop of Lima, has said the event will include choreography and questions from young people.
The Archdiocese of Lima says 99% of the stadium’s gates will be open for entry. That matters for a crowd of this size arriving across several hours.
How to Get a Free Ticket
Distribution runs through Teleticket, Peru’s ticketing platform, from noon Lima time on Monday 9 November. The tickets are free of charge.
You must be between 16 and 35 years old, and each person can hold only one ticket. Tickets are personal and non-transferable.
At the gate, you need valid identification that matches the name on the ticket. Accepted documents are the DNI (Documento Nacional de Identidad, Peru’s national ID card), a foreign ID card or a passport.
A digital or printed ticket is accepted at entry. Organisers stress that entry is strictly personal, so tickets cannot be given to others.
Young people aged 16 and 17 must be registered by an adult aged 18 or over through the adult’s Teleticket account. The adult automatically receives an accompanying ticket.
A signed sworn statement from a parent or guardian, known in Spanish as a declaración jurada, is also required. Both the minor and the adult must show ID and ticket at the gate.
Check that the name on your ticket matches your document exactly. Gates open seven hours before the pope arrives, so there is time to enter calmly.
What Is Not Known
It is unclear whether the tickets will run out quickly. Reports also differ on capacity, with figures of 51,000 and 52,000.
Arrangements for non-Peruvian visitors, beyond the acceptance of a foreign ID card or passport, have not been detailed. Readers should watch Teleticket and the Archdiocese of Lima’s announcements for changes.
What It Means for Travelers and US Readers
US citizens aged 16 to 35 can use a passport as identification for this event. The tickets are free, so the main cost is the trip itself, which this article does not cover.
The vigil falls inside Leo’s visit to Peru from 11 to 16 November 2026. Our guide to the Lima and Cusco trip sets out the wider schedule.
Lima uses UTC-5, the same offset as US Eastern Standard Time after clocks went back on 1 November. So 6:00 p.m. in Lima is 6:00 p.m. on the US East Coast.
Leo served as a bishop in Chiclayo, a city in northern Peru, and is a naturalised Peruvian, which gives the visit special weight in the country. Free tickets for the Lima Mass on 16 November are covered separately, and our Peru hub tracks the wider story.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is the youth vigil?
It is on Thursday 12 November 2026 at the Estadio Nacional in Lima. Gates open at 11:00 a.m. and the vigil starts at 6:00 p.m. local time.
Who can get a free ticket?
Anyone aged 16 to 35 can get one free ticket through Teleticket from noon Lima time on Monday 9 November. Tickets are personal and non-transferable.
Can US visitors use a passport?
A passport is accepted as valid ID, provided the name matches the ticket. Other arrangements for non-Peruvian visitors have not been detailed.
How do 16 and 17 year olds register?
An adult aged 18 or over must register them through the adult’s Teleticket account and receives an accompanying ticket. A signed sworn statement from a parent or guardian is required.
Sources: Archdiocese of Lima and Peru’s papal visit commission announcements, 3 November 2026; Teleticket ticketing terms.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief