FAQ

The 2026 YJA Convention will be held in New Jersey from July 2nd to July 5th, 2026. The site has been reserved for the Convention attendees and guests and will be appropriately prepared for a safe Jain environment.

Convention attendees must be between the ages of 14-29 as of the first day of the Convention. Each attendee must provide proof of their date of birth with a government issued ID upon check-in (passport, driver's license, birth certificate, etc.). If you don't have one, please bring your high school or college ID. Your ID must have your name as you have registered for the Convention, as well as your birth date and a photo of you.

Check out our Convention Committee page to learn about the 46 person team of wonderful youth organizing the 2026 YJA Convention. These individuals, along with their subcommittee teams, are working tirelessly to provide you with the best attendee experience possible!

Over 800 youth from across North America and around the world are expected to attend the 17th Biennial YJA Convention.

No, attendees will not be allowed to leave the Convention site throughout the duration of the event due to safety and liability issues, unless otherwise specified. All attendees will be required to stay in the designated areas of the Convention hotel or at any YJA offsite locations.

We expect that all of our attendees will conduct themselves in a polite, professional manner. To that end, YJA enforces a strict dress code during the Convention in order to foster our professional image. Our guidelines on appropriate attire are designed to promote a more productive, enjoyable social environment, while maintaining a high level of respect for all attendees (including speakers and dignitaries), for which our organization is known. We recommend dressing in attire that is appropriate for each event throughout the Convention. Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact security.convention@yja.org.

You can reference the rules and regulations here. Please take the time to read them before arriving at the Convention to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all attendees. Please note that these rules will be enforced by the YJA Convention Committee and its representatives.

We will cover a variety of topics including Jain philosophy, spiritual development, interfaith dialogues, culture, social impact, leadership, school and careers, and community contributions through discussions, panels, debates and interactive sessions.

Yes, before the Convention you will have the opportunity to select some of the daytime sessions you would like to attend.

Speakers from around the world with a variety of backgrounds will be invited to the Convention to cover a diverse range of topics. Please check back in May for a complete list of speakers and session topics.

This year's Convention will be featuring traditional YJA nighttime activities such as the Garba, talent show, and the formal. There will also be nighttime events targeted specifically for the two age groups (14-21 and 22+).

22+ Programming brings personal, professional, social, and spiritual growth opportunities for attendees aged 22-29. Those in this age group will attend all of the general Convention programming, as well as some specialized events, which will challenge their thinking via interactive sessions, networking opportunities, and targeted social events.

You will be placed in either the 14-17; 18-21; or 22+ (ages 22-29) age groups based on your age as of July 2nd, 2026.

The registration fee includes accommodations, meals and access to all the activities for the 4-day event. Also included is transportation to and from the EWR airport, as well as a souvenir bag filled with keepsakes such as Convention apparel, a digital souvenir book, and other unique special items.

To provide each attendee with hotel accommodations, meals, transportation, souvenirs, and the opportunity to attend sessions and social events, the actual total cost per person is higher than the registration price. YJA works very hard to fundraise throughout the year to help subsidize the cost of attendance for each attendee. If you have the means to, we would greatly appreciate it if you could help YJA by choosing the "Unsubsidized" pricing option at the time of payment. This would help us raise the money we need to ensure YJA events remain affordable for as many potential attendees as possible.

Please e-mail help@yja.org with any questions or concerns and we'd be happy to help!

For those that would like to attend but are in need of financial assistance, please complete the Financial Assistance Form during the registration process. Financial Assistance requests will be kept fully confidential and anonymous — only the 4 Convention Co-Chairs will have access to them. Financial assistance will be awarded on a first-come-first-serve basis, at the discretion of the Co-Chairs, until the allocation of assistance funds is exhausted.

Food at the Convention will be fully Jain. Those with allergies and additional dietary restrictions (such as veganism), will be accommodated as well.

Please e-mail help@yja.org to cancel your registration.

We understand that sometimes your plans may change or things may come up. If you need to cancel your registration, please review our cancellation policy below:

• If you cancel your registration within 7 days of registering and prior to May 17th, 2026 at 11:59 PM PT, YJA will provide a 100% refund of your registration.
• If you cancel your registration later than 7 days after registering and prior to May 17th, 2026 at 11:59 PM PT, YJA will provide at least a 50% refund of your registration. No refunds will be issued for cancellations after May 17th, 2026.

YJA reserves the right to change or cancel Convention plans (programs, activities, sessions, etc.) for any reason, including for the safety of participants or due to any unforeseeable circumstance. YJA will do its best to refund attendees in such cases, but YJA does not promise any refunds in these situations. YJA is not responsible for any charges associated with these changes or cancellations (travel, accommodations, etc.). Please email help@yja.org if you need to cancel your registration or if you have any questions or concerns.

Yes, a physician will be on-site and available 24 hours a day for the duration of the YJA Convention.

Please contact help@yja.org if you have a disability and will be needing additional assistance so we can do our best to accommodate your needs accordingly.

WiFi will be available in the meeting spaces for our session speakers and presenters. If you will require internet connection on one of the days to complete schoolwork or work tasks, please reach out to us at help@yja.org.

Check-in will begin at 9:00am ET on July 2nd and continue throughout the day. It is recommended that attendees arrive as early as possible for the chance to experience opening day activities, as well as meet and mingle with old and new friends.

A shuttle service will be available to/from Newark Liberty International Airport for attendees to use.

Volunteers help make Convention run smoothly! Opportunities include registration, security, session setup, evening events, and assisting speakers. Any amount of time, from a few hours to the full Convention, is appreciated. Volunteers 35+ are preferred, though individuals aged 30–35 may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

If you're interested, please fill out the 2026 YJA Volunteer Interest Form. We'll reach out between March–May with next steps. For questions, contact volunteer.convention@yja.org.

Please bring your driver's license or any other government issued ID (passports are acceptable as well). If you don't have one, please bring your high school or college ID. Your ID must have your name as you have registered for the Convention, as well as your birth date and a photo of you.