Luján, Buenos Aires
Pilgrimage to Luján 2026
The Youth Pilgrimage on foot, the Gaucho Pilgrimage and the others: when they are, where they go, what to bring and how to get back. Everything practical for walking to the Basilica.
Youth Pilgrimage on foot: Saturday, October 3 and Sunday, October 4, 2026
The 52nd Youth Pilgrimage to Luján sets off on Saturday, October 3 at 10 a.m. from the Shrine of San Cayetano, at Cuzco 150, Liniers, and reaches the Basilica after about 60 kilometers along National Route 7.
- Vigil: Saturday at 11:30 p.m.
- Main Mass: Sunday, October 4 at 7 a.m.
- 2026 motto: “Mother, in your embrace we recognize one another as brothers and sisters.”
- Taking part is free and no registration is needed.
The route goes through Morón, Merlo, Moreno, Francisco Álvarez and General Rodríguez. It is organized by more than 6,500 volunteers.
What to bring
- Comfortable, broken-in shoes and spare socks: you will be walking for many hours.
- Water, something to eat along the way and sunscreen.
- A light jacket for the night and something for the rain.
- Your ID, a charged phone and a power bank.
- Travel light: you will carry everything you bring for 60 kilometers.
Getting back from Luján
The trip back is the hardest part to plan: when it ends, thousands of people look for a train or bus at the same time. Check the options beforehand in how to get to (and back from) Luján, and if someone is picking you up by car, have them book a parking spot in Luján so they don’t drive around near the Basilica. If you’d rather spend the night in Luján, here is accommodation.
Other pilgrimages to Luján
- Gaucho Pilgrimage: on horseback, on Sunday, September 27, 2026 from 9:30 a.m., in front of the Basilica, as part of the “Luján es Tradición” festival.
- Pilgrimage of the Sick: on the last Saturday of October.
- Diocesan pilgrimages: in November, groups from different dioceses arrive; the Shrine publishes the calendar.
- Pope Leo XIV’s Mass: Wednesday, November 11, 2026. Everything in the Pope’s visit to Luján.
A bit of history
The first Youth Pilgrimage took place on October 25, 1975: about 30,000 young people walked to Luján at the initiative of Father Rafael Tello. It has been held every year since.
Frequently asked questions
- When is the Pilgrimage to Luján 2026?
- The 52nd Youth Pilgrimage sets off on Saturday, October 3, 2026 at 10 a.m. from the Shrine of San Cayetano (Cuzco 150, Liniers). The main Mass is on Sunday, October 4 at 7 a.m.
- How many kilometers is it from Liniers to Luján?
- About 60 kilometers along National Route 7, through Morón, Merlo, Moreno, Francisco Álvarez and General Rodríguez.
- Do I need to register for the Pilgrimage to Luján?
- No. Taking part is free and no registration is needed.
- When is the 2026 Gaucho Pilgrimage to Luján?
- On Sunday, September 27, 2026, from 9:30 a.m., in front of the Basilica.
- Since when has the Youth Pilgrimage to Luján been held?
- Since October 25, 1975, when about 30,000 young people walked to Luján at the initiative of Father Rafael Tello.