We're all in for the Catalyst Festival! We want you there!
Catalyst is our global family of churches and the festival is our BEST and BIGGEST way of connecting in as churches. We'd love you to be there, getting involved and helping us play our part in this event!
At a glance:
What: Unique gathering of our global church family!
Who: All four Churchcentral chuches are joining together.
When: 23-26 May 2026
Where: Norfolk Showground
Price: £35 per person booking price, £10 for kids under 3 at the event
What's included: Your full event ticket, and your food (we're eating together as Churchcentral!)
How is the wider cost covered: Gift Day across our churches to cover each other
When do I need to book: That low booking price expires on 28th September.
The full information: all you need to know!
What's the Catalyst Festival?
The Catalyst Festival is an event put on very two years to gather those from Catalyst churches across the world to worship Jesus.
As a church we are excited to be able to serve and enjoy this great event. Our heart is that we are able to bless one another, and other churches across Catalyst by helping to run the festival and also our own campsite.
Why do we do it?
It helps us to lift our gaze and see what God is doing, not only in our churches, but also across the UK and the nations. We get to worship, dive into the Word, and celebrate the incredible journey we're on together as churches in the Catalyst Network. Catalyst would describe itself as 'more than just a family of churches—we're a movement, raising world-changing disciples who carry the good news of Jesus into every sphere of life'.
When is it?
Saturday 23rd May (arrive from lunchtime) until Tuesday 26th May 2026 (leaving in the afternoon).
Where is it?
It will be held at Norfolk Showground, Dereham Rd, New Costessey, Norwich NR5 0TT. This isthe home of Newday youth festival, so we know the site well. It's a fantastic setting for the festival.
What will be happening?
Across the time there will be large main meetings in the mornings and evenings, Bible Studies, specific activities and groups for children and youth, social activities and more.
What is the accommodation?
The event does not provide accommodation; it involves camping in tents. As a church we will be allocated a 'campsite' within the showground area so we can all camp together. Toilets and showers are shared facilities with other churches in portable blocks set up for the events. You will need a tent and other necessary camping equipment, e.g. camping mats and sleeping bags. Ideally people will be able to provide their own or arrange to borrow from a friend.
However, we know this might not always be possible. Therefore, we are looking at ways that we can support people with the necessary equipment. We will be asking all who book in with us what support they need once the current booking system closes on the 28th September.
If camping is not for you, then you could consider booking accommodation off site and travelling in each day, however you will need to arrange this yourself.
What about food?
We are looking to provide all main meals across the event. We will be able to cater for dietary requirements. However, we will need to work together to enable this, and will need people to serve across our site, as well as more widely across the festival.
How do I get there?
The venue is over 3 hours away by car. We appreciate that this is a long way and not easy for those without a car. We are looking at providing a coach for those who need it.
How accessible is the event?
The event is based on a large site, which means our 'camp site' area as a church may not be close to the main meeting set up, or social activities. There will be options to support with accessibility, for example being able to drive between our camp site and the main area, however if you are staying in our camp site you will need to be able to sleep in a tent.
How much is it and what is included?
We want everyone to be able to come along and so have set our booking price as:
- £10 for children under 3 (May 2026)
- £35 for children 3-18 and adults (May 2026)
This gets you booked in, with your festival ticket and main meals at the festival.
We do ask that people only book those who are part of our churches into the event in this way. If you have other friends and family who would like to come, please speak to your church leader.
Please be aware that the full cost to the church will be much more – festival tickets purchased directly with Catalyst are currently £131 for an adult, and the associated costs for us as a church in putting on our campsite and providing meals is estimated at £50 per adult.
When can I book in at this price until?
This booking price is only available until the 28th September. This is a much earlier deadline than for the CWA, due to the scale and size of the festival, and the way the Catalyst ticket prices work (they are increasing the ticket prices at the beginning of October). You will still be able to book in after this date for a period, but for the full ticket price.
How does the church cover the rest of the costs of the event?
We do genuinely want people to be able to come, so we are looking to remove as many barriers as possible.
We will hold a gift day across the churches nearer the time, where people can give as they are able to towards the costs of the event.
How can I get involved?
We will need lots of people to get involved, both to enable the wider festival to run and also for our camp site to be able to serve our churches. There are lots of areas you can get involved in from cooking to cleaning, children's work to welcome teams, stewarding and festival info teams, and more. Please do book in with a mindset to serve and bless others across the event.
Serving and servers tickets
We know some people have served at Catalyst before and will know that if you are serving with a Catalyst team at the event this does entitle you to a cheaper ticket to the festival. However, we would ask that you still book in with us for the booking fee as it will get you booked in to our shared camp site and help towards the cost of food and running our campsite. We will sort out the servers' tickets directly with Catalyst.
How can I book?
Click here to book in with Churchcentral through our online ticketing platform:
Do I book anything with Catalyst directly?
No! Because we are doing our bookings as explained above with a £35 booking in cost and gift this does make it slightly different. Please book in with us through the link above and we will book the tickets required with Catalyst on your behalf.
If you are unsure or have any further questions, please speak to your church elders/leadership team.
The Catalyst Festival is an event put on very two years to gather those from Catalyst churches across the world to worship Jesus.
As a church we are excited to be able to serve and enjoy this great event. Our heart is that we are able to bless one another, and other churches across Catalyst by helping to run the festival and also our own campsite.
Why do we do it?
It helps us to lift our gaze and see what God is doing, not only in our churches, but also across the UK and the nations. We get to worship, dive into the Word, and celebrate the incredible journey we're on together as churches in the Catalyst Network. Catalyst would describe itself as 'more than just a family of churches—we're a movement, raising world-changing disciples who carry the good news of Jesus into every sphere of life'.
When is it?
Saturday 23rd May (arrive from lunchtime) until Tuesday 26th May 2026 (leaving in the afternoon).
Where is it?
It will be held at Norfolk Showground, Dereham Rd, New Costessey, Norwich NR5 0TT. This isthe home of Newday youth festival, so we know the site well. It's a fantastic setting for the festival.
What will be happening?
Across the time there will be large main meetings in the mornings and evenings, Bible Studies, specific activities and groups for children and youth, social activities and more.
What is the accommodation?
The event does not provide accommodation; it involves camping in tents. As a church we will be allocated a 'campsite' within the showground area so we can all camp together. Toilets and showers are shared facilities with other churches in portable blocks set up for the events. You will need a tent and other necessary camping equipment, e.g. camping mats and sleeping bags. Ideally people will be able to provide their own or arrange to borrow from a friend.
However, we know this might not always be possible. Therefore, we are looking at ways that we can support people with the necessary equipment. We will be asking all who book in with us what support they need once the current booking system closes on the 28th September.
If camping is not for you, then you could consider booking accommodation off site and travelling in each day, however you will need to arrange this yourself.
What about food?
We are looking to provide all main meals across the event. We will be able to cater for dietary requirements. However, we will need to work together to enable this, and will need people to serve across our site, as well as more widely across the festival.
How do I get there?
The venue is over 3 hours away by car. We appreciate that this is a long way and not easy for those without a car. We are looking at providing a coach for those who need it.
How accessible is the event?
The event is based on a large site, which means our 'camp site' area as a church may not be close to the main meeting set up, or social activities. There will be options to support with accessibility, for example being able to drive between our camp site and the main area, however if you are staying in our camp site you will need to be able to sleep in a tent.
How much is it and what is included?
We want everyone to be able to come along and so have set our booking price as:
- £10 for children under 3 (May 2026)
- £35 for children 3-18 and adults (May 2026)
This gets you booked in, with your festival ticket and main meals at the festival.
We do ask that people only book those who are part of our churches into the event in this way. If you have other friends and family who would like to come, please speak to your church leader.
Please be aware that the full cost to the church will be much more – festival tickets purchased directly with Catalyst are currently £131 for an adult, and the associated costs for us as a church in putting on our campsite and providing meals is estimated at £50 per adult.
When can I book in at this price until?
This booking price is only available until the 28th September. This is a much earlier deadline than for the CWA, due to the scale and size of the festival, and the way the Catalyst ticket prices work (they are increasing the ticket prices at the beginning of October). You will still be able to book in after this date for a period, but for the full ticket price.
How does the church cover the rest of the costs of the event?
We do genuinely want people to be able to come, so we are looking to remove as many barriers as possible.
We will hold a gift day across the churches nearer the time, where people can give as they are able to towards the costs of the event.
How can I get involved?
We will need lots of people to get involved, both to enable the wider festival to run and also for our camp site to be able to serve our churches. There are lots of areas you can get involved in from cooking to cleaning, children's work to welcome teams, stewarding and festival info teams, and more. Please do book in with a mindset to serve and bless others across the event.
Serving and servers tickets
We know some people have served at Catalyst before and will know that if you are serving with a Catalyst team at the event this does entitle you to a cheaper ticket to the festival. However, we would ask that you still book in with us for the booking fee as it will get you booked in to our shared camp site and help towards the cost of food and running our campsite. We will sort out the servers' tickets directly with Catalyst.
How can I book?
Click here to book in with Churchcentral through our online ticketing platform:
Do I book anything with Catalyst directly?
No! Because we are doing our bookings as explained above with a £35 booking in cost and gift this does make it slightly different. Please book in with us through the link above and we will book the tickets required with Catalyst on your behalf.
If you are unsure or have any further questions, please speak to your church elders/leadership team.