The 2026 National Jamboree is on track to being one of the most exciting events in Scouting. The good news is there are still more than 300 days for Scouts and adult volunteers to do everything they can to sign up and Be Prepared.
Whether you’ve been to a Jamboree before or this will be your first, here’s what you need to know about signing up for the 2026 event.
What is the National Jamboree?
In short: It’s the biggest event in Scouting.
The National Jamboree is a 10-day event held once every four years at the Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve in West Virginia. Youth who attend will have the opportunity to experience world-class adventure, learn new skills, build new things, meet new people and, most of all, have the time of their lives.
Located near Beckley, W.Va., the Summit is a multipurpose destination for Scouting activities and adventures. It’s open year-round, but the property truly comes alive for the National Jamboree.
To attend the National Jamboree, a Scout must be a currently registered member of Scouting America in a Scouts BSA troop, Venturing Crew or Sea Scout Ship.
If attending as a member of Scouts BSA, a Scout must be at least 12 years of age and no older than 17 years of age. If attending as a member of a Venturing Crew or Sea Scout Ship, a Scout must be at least 13 years old and have completed the eighth grade or is age 14 and not yet 21 years of age.
When is the National Jamboree?
The next National Jamboree will be held at Summit Bechtel Reserve from July 22-31, 2026.
Looks awesome! How do I sign up?
Now you’re asking the right questions!
The signup process can vary slightly from council to council, but we can definitely share some best practices right here.
Start by reaching out to your Scoutmaster. It could be that the adult leadership in your Scouting unit has already begun the process of putting together a group of folks to attend the event.
If they haven’t, that’s OK! It’s not too late!
The next step would be for you to contact your local council. Click here to find contact information for your local council. If you call the main phone number for your local council, they should be able to connect you with the right person.
There’s a great chance that your council has already posted information about signing up for the Jamboree on its website. If you’ve never visited your council’s website, a simple web search of the council’s name should do the trick.
If you don’t see anything about the Jamboree on your council’s homepage, don’t give up! I randomly browsed around 20 council websites and was able to find information on each one on their plans for the Jamboree by typing “Jamboree” into the search bar.
Every website I visited included information on different Jamboree packages, as some councils are offering the opportunity to tour Washington, D.C., as part of their Jamboree experience.
You should also be able to find information on payments. Many councils are offering payment schedules, making only a small portion of the payment due at the time of registration. That means you may have many months to fundraise and offset at least a portion of the cost of the rest of the payments.
Check your council’s calendar, as lots of councils are in the process of hosting informational meetings in person or virtually, where you can get all of your questions answered.
And, most importantly, most council websites have a registration button that allows participants to sign up for the Jamboree from the comfort of their home.
Can I bring some friends with me?
The only thing more fun than attending a National Jamboree is attending with your friends in Scouts BSA, Venturing or Sea Scouts who meet the event’s membership requirements.
Do you know a friend who’s not a Scout who you think would enjoy the Jamboree? Maybe now’s a good time to get them to sign up for Scouting.
Can adults attend the Jamboree too?
Yes!
To attend the National Jamboree as a contingent adult leader, an adult must be a currently registered member of Scouting America and no less than 21 years of age. Assistant Scoutmasters ages 18-20 are encouraged to register for Jamboree staff or register and participate as a member of a Venturing Crew or Sea Scout Ship.
Your council may register additional adults beyond its contingent leaders. These adults will serve as council contingent staff, supporting Jamboree operations while remaining embedded with their contingent. Contact your council for more information on this option.
Wait. Adults can register as Jamboree staff?!?
Yes, they can.
The Jamboree relies on trusted adults to deliver the Jamboree experience.
Staff arrive to set up the Summit for the 2026 National Jamboree as early as July 19 and stay through departure day on July 31. They have the option of signing up for one of three sessions:
Session 1: July 19-31, 2026 (Full Jamboree)
Session 2: July 19-25, 2026 (First Half)
Session 3: July 25-31, 2026 (Second Half)
Click here to learn more about staff duties and expectations, and click here to sign up.
It seems kind of expensive. Is it really possible to fundraise enough to pay for the Jamboree?
Many, many Scouts fundraise their way to the Jamboree, offsetting most, if not all, of their out-of-pocket expenses. Any fundraiser must follow the Scouting America fundraising rules. Talk to your Scoutmaster or contact your local council for fundraising opportunities.
What else do I need to do to Be Prepared?
The Jamboree is a big deal — so big that it requires a big property to serve as its host. There are about 10,000 acres at the Summit to explore, and though you might not set foot on every single one of them, you’re going to do a lot of walking.
Now’s a great time to make sure you’re ready. At the least, you could go on lots of walks, carrying a midweight backpack with you to get used to the added weight.
Also, now’s a great time to work on the Personal Fitness merit badge. It will let you know how to maintain a high level of fitness or how to improve your current fitness level, if needed.
We’re still more than 300 days away from the biggest event in Scouting. Now’s the time to get to work!
Click here for more information about participating in the 2026 National Jamboree.
Photos from the Scouting America archives
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