World Student Day
LIFT UP YOUR EYES • 8 OCTOBER 2026
Do you want to be part of what God is doing among students worldwide?
Then, join thousands around the globe to pray on World Student Day.
Each year, tens of thousands across the globe unite in 48 hours of prayer. Students, staff, and supporters intercede for students and campuses and celebrate how God is at work through local IFES ministry.
This year’s event – Lift Up Your Eyes – is on Thursday 8 October.
What can you do right now?
Subscribe to get all the latest World Student Day updates and resources.
Sign up to let us know you’ll be praying.
You’ll be added to the World Student Day Prayer Map so we can all see where everyone will be praying – COMING SOON to this page.
Share a prayer request for your campus.
Learn more about this year’s theme.
Get a flavour of what it’s like from last year.
Lift Up Your Eyes
In a fractured and hostile world, we may feel overwhelmed and fearful. Our upward gaze on God can slip. So, this World Student Day, will you “lift up your eyes” in prayer? Will you refresh your faith in the Maker and Redeemer of our world?
On Thursday 8 October, join with tens of thousands to pray for students worldwide.
We’ll “lift up our eyes” to focus on a Sovereign Lord who gives strength to the weary and restores the downhearted (Isaiah 40). We’ll “lift up our eyes and look around” to notice how he is already at work among the nations (Isaiah 49, 60).
Together, let’s reorient our gaze.
Using Gen Z’s requests from campuses around the globe, let’s look around and celebrate what God is doing. And let’s pray for the anxious to behold Christ’s compassion and the spiritually seeking to see his saving power.
Wherever you are, however you feel, on World Student Day, let’s lift up our eyes.
Highlights from Last Year
Together, we prayed for over 180 requests from every world region.
You’ll be added to the World Student Day Prayer Map so we can all see where everyone will be praying – COMING SOON to this page.
We united to give thanks for 50 years of prayer days and ask God to do “immeasurably more”.
Want to Pray Today?
Get ready for 8 October by praying for students now!
“To whom will you compare me?
Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One.
Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens:
Who created all these?