2,400 Pastors Unite as Franklin Graham Prepares to Pack Lima Stadium for Esperanza Festival

Franklin Graham Brings Esperanza Festival to Lima, Peru as 2,400 Pastors and 700 Churches Unite for Massive Gospel Outreach

Lima, Peru's sprawling capital city of over 11 million residents, is preparing to host the Esperanza Lima evangelistic festival on March 7 and 8, 2026. The two day event, led by Franklin Graham, president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA), will take place at the historic Estadio Nacional.

More than 2,400 pastors and 700 local churches have joined forces to make the festival a reality. The overwhelming response from the faith community prompted organizers to expand the event from a single day to two full days.

David Ruiz, associate evangelist and Spanish interpreter for the BGEA, will join Graham on stage. The free event will also feature live worship from acclaimed Christian artists including Christine D'Clario, Charity Gayle, The Afters, and Jahaziel Band.

Local Christian leaders report that while many Peruvians profess belief in God, the spiritual landscape remains largely unreached.

Only about 14% of the population has a personal relationship with Jesus.

Leaders say communities across Lima are battling anxiety, a lack of inner peace, alcoholism, and drug abuse, making the message of hope especially urgent.

This will mark Franklin Graham's first time preaching in Lima since 1998, when he led a three day festival at the same National Stadium during a period of national crisis. That event left a lasting spiritual impact on the city, and organizers believe this return will be even greater.

Participants are preparing through the Christian Life and Witness Course, and organizers are emphasizing post event discipleship and the building of faith communities that extend well beyond the stadium gathering.

Over 700 Peruvian Churches Rally Behind Franklin Graham's Esperanza Lima Gospel Festival

The Esperanza Lima festival continues a powerful wave of evangelistic outreach across Latin America. In November 2025, nearly 75,000 people packed Velez Stadium in Buenos Aires for the Esperanza Buenos Aires festival. In February 2026, hundreds gave their lives to Christ in Ushuaia, the world's southernmost city. Now, the movement heads to Lima, a city founded on January 6, 1535 and known as "the city of kings."

The Crusader's Opinion

This is what the Church looks like when it stops arguing about secondary issues and starts doing what it was always meant to do. Over 2,400 pastors from different denominations, united under one banner: the Gospel. Lima is a city drowning in hopelessness, where addiction and anxiety are consuming families. Franklin Graham is bringing the only real answer. Pray for Peru. Pray that every seat in that stadium is filled, and that every soul who walks in walks out transformed.

Take Action

• Pray daily for the Esperanza Lima festival on March 7 and 8 that God would move powerfully in every attendee's heart.
• Support the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association's mission work at billygraham.org.
• Share this story on social media to spread awareness and encourage others to pray for Peru.
• Give to organizations supporting persecuted and under resourced Christians worldwide at www.TheShepherdsShield.org.
• If you are in Lima, volunteer or attend the free event at Estadio Nacional. Learn more at esperanzalima.com.