St. Louis to Host COGIC Holy Convocation in November
The 118th Church of God in Christ Holy Convocation arrives at the America's Center from November 3 to November 10, 2026.
Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Christianity
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St. Louis will host the 118th Holy Convocation of the Church of God in Christ, an African American Pentecostal Christian denomination, beginning November 3, 2026. The event returns to the city for the first time since 2019 following a vote by church officials in 2025.
Why it matters
The denomination chose to move the event to St. Louis after failing to reach new agreements with leadership in Memphis and the local hospitality sector. The city previously hosted the gathering annually for a decade.
Explore St. Louis projects the convention will generate approximately $250 million in regional economic impact over three years. Attendance previously reached 30,000 annually during the 2010 to 2019 hosting period.
The players
Church of God in Christ
This is an African American Pentecostal Christian denomination.
Affinia Healthcare
This organization will provide health services during the convention.
Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis
This organization is hosting the community outreach giveaway event.
Explore St. Louis
This entity provides regional economic impact projections.
The details
The event at the America's Center Convention Complex includes lectures, worship, consecration, and church business sessions. Additionally, Affinia Healthcare will be on-site to provide flu shots and health screenings for attendees.
Timeline
St. Louis hosted the event annually from 2010 to 2019.
COGIC officials voted to return to St. Louis in 2025.
The Christmas in November community giveaway takes place October 31, 2026.
The 118th Holy Convocation occurs from November 3 to November 10, 2026.
Culture Shift
The return to St. Louis follows the pattern established by the 2010-2019 St. Louis Holy Convocation hosting period. This move signifies a realignment of the denomination with a city that served as its primary home for a decade.
Residents can attend the Christmas in November giveaway event on October 31 at the Urban League to receive groceries, coats, and toys. Increased visitor traffic is expected near the America's Center throughout the week of the convocation.
The takeaway
The return of this large-scale event highlights the ongoing importance of regional partnerships for major religious conventions. St. Louis residents should prepare for significant crowds in the downtown area during the week of the convention.
Further reading
For more information on religious gatherings, visit St. Louis Christianity.
Source note: This article includes information reported by St. Louis American.
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