We are excited to announce that our annual Convocation will be changing venues next year! Starting in 2027, the in-person event will be held at the Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena, California. The 2027 SRF World Convocation will take place June 27 – July 3, and will continue to be streamed online for those unable to attend in person.
Just ten miles from downtown Los Angeles, the Pasadena Convention Center offers a comfortably spacious and walkable environment. Four hotels will offer special SRF rates for Convocation attendees — three within a five-minute walk, and the furthest one only a ten-minute walk from the Convention Center — allowing easy movement between hotels and event spaces in Pasadena’s pedestrian-friendly downtown. A large number of dining options are also conveniently located nearby.
Heartfelt Gratitude to the Westin Bonaventure
We also wish to express our heartfelt gratitude to the Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites in downtown Los Angeles, which has hosted Convocation for many years. The Bonaventure has been the setting for countless moments of inspiration, spiritual fellowship, and joyful reunions among Convocation participants from around the globe, and we remain deeply appreciative of its warm hospitality and its gracious and welcoming staff.
A New Chapter in Convocation’s History
Over the decades, Convocation has adapted as attendance expanded and new venues were needed to serve the needs of participants. While locations have changed through the years, the purpose has remained the same: to bring together spiritual seekers from around the world to experience the transforming teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda and the joy of seeking God together.
The SRF Convocation was established in 1950 by Paramahansaji with an event held on the tennis court at the SRF International Headquarters (Mother Center) in Los Angeles.
By 1970 attendance had greatly expanded, and for the first time Convocation was held at the Millenium Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles — which had also been the site in 1952 of Paramahansa Yogananda’s mahasamadhi (a great yogi’s final conscious exit from the body in a state of oneness with Spirit).
In 1985, to better accommodate the thousands of attendees, Convocation moved to the Westin Bonaventure Hotel in Los Angeles — where the in-person event has been held for the past 40 years.
Now we will begin a new chapter, and we look forward to welcoming attendees to the Pasadena Convention Center in 2027 — and to the many more opportunities to experience together the spiritual renewal, uplifting fellowship, and communion with the Divine that Convocation offers. Registration will open in the spring of 2027.
We invite you to learn more about Convocation and what you can experience during this transformative weeklong immersion in the teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda.
The online events of the 2026 SRF World Convocation continue to be available — whether you are enjoying them again or experiencing them for the first time.
More from the SRF blog
September 11, 2026
A Vision for the Future of the SRF Mother Center — Special Livestream With Brother Chidananda and Brother Vishwananda on September 12
Read more
Leave a comment
While attending convocation at the Biltmore in the 70's I had the great blessing of meditating in the room where Master left his body. The lights were down low with lights on Master's large picture where he had left his body. It is easily in my top 2 meditations.
Jai Guru, Jai Ma, Oh Ma, Hari Hari
There is so much gratitude to Guruji, our past and present Revered Presidents, our dear monks and nuns and all the volunteers who serve to make our yearly convocations possible year after year.
My late parents attended Convocations at MC in the 60s, I attended my first Convocation at the Biltmore in the late 70s, my daughter attended her first Convocation at the Bonaventure, and now my grandchildren will hopefully attend Convocations at the Pasadena Convention Center. No matter where or when they are held, countless generations are blessed with the timeless SRF teachings. Jai Guru!
My first Convocation was at the Biltmore. I shared a room with a woman who’d been a Catholic nun. She prepared me for my Kriya initiation with gravitas and reverence, giving me a sense of its importance and majesty. Subsequent Convocations at the Bonaventure have been well worth the long flight from Australia. I know that the future of our Guru-ordained event in Pasadena will also be occasions of great joy and inspiration. Thanks to all the Angels of our SRF Convocations past and future… especially those now awaiting us in higher realms.
We are fortunate to attend the convocation from 1981 in Baltimore hotel and continued attending in Bonaventure hotel. through 2026).. In Baltimore hotel the most pleasant memory is meditating in the same hall where Guruji took mahasamadhi. In Bonaventure we had many pleasant memories with our two children who are now Kriyabans themselves. Hopefully there are good reasons to change the venue to Pasadena. Bonaventure had the convenience of staying in the hotel and attending the events . But the cost is steep . In Pasadena, hope the cost will be reasonable than Bonaventure.
This open space, quieter neighborhood and fresher air look so inviting. You think everything through very well. In any case, no matter where they are held, convocations will remain the most uplifting, blessed, long-event of the year! Thank you, dear SRF!
This sounds great! I was fortunate to go to the 1980 Biltmore Convocation. I attended again in 1990 and was there in 1993 for the 100th anniversary of Guru's birthday. I have been fortunate to attend yearly since 1995, it is a great blessing every time. While I liked the Bonaventure in the early days, with the big food court and more across the street, I do feel that it has outlived it's usefulness. I was lucky enough to get in there this year, but I felt sorry for people at other hotels without shuttles. Considering this years inconveniences, the move sounds like a very positive one.
I just started my path into YSS. Have not got kriya yoga initiation yet. Looking forward to the convention and hope I can make it.
2026 Convocation was my first time ever experiencing convocation in person, and my heart is truly grateful that I was able to be present for the final gathering at West. Convocation really gives a sense of homecoming, blessing, and alignment — being exactly exactly where we are meant to be.
I’m looking forward to all the convocations to come at the new location, carrying this same spirit of growth, renewal, and divine purpose into every future year.
Jai Guru
These plans sound very exciting! My wife and I are blessed to have been able to attend Convocation four times at the Bonaventure Hotel (2004 to 2007). In recent years we have felt equally fortunate as the online Convocation experience have allowed us to participate without having to travel. Thank you to all the monastics and volunteers who continue to make this most special event a reality! Jai Guru!
I was blessed to be at the Biltmore for the last two years that Convocation was there, and I attended almost every year at the Bonaventure. I am honored to be able to say that next year I will attend Convocation at a third location.!! Every one of these Convocations has been life changing. Thank, you, thank you, thank you Guruji and everyone who makes this happen
18 years ago I attended convocation, at the Bonoventure hotel, it was amazing. Words cannot express how wonderful it was, not least due to the hotel itself.
There had been a mixup with the booking but there was no inkling of any problem. I was given a room with not the slightest question. (the reason was clear a short while later)
The special vegetarian food supplied was absolutely delicious. Nothing was too much trouble. My room was just perfect. I slept like a lamb.
Deep thanks to all of the staff at the Bonoventure hotel.
Excited for SRF to host the Convocation in Pasedena. This seems like a postitve step in making it a safe and viable locale for all to attend. Also, the change in date makes it possible for many more to attend (teachers). I look forward to attending next year.
I look forward to experiencing convocation at the new location yet with the same wonderful loving vibes and smiling devotees.
I have so many positive memories with the Bonaventure hotel since the mid 90s. I have often thought that if we could see the light emanating from all of us in meditation, wouldn’t the Bonaventure be brilliantly lit up day and night? I am sure they will miss us as we will miss them. I can see several reasons why there is the desire to change the venue and I think Pasadena is a perfect choice. I look forward to attending and serving and loving in Pasadena in 2027!
I'm excited for all those that will be able to attend in person and all of us that will attend online. The 2026 convocation was so inspiring and beautiful. Even though I joined you all on line I still felt the warmth and the uplifting in all my meditations. when I join you on line it feels as if I am with you all in person. Sending my love and many many thanks to everyone that helped put this wonderful convocation for us all to enhance are devotion to our Beloved Guruji Jai Guru Jai Guru
I have not yet had the opportunity to attend the SRF Convocation in person but am certainly looking forward to this beautiful new location once I do visit, hopefully in 2027! Joy to all!
In Divine Friendship,
Virginia
I am thrilled to hear that convocation will be held in Pasadena in 2027. As a disabled senior, I no longer felt safe, commuting and parking in downtown Los Angeles to attend convocation as I had done 30 years ago.