Dear National Scout Organizations and Heads of Contingent,
The World Scout Committee is pleased to share this updated review of readiness, risk assessment, and contingency planning for the 26th World Scout Jamboree Poland 2027, as of July 2026. This update is informed by recent reporting from the Host, the World Scout Bureau, the WOSM Events Oversight Group and the first External Audit Group review.
As the assessment of progress and risk remains aligned, it is presented as a joint update by WOSM and Związek Harcerstwa Polskiego, the Host NSO, together with its Jamboree Organising Committee.
1. What has changed since January
Since the previous joint update in January 2026, the project has advanced in several important areas. The Jamboree has moved from planning into active delivery, with registration, construction, procurement, participant readiness systems and volunteer readiness now progressing in parallel.
The first WOSM Events External Audit Group review has been completed, marking an important step in the strengthened event oversight system. Registration now stands at 42,950 people, with 160 Heads of Contingent appointed. Registration Phase Two has launched, the IST Volunteer Roles Catalogue has been published, and the volunteer platform is live.
Site construction is visibly underway. Key food procurement arrangements have also advanced. Risk, safety and contingency planning have become more concrete, with particular focus on transport resilience, strengthened coordination across the Host, WOSM, volunteers, contractors and public authorities, continued monitoring of the regional security environment, and further development of medical and Safe from Harm readiness. A follow-up External Audit will take place in Gdańsk in October 2026.
2. Current readiness and progress
Preparations for the 26th World Scout Jamboree remain broadly on track. This assessment is based on progress across registration, volunteer readiness, site construction, procurement, transport planning, medical readiness and Safe from Harm. The current phase is increasingly focused on delivery, testing major systems, managing dependencies, confirming escalation processes, and ensuring that key arrangements can operate at the scale required for a World Scout Jamboree.
As of early June 2026, the total registration number of 42,950 breaks down as follows
- Contingents - 160
- Youth Participants and Adult Patrol Leaders - 32,270
- International Service Team members - 9,351
- Contingent Management Team - 1,337
Registration remains comfortably above break-even levels and demonstrates global confidence in the event. Registration Phase Two launched on 15 May 2026, marking a transition from Contingent-level planning to individual participant readiness. The registration platform now supports key operational systems, including transport, accommodation, catering, medical information, visa preparation, and programme planning. The next phase will place increased emphasis on testing how these systems interact with one another, particularly where participant data, transport, accommodation, catering and medical information depend on accurate and timely inputs.
In parallel, the IST Volunteer Roles Catalogue has been published for HoCs in the intranet, and the volunteer platform is live, supporting onboarding, e-learning, role allocation and certification.
The Jamboree site is also moving into active construction. Construction has been reviewed, including culverts and earthworks, with site construction overall at 30%, which is on track with expectations at this stage of planning.
Programme planning has also advanced significantly, with key educational experiences, external partnerships and participant engagement initiatives moving into detailed delivery planning.
Overall, preparations remain on track for this stage of the project. The Jamboree is now entering a more demanding delivery phase, with the focus shifting from planning progress to testing, dependency management and operational assurance. Registration, volunteer readiness, site construction and food procurement show good progress, while transport resilience, remaining procurement items, Safe from Harm and wider coordination will require close monitoring. No current issue threatens the viability of the Jamboree, but the coming months will be important to confirm that key systems are tested and ready to work at scale.
3. Oversight and audit
The first External Audit Group review was completed in May 2026. The review assessed the Host as broadly on track for this stage of preparation, with sound foundations, strong project management systems, active coordination with municipal and state authorities, and early infrastructure works underway.
The audit also highlighted several areas requiring continued attention as the project moves further into delivery, including procurement processes and risk ownership allocation. The Host has welcomed the report and has already begun taking steps to address and mitigate the identified risks. Risk ownership allocation and reporting have since been reviewed and strengthened, with key risks now linked to identified owners, escalation routes and regular review through the Jamboree Management Team and WOSM oversight structures. Procurement processes identified for follow-up have also been reviewed, corrective actions are underway, and remaining major procurement items continue to receive direct monitoring.
A follow-up External Audit is scheduled to take place in Gdańsk in October 2026. Together, the May review and October follow-up will support continued assurance through the planning and delivery periods.
The June Jamboree Management Team meeting was used to further strengthen risk management and support the timely mitigation of priority issues as preparations continue.
4. Risk, safety and contingency planning
Safety, security, and contingency planning continue in close coordination with Polish state, regional, and municipal authorities, including the police, fire service, border guard, health services, sanitary inspection, crisis-management structures, and the City of Gdańsk.
The current risk environment is characterised less by isolated critical risks and more by the interdependence of major systems as the event approaches delivery. Since the January update, several key risk areas have progressed and continue to be actively monitored.
Transport, communication and coordination remain important operational focus areas due to the scale of arrivals, departures, daily participant movements and the number of actors involved in delivery. Planning has advanced through closer coordination with the City of Gdańsk, relevant transport partners, public authorities, the Jamboree Organising Committee, WOSM Support Team, volunteers and contractors, with contingency options being developed to support resilience in the event of disruption. The next phase will include further testing of transport scenarios, escalation processes and coordination arrangements with public authorities, contractors, volunteers, the Host and WOSM.
The regional security environment, including indirect effects related to the war in Ukraine, remains a contextual risk under continuous monitoring. The Host continues to work closely with Polish state authorities and relevant partners to assess developments, update planning assumptions, and integrate risk intelligence into safety, security and contingency planning. Current assessments do not indicate a direct threat to the viability of the Jamboree, but active monitoring continues at national and international levels.
Medical and Safe from Harm planning are also progressing. Medical preparedness includes coordination with public authorities, emergency services, regional hospitals and on-site medical planning. Safeguarding, safety and wellbeing (Safe from Harm) planning continues through case-management design, SOP development, and integration with wider safety and emergency processes. These areas will also require continued scenario testing and practical coordination checks with relevant Host teams, WOSM structures, and public authorities.
5. Procurement and operational dependencies
Since the first audit, significant procurement progress has been made. The market provider for participant food and the canteen operator for IST has been selected. This represents significant progress on one of the principal operational areas identified for follow-up by the audit.
Other major procurement processes, for infrastructure works and major tentage equipment selection, continue according to schedule and remain under direct monitoring by the Jamboree Management Team. WOSM and the Host will continue to monitor the contracting of remaining major supplier arrangements, the adequacy of contingency plans, and the possible impact of supplier inflation, fuel costs and travel costs on the overall budget and the Solidarity Operation.
6. Note for NSO and HoC decision-making
This communication provides the World Scout Committee’s and the Host Organisation’s best current assessment, as of July 2026, based on available planning information, audit observations, risk review cycles, and coordination with competent authorities. It is intended to support transparency and preparedness across all Contingents.
Each National Scout Organization and Head of Contingent remains responsible for its own decisions regarding participation and readiness. The decision to participate in the Jamboree rests with each Contingent, in line with its own national policies, risk assessment, leadership judgement and communication with parents, guardians and participants.
This shared responsibility includes ensuring that Contingent Management Teams are appropriately briefed, trained and prepared to assume leadership responsibilities in atypical or emergency situations, in line with national policies and the guidance provided by the Polish authorities, the Host Organisation and WOSM.
7. Next steps
Regular updates on Jamboree progress will continue to be provided to National Scout Organizations and Heads of Contingent as preparations advance.
The 3rd Heads of Contingent meeting in Gdańsk in July 2026 will serve as a key checkpoint in the readiness process. It will help strengthen alignment with Contingents, clarify expectations, review support systems, and address unresolved matters ahead of the next phase. The Heads of Contingent Meeting will also provide an opportunity for participants to experience programme concepts, review educational content and engage directly with teams responsible for participant experience.
Members of the Oversight Group appointed by the World Scout Committee, as well as World Scouting’s Secretary General, will be present at the upcoming Heads of Contingent Meeting to answer any in-person queries on the auditing and oversight mechanics put in place for the event.
The Jamboree Organising Committee remains available to respond to questions from NSOs and Contingents through established coordination channels, including [email protected].
Questions related to WOSM’s oversight processes for the 26th World Scout Jamboree can be directed to Raül Molina, Global Director, WOSM Events, at [email protected].
Thank you for your continued partnership and leadership in preparing Contingents for the 26th World Scout Jamboree.
Yours in Scouting,
David Berg
Secretary General
World Scouting
Karol Gzyl
Executive Director
Jamboree Organising Committee for the 26th World Scout Jamboree