Quick Answer
March of the Living costs $9,500–$14,000for US delegations in 2026. It is a 14-day journey from Poland's death camps to Israel's independence celebrations — one of the most powerful Jewish experiences available.
What Is March of the Living?
March of the Living is an annual international program that brings Jewish teens and young adults from Poland's concentration camps to Israel's independence celebrations. Over 10,000 participants from 50+ countries join each year, making it one of the largest Jewish educational programs in the world.
The program takes place over two weeks, beginning on Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) in Poland and concluding in Israel for Yom HaZikaron (Memorial Day) and Yom Ha'atzmaut (Independence Day). Participants march from Auschwitz to Birkenau on Yom HaShoah — the same route that Jews were forced to march during the Holocaust.
For many participants, March of the Living is described as the most transformative experience of their Jewish identity — a visceral connection between the darkness of the past and the hope of Israel's present.
2026 Cost Breakdown
| Cost Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Program fee | $7,500–$10,000 |
| International flights (roundtrip) | $800–$1,500 |
| Spending money | $500–$1,000 |
| Visa and travel documents | $200–$500 |
| Total all-in | $9,500–$14,000 |
Program fees vary by delegation and organizing organization. US-based delegations typically fall in the $7,500–$10,000 range.
What's Included vs. Not Included
Included
- ✓All programming in Poland and Israel
- ✓Ground transportation throughout
- ✓Hotel accommodation
- ✓Most meals
- ✓Educational materials
- ✓Group activities and ceremonies
Not Included
- ×International flights
- ×Personal spending money
- ×Travel insurance (recommended)
- ×Passport fees
- ×Optional souvenirs and extras
Registration Timeline for 2026/2027
March of the Living typically takes place in April–May. Registration through US delegations usually opens 8–10 months in advance:
- →July–September: Applications typically open for the following April program
- →October–December: Deposit and spot confirmation deadline
- →January–March: Final payment due; pre-departure educational preparation
- →April: Departure to Poland; program begins
Age requirements: Teen delegations are for students in grades 10–12 (ages 15–18). Adult delegations are available for participants 19 and older.
How to Fund March of the Living
Families typically combine several funding sources:
- →Jewish federation grants: $500–$2,000 available from most local federations. Apply 6–9 months in advance.
- →Synagogue scholarships: Many synagogues offer partial scholarships for teen members participating in March of the Living.
- →Israel Prepaid Bronze Plan: Lock in today's March of the Living price — $89/month starting at birth for $35,976 in guaranteed coverage. The Bronze plan is purpose-built for this program.
Bronze Plan Pricing by Child's Age
| Child's Age | Monthly Payment | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Newborn (0) | $89/month | $35,976 |
| Age 3 | $105/month | $32,392 |
| Age 5 | $119/month | $30,044 |
| Age 8 | $151/month | $26,584 |
| Age 10 | $185/month | $24,319 |
| Age 13 | $281/month | $20,984 |
Even the age-13 Bronze plan provides $20,984 in coverage — well above the program cost.
The March of the Living Itinerary: What Participants Experience
The March of the Living program unfolds in two distinct chapters — Poland and Israel — each with its own emotional weight.
Week 1: Poland — Memory and Loss
- ·Arrival in Warsaw — orientation and historical context
- ·Kraków old city and Kazimierz Jewish quarter
- ·Auschwitz-Birkenau — the site where 1.1 million Jews were murdered
- ·The March itself — 3 km on Yom HaShoah from Auschwitz to Birkenau
- ·Plaszow concentration camp and Schindler's factory
- ·Treblinka and the Warsaw Ghetto uprising memorial
Week 2: Israel — Life and Rebirth
- ✓Arrival in Israel — immediate emotional contrast to Poland
- ✓Yom HaZikaron ceremonies — Israel's national memorial day
- ✓Yom Ha'atzmaut celebrations — Israel's Independence Day
- ✓Jerusalem — Western Wall, Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial
- ✓Tel Aviv and Haifa — modern Israeli society
- ✓Closing ceremony with participants from 50+ countries
The juxtaposition of Poland and Israel — destruction and rebirth, past and present — is not accidental. It is the emotional core of the March of the Living experience, and it is what makes the program irreplaceable for Jewish identity formation.
Preparing Teens for the March — Emotionally and Practically
The March of the Living is the most emotionally intense Jewish youth experience available. Parents whose children are preparing for the trip often ask what to do in advance. Experienced delegations and mental health professionals generally recommend:
- →Family history conversations: Talk about your family's Holocaust history before the trip. Whether your family has direct survivor connections or none, grounding the experience in personal history gives it meaning beyond textbooks.
- →Holocaust education: Read age-appropriate Holocaust literature or watch documentaries together as a family in the months before departure. Context helps participants process what they see.
- →Know your child's emotional baseline: The March will bring up grief, anger, and pride. Students who go in knowing it will be emotionally challenging are better equipped than those who are caught off guard.
- →Debrief plans: Plan for a structured conversation when your teen returns. The program provides debrief support, but follow-up at home is equally important.
Teen vs. Adult Delegations — Key Differences
March of the Living runs separate teen and adult delegations. The experiences overlap in sites visited but differ significantly in structure and purpose:
| Factor | Teen Delegation | Adult Delegation |
|---|---|---|
| Age range | Grades 10–12 (ages 15–18) | 19+ (often 40–70+) |
| Supervision | Highly supervised — adult chaperones throughout | Self-supervised group travel |
| Format | School or synagogue delegation | Community or organizational group |
| Cost | $9,500–$14,000 | $12,000–$18,000 |
| Focus | Jewish identity and Holocaust education | Personal memory, honoring survivors |
| Group dynamic | Peer cohort of same-age students | Multi-generational mixed group |
Frequently Asked Questions
The Bottom Line
March of the Living is one of the most important Jewish educational experiences available — and at $9,500–$14,000, it's also one of the more accessible Israel programs in terms of cost. With a Bronze plan started early, the funding is already waiting when your child reaches grade 10.
Don't let price be the reason your child misses this experience. Lock in today's price now.
See What the Bronze Plan Costs for Your Child's Age →Israel Prepaid helps Jewish families lock in today's prices for March of the Living, Gap Year, MASA, and all Israel experiences. Starting from $89/month.
Written by
Uri Goldenberg
CEO & Co-founder, Israel Prepaid
Uri Goldenberg is the CEO and Co-founder of Israel Prepaid, the first price-locked savings plan for Jewish families funding Israel Gap Year, MASA, Yeshiva, and university programs. A former IDF Medic and 4x Birthright Trip Leader, Uri holds an M.S. in Finance from the University of Florida and brings a background in investment banking and fintech. He has helped Jewish families across Florida, New York, and California plan and fund their children's Israel experiences — from March of the Living to full university degrees at Reichman University, Hebrew University, and Tel Aviv University.