Social Innovation Forum 2026: Building a Common Voice for Social Innovation
How can we demonstrate that social innovation works – and make sure that successful solutions receive the support and investment they need to grow?
This question will be at the heart of the Social Innovation Forum 2026 (SIF2026), taking place on 7–8 October in Brussels. More than 280 participants from all EU Member States will come together to exchange experience, share evidence and explore how successful social innovations can contribute to addressing some of Europe’s most pressing social challenges.
Under the theme “Building a Common Voice for Social Innovation – bringing together Impact, Evidence, and Success Stories to inspire collective action”, SIF2026 will focus on a clear message: social innovation creates impact, and approaches that work should have the opportunity to continue, scale and inspire action elsewhere.
From impact to investment
Across Europe, social innovators are developing new approaches to challenges ranging from poverty and social exclusion to employment, skills and support for vulnerable groups. SIF2026 will bring together the evidence and experience behind these approaches and ask what is needed to take successful solutions further.
A key discussion will focus on financing and scaling social innovation, including the role of EU and national public funding, philanthropy and impact investment. With preparations for the next Multiannual Financial Framework underway, the SIF2026 will provide an important space to discuss how proven social innovations can be supported beyond individual projects and funding cycles.
Impact and evidence will run throughout the programme. Participants will explore how evaluation can demonstrate what works, support better policy and funding decisions, and help successful approaches to be transferred and adapted in different contexts.
Meet the social innovators
At the centre of these discussions will be the people already putting social innovation into practice.
A dedicated Meet the Social Innovators session will introduce 12 initiatives selected from the Social Innovation Match database. In interactive sessions, social innovators will share their approaches and experiences with the SIF2026 participants, creating opportunities to discover new practices, exchange knowledge and explore their potential for transfer and scaling.
The Forum will also address transnational cooperation, the future of social innovation funding, support for vulnerable groups and the role of the ESF+ Communities of Practice in turning experience from across Europe into shared knowledge and better practice.
Join the social innovation community
The conversation does not end with the Forum. The ESF+ Communities of Practice bring together people from across Europe to exchange experience, learn from successful approaches and contribute to the development and wider adoption of social innovation.
As Europe considers its future priorities and investments, building evidence around what works – and ensuring that successful solutions can travel – is more important than ever.