ELIA Biennial Conference 2026

In November 2026, ArtEZ will host the 19th edition of the ELIA Biennial Conference. We will welcome hundreds of art educators, designers, artists and researchers from across Europe. The conference revolves around current issues in higher art education and the role of art in society. This international conference takes place in Zwolle.

ELIA, the European League of Institutes of the Arts, is a leading European network for higher arts education. The network represents more than 250 educational institutions from 47 countries, representing over 300,000 art students. ELIA provides a platform for knowledge sharing, collaboration and innovation across all arts disciplines. The biennial conference is the culmination of ELIA's activities, bringing together arts education professionals from around the world to discuss the future of art and education.

The 2026 conference will be hosted by ArtEZ’s three academies in Zwolle, the ArtEZ Academy of Art & Design Zwolle, the ArtEZ Academy of Music in Zwolle and the ArtEZ Academy of Theatre & Dance in Zwolle. This unique collaboration highlights the strength of ArtEZ in Zwolle as a hub for arts education and creativity.