Ariadne’s 2026 Annual Reconnect – When the Ground shifts: Philanthropy with Purpose

The Ariadne 2026 Annual Reconnect will take place under the theme of “When the Ground shifts: Philanthropy with Purpose” on 14-16 April in Bologna, in collaboration with Assifero.

Across Europe and beyond, the foundations of rights and social change feel increasingly fragile. Democratic backsliding, wars, and the erosion of international norms remind us that efforts for social change and solidarity are never settled. Civil society actors are navigating environments that are ever more restrictive and uncertain, whilst many in philanthropy increasingly feel some of these pressures too, facing shrinking civic space and growing scepticism toward their role.

This year, the Ariadne 2026 Annual Reconnect is designed to think, create, and act collectively. Together, we will take a journey through past, present and future to explore how philanthropy can renew its commitment to human rights and social change amidst the current context, while also questioning its own role and responsibilities in shaping what lies ahead. This year’s gathering will offer a space to reconnect, recharge, and reimagine the threads that weave our collective work, and to move forward with renewed clarity of purpose.