The European Social Services Conference (ESSC) is the largest forum for public social policy and practice in Europe, bringing together leaders, policymakers, and practitioners from across the continent and beyond. The 34th edition of the European Social Services Conference will take place in Valletta, Malta, from 17-20 May 2026.
The 33rd edition of the European Social Services Conference welcomed almost 700 delegates from 38 countries across five continents, including EU officials, national and local policymakers, project representatives, invited partners, and speakers. Online, the event attracted over 77,000 website visitors, as well as over 45,000 LinkedIn impressions. You can find out more about the 2025 European Social Services Conference here.
The event is made possible thanks to the financial support of public and private partners, who can benefit from a wide range of visibility and engagement opportunities over the Conference such as:
- Participation in the Conference Exhibition and Networking Area
- Organisation of invitation-only side receptions
- Host presentations, workshops, and promotional webinars
Partnership opportunities are listed below. Download the ESN Partnership Programme for more information.
If you are working on solutions that promote integration, digital developments, and inclusive practice and wish to discuss how we can collaborate, then please contact our Development Coordinator, Francesco Capuani, by email at francesco.capuani@esn-eu.org, to discuss how your organisation can become involved.
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Testimonials
"As longstanding ESN partners, one of our main takeaways from the ESSC is the importance of ongoing collaboration and the sharing of best practices between countries. The insights and lessons learned at the conference have helped us understand how other organisations are implementing digital solutions and innovative approaches within their markets. This has broadened our perspective on how we can enhance our services and offerings, particularly in areas like AI, social care solutions, cloud services, and cybersecurity. Furthermore, the ESSC has reinforced the value of building relationships with key stakeholders and exploring new opportunities for cross-border cooperation."
Carola Winberg, Head of Product line Social Care Nordic
"The ESSC is the place to be to interact with stakeholders involved in deploying social services from policymakers to experts in the field. It gives an opportunity to meet with your peers, to identify future challenges, to explore new tools and to build in partnerships. Partnering is crucial for the whole social community as it is a key to innovation and to boost creativity."
Delphine Chilese-Lemarinier, Head of EU Affairs. Edenred
"The European Social Services Conference brings together a full ecosystem of actors in the social services space: policymakers, practitioners, technology providers, and service users. It’s not just a conference; it’s a strategic opportunity to align on common challenges, like fragmentation among local authorities, gaps in digital skills, and the need for greater integration between the public sector and the third sector. The value lies in the connections, the shared experiences, and the ability to co-design more resilient, people-centred services"
Beatrice Valente Covino, Associate Partner KPMG