European Leadership Summit

Purpose

Burning Man Project has been closely tracking updates around the outbreak of the new coronavirus. Out of care for the wellbeing of our community, and in accordance with the Estonian government’s recommendation to postpone in-person gatherings, the 2020 European Leadership Summit (ELS) in Tallinn will not be happening during the weekend of April 2-5, 2020 and will be postponed to a later date. The ELS Pre-Summit in Helsinki, Finland, has also been postponed to a later date.

ELS 2019 participants, Aarhus Denmark – Photo: Hervé PHOTOGRAFF

We are re-focusing our energy to make the next ELS gathering a special one, and we will keep you informed throughout the process. Stay tuned for more info about future dates for this event.

The main event in Tallinn will bring together a total of 250 participants from over 30 countries comprised of Regional Contacts, Burning Man Project staff, and a strong network of co-creators from across Europe and adjacent regions including Israel and South Africa. The ELS will also draw participation from local universities, arts and cultural organizations and artistic communities in Tallinn, Estonia and Helsinki, Finland, including Helsinki-based Aalto University, where the Pre-Summit gathering will take place. ELS participants will have a unique opportunity to explore the unique cultural landscapes of these two cities nestled alongside the Baltic Sea.

The goal of the ELS is to foster an inspiring atmosphere of co-learning amongst a diverse international group of cultural leaders. Participants will share their experiences, hard-won expertise, successes and challenges with one another, drawn from their year-round efforts to fostering local community events and initiatives inspired by Burning Man’s 10 Principles.

Participation is by invitation-only. 

Past Years’ Summits

The annual European Leadership Summit both strengthens the international community and showcases an exemplary creative and cultural hub to ELS participants. Previous Host Communities include: