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From 7 to 11 September 2026, ICHEC will co-host the Creative Skills Week 2026, a major European event bringing together leaders from the cultural and creative sectors, policymakers, educators and industry professionals in Brussels.
At a time when Europe is facing complex challenges – from technological transformation to democratic resilience – creative skills are increasingly recognised as essential. They enable individuals and organisations to imagine alternatives, experiment with new approaches and develop innovative responses to uncertainty.
Creative Skills Week 2026 will explore how these skills can contribute to tackling societal challenges across sectors. While rooted in the Cultural and Creative Sectors and Industries (CCSI), creative skills are today shaping innovation far beyond cultural fields, influencing areas such as education, digital governance, health systems, human resources and data-driven organisations.
Creative confidence in a complex world
At the heart of the event lies the concept of creative confidence: the ability to transform creative thinking into action and to connect expertise that is traditionally kept apart. By fostering collaboration, inclusivity and experimentation, organisations can prototype new models, rethink established practices and navigate an era of rapid change. Through high-level debates, cross-sector showcases and case studies, Creative Skills Week will demonstrate how creative skills operate in practice and how they can strengthen Europe’s capacity to innovate, cooperate and act collectively.
A European collaboration hosted in Brussels
Creative Skills Week 2026 is co-organised by EIT Culture & Creativity, CYANOTYPES and Creative Futures Academy, in collaboration with the Creative Pact for Skills, CREDEX and the GreenCCIrcle project. The event is curated by ELIA and co-hosted by ICHEC and LUCA School of Arts.
The 2026 edition will also highlight the results of the CYANOTYPES project, presenting pilot initiatives that demonstrate how the CYANOTYPES Framework can be implemented in real-world contexts.
By welcoming this European initiative, ICHEC reaffirms its commitment to innovation, interdisciplinarity and dialogue between education, culture and industry.