EUROPEAN CONSORTIUM FOR
ARTS THERAPIES EDUCATION
Istrian National Theatre, Pula, Croatia
Host city of the 2026 ECArTE Conference
Photograph: Diana Musca
ECArTE Conference 2026
Thanks to everyone who participated in the ECArTE 2026 conference in Pula, Croatia.
18TH EUROPEAN ARTS THERAPIES CONFERENCE
8-11 SEPTEMBER 2026
PULA, CROATIA
The conference theme is inspired by the poem ‘Ithaca’ written in 1911 by the Greek poet Constantine P. Cavafy. It is a poem which explores the idea of journey, using Homer’s Odyssey as an allegory. It speaks to notions of home and cycles of experience. It reflects on a journey of encounter – with places, creatures and states of being. Cavafy energises a call to adventure, offering images for internal and external struggle and playing with the paradox of destination.
The home of Arts Therapies Education in Europe
ECArTE is a consortium of Universities, which was founded in 1991 and currently comprises 34 member institutions from 14 European countries. It is a non profit-making organisation. Its primary purpose is to represent and encourage the development of the Arts Therapies at a European level, in particular courses offering nationally-validated and professionally-recognised education for arts therapists.
The Arts Therapies include art therapy, dance movement therapy, dramatherapy, music therapy and play therapy.
We are working towards establishing mutual recognition and compatibility in educational and vocational training for arts therapists within the European Community.
