RURACTIVE Masterclass on Rural Innovation in Zagori

On 22 and 23 October 2026, Ano Pedina, in Zagori (Greece), will host a new RURACTIVE Masterclass on Rural Innovation, organised by Ecomuseum Zagori. Over two days, practitioners, researchers, policymakers and other stakeholders involved in rural innovation will come together to exchange experiences and explore solutions contributing to the sustainable development of rural areas across Europe.

The Masterclass will focus particularly on two of the rural development areas addressed by RURACTIVE: Nature-based and Cultural Tourism and Culture and Cultural Innovation. Through practical case studies and experiences developed across the project’s territories, participants will explore how natural and cultural heritage can become a driver of innovation, strengthen local identities and create new opportunities for rural communities and businesses.

The programme will combine presentations, case studies, interactive sessions, peer-to-peer learning and field activities. Among other experiences, participants will discover initiatives developed in Zagori that connect art, heritage, tourism, biodiversity and community participation, as well as examples from the RURACTIVE Solutions Catalogue and the project’s 12 Rural Innovation Dynamos.

Rural innovation will be approached from a broad perspective, focusing not only on the solutions developed but also on the processes of co-creation, stakeholder engagement, participatory governance and local collaboration that enable them to be adapted to the needs of each territory. The Masterclass will also explore RURACTIVE’s cross-cutting priorities, including biodiversity, climate change adaptation and mitigation, and social justice and inclusion.

The Zagori event is part of a series of three RURACTIVE Masterclasses organised in Scotland, Greece and Switzerland, designed as spaces for exchange and learning to promote innovative and inclusive solutions tailored to the specific characteristics of Europe’s rural areas.

Key information

• Date: 22–23 October 2026
• Venue: Ano Pedina Conference Center, Ano Pedina, Zagori (Greece)
• Registration: https://cutt.ly/nym0khWw (open until 12 October 2026)