After the successful holding of the first two Conferences of theLIA Lesvos Confest, in 2022 and 2024, which deservedly established Lesvos at the center of the global stage for Olives and Olive Oil, the long-awaited 3rd ELIA Lesvos Confest comes in 2026 with even greater momentum, timely, targeted and multidimensional as always, aspiring to strengthen its international footprint and at the same time to constitute something much broader than a Conference: a challenge to participate in a global discussion, which, spreading deep roots in this specific place, turns its gaze with responsibility and knowledge to man and the future of the planet.
The 3rd International Olive Conference and Festival, entitled "Oil is the Balm of All", has once again aroused intense interest, both among the Greek and international public. It will be held in Lesvos, from 27 to 30 May 2026, bringing together leading scientists, producers, entrepreneurs and chefs from all over the world, advancing the discussion around olive oil, sustainability, viability, health, gastronomy, art, culture, olive tourism and innovation. The ELIA Lesvos Confest supported since its inception by leading educational institutions Yale University and National & Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), thus strengthening its academic and scientific character. H This year's event also gained the support of the International Olive Council (International Olives Council IOC), which confirms the prestige, quality and high level of Elia Lesvos Confest, since this is a recognition that the Organization grants internationally with particularly strict criteria.
In the 3rd ELIA Lesvos Confest More than 50 distinguished professors and scientists from Greece and abroad will participate, who, within the framework of many and extremely interesting thematic modules, will discuss approaching the entire range of issues that concern domestic and international olive growing. Particular emphasis is given to educational and experiential Workshops and Masterclasses, which are an integral part of the event and enhance its interactive and educational character.
The start of the 3oυ ELIA Lesvos Confest, on Wednesday, May 27, will be hosted at the hotel “Mythical Coast” and will offer a multidimensional program to the participants. The multisensory education entitled “Lesvos in a Glass – A Sensory Tasting Journey with IOON", is a 4-hour tasting experience of selected olive oils from local producers, structured around the cultivated varieties of Lesvos (Kolovi, Adramytiani, Ladolia, etc.), while its experienced tasters and experts IOON -Spyros Tsevas, Eleftheria Germanaki, Manolis Karpadakis and Filippo Falugianni– will introduce participants to the basic elements of professional aesthetic evaluation, as well as to the way in which the excellent olive oils of Lesvos upgrade gastronomy. The organizer of the event, designed to celebrate the island's producers and highlight Lesvos as a destination of olive oil excellence, is the International Olive Oil Network – International Olives Oil Νetwork (IOON), based in Switzerland, in collaboration with the Organoleptic Laboratory of Crete ASR, based in Rethymno.
The Opening Ceremony will follow, with the greetings of the official guests and the Round Table discussion, which will revolve around the topical theme: “Olive Oil 2026: challenges create opportunities”. The constructive dialogue will be attended by distinguished representatives of European institutions, the scientific community, public administration and professional bodies, including representatives of the International Olive Oil Council (IOC), the European Commission, the Ministry of Rural Development, the North Aegean Region, as well as leading institutional and scientific organizations in the olive sector. This module aims to formulate realistic and applicable proposals for the future of olive cultivation, through a substantive and evidence-based dialogue at European and national level.
The evening will conclude with the Gastronomic Gala, where 4 distinguished chefs, Vasilis Leonidou, Fanis Maikandis, Aristotle Megoulas, Yannis Tsivourakis - leaders in Greece with parchments of specialization in the utilization of olive oil -, in collaboration with private of “Mythical Coast"Marios Antoniou and his team will create, based on traditional island recipes and fine local products, a menu of high standards, capable of leading participants on the paths of Lesvos' authentic identity, tradition, sustainability, special flavors and quality products.
During the next three days, 28, 29 and 30 May, the morning sessions of the Conference will be hosted in the well-equipped spaces of the Municipal Theater of Mytilene, aiming to connect scientific knowledge with production, the market and society. Placing the Olive Tree and Olive Oil at the core of its work, the multi-thematic Conference - Festival will cover the following axes:
SCIENCE & HEALTH
From tradition to clinical evidence: Olive oil as a modern therapeutic agent and as a subject of medical research for the prevention and management of chronic diseases.
ENVIRONMENT, SUSTAINABILITY & BIODIVERSITY
Towards a resilient olive farming. Addressing challenges and creating opportunities through farming practices and solutions for climate change.
REGENERATIVE CULTURE
The olive grove as a model of sustainable excellence: Best practices for the production of high-quality olive oil.
TECHNOLOGY & OLIVE GROWING
From sensors to quality: Technological developments in olive oil aimed at enhancing extraction, purity, quality and disease monitoring.
MARKETING, PROMOTION & IDENTITY
Branding throughout the value chain: From farm to market. Turning product values into commercial success.
GASTRONOMY & HOSPITALITY
Workshops and masterclasses from the top chefs and international personalities, who analyze the place of olive oil at the heart of modern cuisine, creating unique gastronomic experiences.
GASTRONOMY & NUTRITION
The modern Greek-Mediterranean diet, research and the sustainable continuation of Mediterranean gastronomy with olive oil as a vehicle. Connecting place, people and health.
OLIVE TOURISM
The exploitation, promotion and sustainability of the olive sector through the hospitality industry. Connecting gastronomy with tourism and creating a regenerative food supply chain.
ART & CULTURE
From the olive grove to the screen: Digital arts, artificial intelligence and the culture of the olive tree. The strategic role of Film Festivals in promoting olive tourism and sustainability.
In the afternoons, participants will be offered educational experiential excursions and visits to places and businesses that develop the island's economy through activities related to the olive tree, as well as visits to museums and other landmarks that highlight the island's history and cultural heritage. The aim is both to create networks of cooperation and to increase the awareness and visitor numbers of Lesvos.
"It is our great pleasure and satisfaction to organize for the third time the ELIA Lesvos Confest", this great meeting of people, ideas, experiences and actions, with the common point of convergence being the olive tree, within the framework of a Conference which is now a point of reference for all issues and developments concerning olive cultivation and the variously valuable olive oil", notes Fotini Tirpintiris, President of the Cultural Association of Eleas, Lesvos Island, the Body that undertakes the implementation of this gigantic event.
The Association was founded in 2020, with its fixed vision of highlighting - within Greece and internationally - the unique olive-growing identity and cultural heritage of Lesvos and Greece more broadly, with the olive tree always as its ambassador, which encompasses the entire history, culture and natural beauty of our country. Through targeted actions, educational programs and collaborations with international organizations, the Association has formed a permanently open platform for dialogue and innovation, promoting the value of olive oil -also- as a cultural and developmental capital.
The 3rd International Olive Conference – Festival is addressed to all those who are active in or interested in the world of olives, as it is a living journey, in the context of which olive producers, olive millers, agronomists, environmentalists, doctors, scientists and academics, nutritionists, food technologists, olive oil sommeliers, catering professionals, chefs and tasters, as well as tourism professionals, meet, taste and share everything that makes the olive tree unique.
The photographic coverage of the Conference has been undertaken by the renowned photographer Dimitris Talianis, the translations by the company Podium and the presentation-coordination of the work by the respected journalist & presenter Magda Tsegkou.
To watch it ELIA Lesvos Confest You can register, as well as obtain more information about the program, speakers and sessions, by visiting the event website: Elia Lesvos Confest – 3rd INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE – OLIVE FESTIVAL
Elia Lesvos Confest – 3rd INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE – OLIVE FESTIVAL
3rd INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE – OLIVE FESTIVAL
https://elialesvosconfest.com/en/home-english/
Photos by Dimitris Talianis
