14th European Forum on Music - Music, Health and Wellbeing

The European Forum on Music (EFM) returns in 2026 with its 14th edition, dedicated to the theme Music, Health & Wellbeing. We are delighted to welcome you to Timișoara, Romania, from 9 to 12 June 2026, where we will explore how music supports physical and mental health, strengthens resilience, and contributes to wellbeing across society.

Recent research and policy discussions highlight the critical role of culture in public health. Studies have shown how musical engagement - from listening and participation to structured therapeutic interventions - can reduce stress, support recovery, improve cognitive and emotional functioning, and help prevent ill health. At the same time, the health and wellbeing of musicians themselves deserves urgent attention, from working conditions to mental and physical health support and sustainable career pathways.

The EFM 2026 will bring these strands together. Through keynotes, discussions, workshops, and project presentations, we will look at music as a tool for healing, prevention, and connection - from clinical music practices to community-based initiatives that combat isolation and promote active participation, including in hospitals, prisons or other spaces where access to music is often limited. We will also reflect on how the music sector can foster healthier environments for those who create, perform, teach, and work within it.

Participants will have the opportunity to experience these ideas directly: practical sessions and collective music-making moments will be woven into the Forum, offering a shared understanding of music’s restorative and unifying potential.

Come and join cultural and health professionals, educators, community organisers, researchers, musicians, policymakers, and all those working at the intersection of music and wellbeing. Together, we will exchange knowledge, explore innovative European projects, and reflect on how music can contribute to healthier, more resilient communities.
 
We look forward to welcoming you to Timișoara next June for three days of learning, participation, and shared musical experience!

The EFM 2026 is organised by the European Music Council in cooperation with the Asociația Scena Muzicală (RO). It will take place at Timișoara Convention Centre. Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter to not miss registration!