Collection: Social Enterprise World Forum
Social Enterprise World Forum 2027 event switches from worldwide to regional due to 'global uncertainty'
The SEWF biennial event, normally one of the biggest gatherings of social entrepreneurs from across the world, will not take place in 2027, but organisers will convene delegates regionally.
The organisers of the Social Enterprise World Forum have announced the 2027 edition will be held as “two to three" regional gatherings, rathen than one single global conference.
A spokesperson for the Social Enterprise World Forum team told Pioneers Post the change was due to “the ongoing war in the Middle East and global uncertainty”, and the organisation sent a newsletter making the announcement this morning.
While each individual regional event will be smaller than previous global forums, less complex and in-person only, the Social Enterprise World Forum team said they will maintain an international outlook and that they remain committed to bringing people together across borders to strengthenen the global social enterprise movement. The regional events will be held between April and November 2027.
The organisation said it has begun conversations about hosting regional events with members of its global network previously interested in hosting the global forum in 2027.
Gerry Higgins (pictured), founder and managing director of Social Enterprise World Forum, said: “Our decision to move away from a single global hybrid conference in 2027 was not taken lightly. But in a time of ongoing global uncertainty, we also have a responsibility to ensure our community can gather safely and meaningfully. A regional model in 2027 lets us do exactly that: bringing SEWF closer to more people, while keeping the global movement connected through shared themes, collaboration and purpose.
We have a responsibility to ensure our community can gather safely and meaningfully
“Our global gatherings matter deeply to us and this shift is about extending their impact, not replacing it. We’re excited to work with partners around the world to co-create regional events that reflect local priorities while feeding into one shared global conversation.”
Social Enterprise World Forum is one of the biggest regular gatherings for social entrepreneurs around the world. Peviously the event has taken place in a different city for each edition.
In 2025 the Social Enterprise World Forum took place in Taipei, Taiwan, and was attended by more than 1,000 delegates from 65 countries.
Previous editions of Social Enterprise World Forum have been held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Brisbane, Australia, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and Edinburgh, Scotland, as well as being hosted entirely online during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Expressions of interest to host one of the regional events are open until 6 July.
Top image: The Tech for Good panel at Social Enterprise World Forum 2025, held in Taipei, Taiwan (credit: Social Enterprise World Forum)
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