European Craft Days returned this spring with a programme spanning 26 countries. The final figures have been published, bringing the scale of this year’s edition into focus.
France, the Country of Origin
In April 2026, European Craft Days recorded 2.2 million visits across 26 countries. Coordinated by the Institut pour les Savoir-Faire Français, the programme brought together 5,798 craft professionals and 9,645 events. The 2026 edition also introduced a single English title, replacing the various national translations of the French Journées Européennes des Métiers d’Art previously used across the network.
France remained the largest contributor with 6,301 events and a national budget of €730,768. The 2026 edition explored the theme Traits d’Union, examining connections between craft, collective practice and rural communities. Outside France, institutions and local coordinators organised a further 3,344 events involving 2,912 craftspeople, attracting 101,070 visits with a combined programme budget of €663,595.
Country of Honour and Wider Europe
Belgium served as the featured country for the 2026 programme. Its national schedule included 62 events, welcoming around 600 visitors. The programme ranged from lacemaking and textile arts in Flanders to glass and metalwork in Wallonia and contemporary jewellery in Brussels. To support the Belgian programme, the European Crafts Alliance awarded two grants to BeCraft and Mad’in Europe through the EU co-funding.
The European Crafts Alliance also provided three additional grants to member organisations supporting local coordination in other participating countries. Together, these contributions helped strengthen the programme beyond France while supporting the continued growth of European Craft Days across the network.
From capital cities and regional museums to workshops and rural municipalities, European Craft Days brought together craftspeople, cultural organisations and local communities across Europe. The next edition of the European Craft Days will take place between 30 March and 4 April 2027.
image: ATELIER TONY JOUANNEAU; JEMA2024