The European Social Services Conference (ESSC) is the annual flagship event of the European Social Network (ESN), the leading network for public social services in Europe. The European Social Services Conference is the largest public social welfare policy and practice forum in Europe, and was attended by more than 900 delegates in Valletta, Malta, this year.

ESSC 2026 has been an opportunity for decision-makers in public authorities, third sector organisations, social services professionals, providers of technology solutions, and researchers to share and exchange their knowledge and experiences with peers from across Europe and other regions of the world.

The Conference explored how social services can cross borders and bridge boundaries to respond to shared challenges in an increasingly interconnected world.