Transhumance Trails, a certified Cultural Route of the Council of Europe since 2023, launched the pilot edition of the International Festival of Transhumance 2026, a constellation of coordinated events taking place across Greece, Italy and Türkiye between July and October.

Framed within the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP), the festival aims to raise awareness of the cultural heritage handed down through transhumant pastoralism and the ancient trails that for millennia linked mountains and plains across Europe. The programme combines excursions along historic transhumance routes, workshops in traditional crafts such as hut-building, wool-working and cheese-making, music and theatre performances, documentary screenings, exhibitions, and tastings of local food products.

The first edition was held in Kefalovriso (Ioannina, Greece) from 30 July to 3 August, followed by a second edition in Jenne (Rome, Italy) from 8 to 13 August, during which Rui Gomes, EPA Executive Secretary, addressed participants via video message. The festival will close with a third edition in Birgi (Izmir, Türkiye) from 1 to 5 October.