France Launches Month of Social and Solidarity Economy 2026 with Regional Celebrations and Recognition
France kicks off the Month of Social and Solidarity Economy 2026 with regional prizes, events, and strong local ESS networks highlighting its economic and social impact.
Key details
- The regional ESS Prize 2026 will be awarded on November 4 in Dijon, recognizing a project also awarded nationally.
- The Month of ESS features multiple public engagement activities including visits and workshops across Bourgogne-Franche-Comté.
- Pays de Vannes hosts its own celebrations, spotlighting 11,000 ESS jobs in the area and 71 active network members.
- ESS France coordinates the national campaign alongside regional bodies such as CRESS to promote the ESS model.
The Month of the Social and Solidarity Economy (ESS) 2026 officially launched in November with events across France emphasizing the importance and viability of this alternative economic model. In the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region, the launch event was held at the Maison des associations in Dijon, where the regional chamber of social and solidarity economy (CRESS) hosted a press conference to mark the start. On November 4, the regional ESS Prize 2026 will be awarded in Dijon, honoring an initiative that has also received national recognition from ESS France. Activities throughout the region include open houses, company visits, conferences, forums, workshops, and festive gatherings designed to engage the wider public in discussions about the societal contributions of ESS.
Meanwhile, in Pays de Vannes (Morbihan), the local ESS pole and ESS Bretagne Sud are spearheading events that underline the sector's economic vitality. With around 11,000 jobs in the region and 6,000 specifically in Vannes, the ESS network here comprised 71 members as of 2025, encompassing associations, cooperatives, mutuals, and enterprises focused on social utility. Co-president Anja Makiello commented on the strong commitment to advancing an economy that presents a sustainable alternative for the future.
National coordination by ESS France, supported regionally by organizations like CRESS, continues to promote the understanding and expansion of ESS, highlighting its role in addressing social challenges across France.
Source articles (2)
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creusot-infos.com Oct 24, 2026
ÉCONOMIE : Lancement du Mois de l'ESS 2026
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ouest-france.fr Oct 24, 2026
« Entrer dans une économie alternative, du futur » : un mois dédié à l’économie sociale et solidaire en Pays de Vannes
Source comparison
Location of ESS Prize award
Sources report different locations for the Month of ESS events
creusot-infos.com
"The ESS Prize 2026 will be awarded in Dijon."
ouest-france.fr
"The Month of ESS will be celebrated in the Pays de Vannes."
Why this matters: One source states the ESS Prize will be awarded in Dijon, while the other focuses on the Pays de Vannes. This discrepancy affects the understanding of where the main events are taking place during the Month of ESS.