Meet the European Left on Our Festival Tour
Every September, thousands of people gather at progressive and left-wing festivals across Europe to debate politics, celebrate solidarity and organise for social change. From Austria to Spain, the European Left will once again be present with campaigns, political discussions and interactive activities—creating spaces where politics becomes a conversation rather than a speech.
This year, you can meet us at Volksstimmefest in Austria, Fête de l’Humanité in France; ManiFiesta in Belgium; and Fiesta del PCE in Spain.
These festivals are among the most important annual gatherings of the European left. They bring together political organisations, trade unionists, activists, social movements and thousands of visitors committed to building a fairer, more peaceful and more democratic Europe.
More Than a Stand
Every summer, we pack our banners, campaign materials and interactive activities—and hit the road. These festivals are much more than dates in our calendar. They are our annual meeting point with the living, breathing fabric of the European left: activists, militants, trade unionists, campaigners and people simply passing by.
We come to be closer to the everyday struggles that shape our politics.
Europe is not shaped in Brussels alone. It is also shaped wherever people organise, debate and act together. Under festival tents, at debates, concerts and campaign stands, ideas cross borders, experiences are shared and solidarity becomes collective action.
Making Our Campaigns Visible
Our presence has a clear purpose: to make the work of the European Left known and visible across the continent.
Whether you already know us or are discovering us for the first time, we want to exchange ideas, present our campaigns and hear about your experiences. From resisting austerity and defending public services to advancing peace, democracy, feminism and social justice, our political work only has meaning when it reaches people and inspires collective action.
A campaign—or a political idea—only matters when it travels. These festivals are where our ideas cross borders.
This year, we are bringing something new to our festival tour
At our stand, you will discover the feminist #My5Percent campaign, launched by the Feminist Assembly of the European Forum of Left, Green and Progressive Forces. Its message is simple but urgent: while governments commit ever larger shares of public budgets to military spending, essential public services are left behind.
Schools, hospitals, childcare, care services and social protection all pay the price. Women, who continue to carry a disproportionate share of paid and unpaid care work, are often among the first to feel the consequences.
But we are not coming only to hand out leaflets or deliver speeches.
We invite you to participate.
Visit our stand, spin the wheel, throw a dart, step into our photo booth and explore our interactive activities. Through games and conversations, we invite visitors to reflect on what increasing military expenditure really means for our communities—and what different political choices could achieve.
What would greater investment in hospitals, schools, public housing, childcare or social protection mean for your life, your community and your future?
Sometimes, the most serious political questions are best explored through participation, dialogue and a little creativity.
Building Peace and Social Justice Together
Everything we bring to these festivals—every banner, every campaign, every game and every conversation—serves a shared political purpose.
Winning the future means fighting austerity, stopping militarisation and building a Europe founded on peace, solidarity and social justice.
Together, we continue to advocate for:
- Investing in people and public services, not militarisation
- Fighting austerity policies that deepen inequality and weaken our societies
- Building a Europe of peace, equality, democracy, feminism and social justice
These priorities reflect our shared commitment to a future in which public investment, international cooperation and solidarity come before arms races, austerity and cuts to essential services.
The festivals give us the space to amplify this message in dialogue with the people who make our common struggle real.
Come and Meet Us!
Whether you are a long-time activist, a member of one of our parties, part of a social movement or simply curious about our work, we would love to meet you.
Visit the European Left stand, discover the #My5Percent campaign, join our interactive activities and become part of the conversation about Europe’s future.
You can find us at:
Volksstimmefest — 5–6 September 2026
Where: Jesuitenwiese, Prater, Vienna, Austria
Website: www.volksstimmefest.at
Volksstimmefest is the annual press festival of the Austrian left-wing magazine Volksstimme, historically the newspaper of the Communist Party of Austria (KPÖ). The event is organized by the Verein Volksstimme Feste and remains closely associated with the KPÖ.
Fête de l’Humanité — 11–13 September 2026
Where: Base 217, Le Plessis-Pâté, France
Website: www.fete.humanite.fr
Fête de l’Humanité is the annual festival of the newspaper L’Humanité. Rooted in the newspaper’s historical links with the French Communist Party (PCF), the festival continues to feature a significant PCF presence alongside a broad range of other organizations.
ManiFiesta — 12–13 September 2026
Where: Wellington Hippodrome, Ostend, Belgium
Website: www.manifiesta.be
ManiFiesta is the annual solidarity festival organised by the non-profit organisation ManiFiesta. Originally launched as an initiative of Solidaire/Fakto and Medicine for the People, both closely linked to the Workers’ Party of Belgium (PTB–PVDA), the festival has grown into a major cultural, social and political event.
Fiesta del PCE — 25-27 September 2026
Where: Recinto Ferial and Auditorio Miguel Ríos, Rivas-Vaciamadrid, Spain
Website: www.fiesta.pce.es
La Fiesta del PCE is the annual festival of the Communist Party of Spain (PCE). Organized by the PCE, the festival brings together political debates, cultural events, and concerts, and serves as one of the party’s principal public gatherings while also hosting a broad range of left-wing social and political organizations.
We look forward to seeing you there.