The Heart Summit

It's natural: wellbeing inspires welldoing

Do you want to master the art of transformation? 

The Hearth Summit, the world’s largest event of its kind, is coming to Slovenia on June 17-20 2025. It will bring together speakers from over 100 countries to inspire and connect those who believe that wellbeing is at the core of a better future. The Summit invites global leaders, visionaries, thought leaders, and creatives alike — all who recognise that true change starts with the spirit of the heart. Confirmed speakers include Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland, Satish Kumar, activist and pilgrim, neuroscientist Dr. Richard J. Davidson, Martha Koome, Chief Justice of Kenya, and Dr. Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela, the winner of the 2024 Templeton Prize.

Following an award-winning debut in 2022 and over 20 independently organised regional Hearth Summits, the global summit returns for four inspiring days at the heart of Europe, in Slovenia's capital, Ljubljana. Harnessing the transformative power of wellbeing , the Summit paves the way for a hopeful vision of the future. Participants are expected to include NGO leaders, teachers, philanthropists, social enterprise leaders, activists, academics, politicians, policymakers, researchers, and students.

Have you been searching for inspiration but weren’t sure where to begin?

Human beings are sentient creatures, carrying thousands of unexpressed feelings. Did you know that we bear trauma passed down through generations? “Intergenerational trauma acts like a dam, blocking us from enacting change, even when we know it’s urgently needed. Yet, we share an unbreakable thread that ties us to our community, nature, and the planet — our most primal bond. We instinctively know what feels right, yet often lack the means to express or act upon it,” says Aaron Pereira, co-lead of The Wellbeing Project, an initiative bringing the Hearth Summit to Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Global leaders, thinkers, and visionaries will gather at the Hearth Summit from June 17–20 to co-create a global village ready to tackle today’s biggest challenges. This unique gathering will unite diverse perspectives to address most pressing global issues such as climate, inequality, social justice, and responsible leadership. 

Over four days, the participants will engage in thought-provoking discussions, transformative artistic experiences, and embodied practices, paving the way to new insights. With over 1,200 global and regional leaders, changemakers and innovators convening in Ljubljana, this summit offers a rare opportunity to share, learn, connect, and grow - a space where wellbeing drives meaningful action and inspires collective progress.

Set against the iconic backdrop of Cankarjev dom, the summit will explore the connections between individual, organizational, societal, and ecological wellbeing. Through insightful talks and discussions,  speakers and artists will examine how a deep-rooted culture of wellbeing can drive systemic change. Ground-breaking debates, conversations, and panel discussions with leaders in culture, science, government, and social change, will be taking place. Topics will range from personal to ecological wellbeing, the humanisation of technology and AI, intergenerational trauma, peacebuilding and reconciliation, urban resilience, neuroscience, and more—all viewed through the lens of wellbeing and ecological belonging. The program will include breakout sessions, workshops of various sizes, and three commissioned art installations accessible to the community. The arts program, showcasing world-renowned artists, is coordinated by a distinguished team including Manuel Bagorro from Carnegie Hall, Carrie Barratt, former Deputy Director of the MET in New York, and Dr. Corinna Otto, Director of the Draiflessen Collection in Germany. One of the featured works, The Mirror of Peace by Renee Van Bavel—brought by the Draiflessen Collection—invites viewers to contemplate the value of peace. First presented at the 2022 Venice Biennale, this immersive piece allows viewers to see their full-sized reflection alongside the statement: »This is what people living in peace look like.« It serves as a compelling reminder that peace is precious and requires mindful, daily action to sustain.

Additional activities will take place across Ljubljana at some of the city’s most prominent cultural venues.

Slovenia was chosen for its reputation as an inclusive, peaceful country with strong social cohesion and a commitment to sustainability. The involvement of the local community is a key aspect of the Hearth Summit, and organizers, in addition to partnering with the University of Ljubljana, are actively engaged in discussions with both the City of Ljubljana and the Government of the Republic of Slovenia and its institutions.

Ready to go?

The global Hearth Summit extends a bold invitation for big ideas, courageous actions, and open-hearted collaboration, paving the way for a new generation of changemakers and a revitalised culture of social transformation. Join us in building a community committed to creating a better world!

Just as more than 300 changemakers, pioneers, social entrepreneurs, philanthropists, and leaders did last weekend in Alpbach, Austria -  coming together under the slogan, it’s time to create a new art of change! – this summit invites you to be part of that movement. Learn more about this inspiring event, which focused on addressing burnout culture, organisational dysfunction, and societal divides, here.

Between November 15–17, youth in Ljubljana had their first opportunity to connect with a global community. In collaboration with the University of Ljubljana and alongside students from diverse academic backgrounds, they embarked on an Ecological Belonging Exploration. Together, they explored a fundamental question at the heart of this initiative: How do we live in harmony with nature? Recap of the event is available here.

Who are we?

The Hearth Summit is brought to you by the Wellbeing Project, an initiative dedicated to driving cultural and systemic change. Recognising that this effort requires the insights and contributions of diverse groups, we have created a collaborative network that now includes over 60 partner institutions worldwide. These span leading nonprofits, foundations, universities, media groups, venture capital firms, museums, and arts institutions. Our partners include Georgetown University, Porticusand the University of Ljubljana, among others.

After a decade of careful, collective work, we are thrilled to see well-being becoming a core value in social change. As we move forward, we continue our mission to place well-being at the heart of social and environmental transformation, supporting changemakers and the vital work needed in today’s world. If you want to discover more about Hearth Summit, follow this link.