World Early Childhood Conference 2026 in Pictures

World Early Childhood Conference 2026 in Pictures

This year’s World Early Childhood Conference took place at the Goetheanum from April 8 to 12. With these 51 photos, we would like to once again extend our heartfelt thanks to all the contributors and participants from around the world.

«Kindness – Strength – Love, Seeds for a Healthy Unfolding»: The title of the World Early Childhood Conference 2026.

Women as far as the eye can see: 1,000 participants took part in the Conference at the Goetheanum. (Photo: PädSek/GG)

Human beings from all over the world ...

also took in the beauty of the Great Hall. (Photos: Goetheanum/Xue Li)

«Remember: fill in the leaves!»: Lourdes Tormes from IASWECE and Philipp Reubke from the Pedagogical Section, the main representatives of the two conference organisers, welcomed those present each morning with charm and humour. (Photo: PädSek/GG)

«Kindergarten: an Inivitation to Find the Sacred in the Ordinary Daily Life»: Silvia Jensen, educator and puppeteer from Brazil, opened the conference’s lecture series with this talk. (Photo: Goetheanum/Xue Li)

In his presentation, Philipp Reubke focused on the topic: «Kindergarten: Seeds for the Future
of Humanity». (Photo: PädSek/GG)

For his talk entitled «Sensing the Tipping Points: Protecting our Physical and Spiritual Health», the tall Adam Blanning, co-head of the Medical Section and holistic doctor, knelt down to a small child’s eye level. (Photo: PädSek/GG)

Anita Isla, an educator and teacher trainer from Chile, explored potential sources of resilience in her talk entitled «Creating Living and Meaningful Spaces for Children and Educators in Challenging Times». (Photo: Goetheanum/Xue Li)

Peter Selg's lecture «Imitation: the Ability to Learn and Love from the Prenatal Stage» or how the ability to imitate can be explained by the way human beings exist before birth. (Photo: PädSek/GG)

The title of the talk given by Kathy MacFarlane from New Zealand was: «Finding a Harmonious Relationship between Opposing Forces in the World and the Individual». Her enchanting retelling of Tolstoy’s «Martin the Shoemaker» summed it up perfectly.

«Steadfastness and Gratitude: Finding a Weaving Balance Between Being Highly Centred and Deeply Connected»: The joint lecture by Clara Aerts from Belgium (left) and Li Zhang from China will go down in the annals of the Pedagogical Section as the «Bamboo Lecture». (Photo: PädSek/GG)

«100 Years of Steiner Waldorf Early Childhood» with Paula Levy, a founding member of the Brazilian «Faculdade Rudolf Steiner» and a trainer of kindergarten teachers (Constanza Kaliks, Head of the Pedagogical Section provides a consecutive translation), and ...

Philipp Gelitz, Assistant Professor of Early Childhood Education, as well as ...

Michaela Glöckler, former head of the Medical Section and paediatrician. (Photo: Goetheanum/Xue Li)

The section leaders at the School of Spiritual Science at the Goetheanum provided a fascinating insight into their work. (Photo: PädSek/GG)

Thanks to the excellent translators, all the presentations could also be followed via hearing aids in Español, 中文, Magyarul, 日本語, Italiano, Français, 한국어, Русский, Česky, Deutsch and English. (Photo: PädSek/GG)

The first day of the conference concluded with the evening performance of «Voix de passage», a musical comedy by the French group «Labotempo». (Photo: Goetheanum/Xue Li)

Where is my workshop? Which discussion group should I join? There’s a buzz of activity in front of the information desk. (Photo: PädSek/GG)

Lively activity among the ladies behind the information desk too. (Photo: Päd Sek/GG)

The evening shift: A radiant double flower named Veronika Blume at the information desk. (Photo: PädSek/GG)

3.15 pm: Time for the workshops. The two group leaders, Thomas Tirler (third from the right) and Marta Flôrencio, used coloured wool to explore the question: «How does the daily work of adults stimulate children’s free play?»

What does wool feel like? (Photos: Goetheanum/Xue Li)

Blossoms ...

sorted by colour ...

were expressed artistically. (Photos: Goetheanum/Xue Li)

Being creative. (Photo: Goetheanum/Xue Li)

Being immersed. (Photo: Goetheanum/Xue Li)

Getting a ticket for the guided tours in good time. (Photo: PädSek/GG)

And then standing in the west staircase, singing. (Photo: PädSek/GG)

Give your head a break. (Photo: Goetheanum/Xue Li)

Anthroposophical architectural art: architectural tours were a necessity. (Photo: Goetheanum/Xue Li)

«Child art»: The remarks on the exhibition by Norbert Carstens, artist and educator (left), were listened to with great interest. (Photo: Goetheanum/Xue Li)

And then, over and over again: dancing together to the music of the group «Labotempo» – ...

Folk dancing is a tradition –

an art form –

an expression of emotion –

and good for your health. (Photos: Goetheanum/Xue Li/PädSek/GG)

The «Festival of Diversity»: these IASWECE fairies presented the highly coveted handmade dolls to the jubilant raffle winners. (Photo: Goetheanum/Xue Li)

A close-up of two IASWECE fairies and a glowing leader of the Pedagogical Section. (Photo: Goetheanum/Xue Li)

Here, a delighted winner from Switzerland receives little Monay from Argentina. (Photo: Goetheanum/Xue Li)

Which child is playing with red-haired Irina right now? (Photo: Goetheanum/Xue Li)

Early childhood educators from Chile sang Violetta Parra’s wonderful song «Volver a los 17». (Photo: Goetheanum/Xue Li)

Their journey to the Goetheanum took three days: the two educators from Rapa Nui (Photo: Goetheanum/Xue Li)

Argentine folk dance (Photo: Goetheanum/Xue Li)

Singing specialists in early childhood and a charming translator from the Czech Republic. (Photo: Goetheanum/Xue Li)

A natural flair for rhythm: educators from South Africa (Photo: Goetheanum/Xue Li)

Where’s Waldo? Among the many Hungarian experts on early childhood education, there was also one male expert. (Photo: Goetheanum/Xue Li)

Jacqueline Walter-Baumgartner, Philipp Reubke and Alexander Morawitz (right) had us in stitches time and again. (Photo: Goetheanum/Xue Li)

Does anyone remember what was in that parcel? (Photo: Goetheanum/Xue Li)

And then it was time to say goodbye at the Goetheanum once again! (Photo: PädSek/GG)