The organization will be handled by the Lisbon City Council, in partnership with Gebalis, during an edition that is expected to bring together around 2,000 participants from all over the world.

The choice of the Portuguese capital was justified by the strong investment made in recent years in the implementation of European funds for housing, as well as by the innovative model of municipal governance, which has focused on increasing public supply, working together with the private and cooperative sectors.

“In Lisbon, we are taking action. We are making the largest investment in public housing in over 30 years: 560 million euros”, highlighted the Mayor, Carlos Moedas. According to the mayor, over the last three years, more than 2,600 homes have been delivered and more than 1,000 families have been assisted with paying their rent. “Housing is not just a matter of politics. It is a pillar of dignity,” he said, highlighting the housing crisis that affects many European cities.

The councillor for Housing, Filipa Roseta, considered that the festival will be an opportunity to share with Europe the innovative policies underway in Lisbon, highlighting the Cooperatives 1st Housing Lisbon Program. According to the councillor, this program “has revitalised the cooperative movement in the city, becoming a real hope for all those seeking their first home.”

The International Social Housing Festival is promoted by Housing Europe, a European federation that represents 31 countries and around 25 million affordable, cooperative and social housing units — the equivalent of 11% of the housing stock in the European Union. The 2027 edition in Lisbon will be the sixth of this landmark event, which has served as a platform for debate and sharing of good practices in terms of affordable housing in an urban context.