Available Spring 2027
Our conferences are our lighthouses. In 2017, we organized our conference entitled “Lesbians in Europe: Act, Reflect, Transform, Connect” in Vienna Austria; and in 2019, we held our second international conference entitled “Let’s Bring Lesbian Genius to the World!” in Kyiv, Ukraine. The third conference, “Lesbian Resistance”, took place in Budapest in 2022, the fourth one was held in Rome, Italy, in 2025, with the title: “Dykerise against fascism”.
In October 2027, we return to where it all began. In Skala Eressos, Lesvos, Greece 🔱 from 📅 7–17 October 2027
Join us in the birthplace of Sappho and the heart of lesbian herstory, for a very special edition of the EL*C Conference as we celebrate the “10 years of EL*C”. Ten years of community. Ten years of resistance. Ten years of lesbian genius.
And yes, the celebration of the 10th anniversary of EL*C will last for ten unforgettable days!
Skala Eressos village, Island of Lesvos, Greece
We could have simply told you that Skala Eressos, on the southwest coast of the island of Lesvos, is a lively seaside village where everyday life unfolds along a beautiful stretch of sand on the Aegean coast. And that would be true.
But beyond its beauty, and beyond being traditionally known as the birthplace of Sappho, and the reason why lesbians are called lesbians, the island of Lesvos is also a place of complexity. It is an island where histories of migration meet the realities of the European Union’s southern frontier exploitation of resources; where rural communities strive to survive in the face of climate change, water pollution and the pressures of mass tourism.
This is Lesvos, and especially Skala Eressos: the beauty and tranquillity of Greece, but also the paradox of a crossroads where newcomers and ancient traditions are constantly learning how to live, adapt and move forward together.
Just as most of Sappho’s poems have been lost forever, the stories of Skala Eressos reveal themselves only in fragments, if you pay attention to the details: the discussions taking place sometimes in the tavernas, cafés, restaurants and bars that line the seafront; the evening walks along the endless beach; the turtles in the small river; and the quieter corners where the landscape becomes wilder and the sea feels almost untouched.
We choose to gather away from political capitals because we believe the margins are not the edges of our movement, on the contrary, they are where new imaginaries, alliances and ways of organising are born.
More than a place to visit, Lesvos is a place to experience, to listen to, and to understand.
The 5th EL*C International Lesbian Conference will be more than a conference: it will be a space of political imagination, collective resistance, culture, learning, pleasure and joy. While the full agenda is still being developed, the programme will bring together panels, workshops, keynote speeches, lectures and learning sessions, alongside exhibitions, performances, music, comedy, films, sports and gastronomic events.
We will gather at a time when global political, social and economic transformations are reshaping our lives with growing force. Patriarchy and capitalism continue to fuel anti-democratic, anti-rights and authoritarian politics, attacking our bodies, freedoms, communities and futures. These same systems drive environmental degradation, destructive mass tourism, wars, displacement, forced migration and the shrinking of safe spaces across the world. The EL*C Conference will place these realities at the centre of our conversations, while also asking how lesbian movements resist, organise, care, create and imagine otherwise. In this context, the Conference will be a vital moment to connect, learn, organise, celebrate and build lesbian power across borders.
Please note that the detailed Conference program will be available at a later date.
The Lesvos Capital City is Mitilini (in English Mytilene), and you can reach it by boat or plane from Athens and from Thessaloniki. Some direct charter flights from European cities might be available.
The remaining 80 km trip from Mitilini to Skala Eressos can be done by public bus (3 hours with few stops), rent-a-car or by taxi (1 hour and 30 minutes).
Once in Skala Eressos, no need of a car to follow the conference events. A complete accessibility guide will be available in Spring 2027.
If you have mobility issues, please send us an email at info@lesbiangenius.org for any question before this date. We will do our best to explain the current accessibility situation and our efforts to make the conference more accessible.
To book your accommodation in Skala Eressos during the days of the conference please contact our partner Sappho Travel Agency via their webpage (-> link) or their email -> info@sapphotravel.com.
To reserve your accommodation, a 50% deposit is required at the time of booking. As EL*C is a non-profit organisation and must confirm accommodation with our local partners well in advance, the deposit is non-refundable if you cancel your booking. This policy helps us avoid costs that could be spent for the conference and our community work. We therefore encourage participants to ensure their travel plans before completing their booking.
The remaining 50% balance must be paid by 30 April 2027. Bookings for which the balance has not been received by this date may be cancelled by EL*C.
Please note that Sappho Travel Agency will also help you to book a taxi from or to the Mytilene airport, and for any other questions about your stay.
Early bird 100 EUR
Regular 120 EUR
Support 120 EUR + Donation
Locals (Residents of Lesvos and Greek lesbian activists) 50 EUR
Donors 1.000 EUR
The registration fee covers your participation during all conference events, including the coffee breaks (not the meals) during the plenary’s sessions.
The 5th EL*C Conference is a safe(r) and welcoming place, fostering personal and professional enrichment, learning and joy.
Different venues will host the EL*C 5th conference, all around in the village of Skala Eressos. Everything is in walking distance. Our goal is to create an event as accessible as possible, and we are working on ensuring our events are free of barriers.
A detailed accessibility guide of the conference will be available in Spring 2027.
Please contact us info@lesbiangenius.org if you have mobility issues and want to ask any question before this date. We will do our best to explain the current accessibility situation and our efforts toward to conference.
