On 30 and 31 October, Singapore will host the REACH Reggio Emilia Conference 2026, focusing on the role of early childhood education amid profound technological and social change. Supported by the Embassy of Italy, the conference will bring together experts and institutional representatives from across the world.
Singapore, 26 October 2026 – The educational approach developed in Reggio Emilia, internationally recognised as one of the most innovative models in early childhood education, will be at the heart of the REACH Reggio Emilia Conference 2026, taking place in Singapore on 30 and 31 October. The conference will bring together educators, researchers, school leaders and institutional representatives from Asia, Europe, Australia, the Middle East and South America to discuss the challenges facing education in a society shaped by rapid technological and cultural change.
Organised by REACH (Reggio Emilia in Asia for Children), part of the EtonHouse Group, in collaboration with Reggio Children and with the support of the Embassy of Italy in Singapore, the conference will welcome Goh Pei Ming, Senior Minister of State at the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Social and Family Development of Singapore, as Guest of Honour.
“Reggio Emilia has given the world far more than a pedagogy: it has offered a way of recognising children as capable and curious protagonists of their own learning. As artificial intelligence reshapes how younger generations engage with knowledge, this Italian approach to early childhood education becomes an even more valuable compass. The Embassy of Italy is proud to support a conference that brings this heritage into dialogue with Singapore and the wider region,” said Dante Brandi, Ambassador of Italy to Singapore.
Entitled Education in Complex Times: Children, Democratic Cultures and the Role of Childhood in Shaping the Future, the conference will explore how early childhood education can help nurture informed citizens who are able to navigate change and participate actively in their communities. Particular attention will be given to the relationship between technological innovation and educational processes, as well as to the importance of experience, relationships and participation in learning.
The programme will feature contributions from experts from Reggio Children, including Annalisa Rainieri and Valentina Violi, international exchange sessions, atelier workshops and visits to educational institutions. The conference will also provide an opportunity to strengthen collaboration between EtonHouse, E-Bridge and Reggio Children through a new partnership focused on educator training, the exchange of expertise and the development of research projects in early childhood education.
“At a time when technology is reshaping society, education must remain deeply attentive to what makes us human. Our responsibility is not simply to prepare children for technologies we cannot yet predict, but to nurture their creativity, agency, relationships and capacity to be successful in the face of uncertainty,” said Bipasha Chanda Minocha, CEO of REACH.
The conference builds on the ongoing collaboration between REACH and Reggio Children, which previously led to the Mosaic of Marks, Words, Material exhibition and international event held in Singapore in 2024. This new edition further strengthens Singapore’s role as a meeting point for international educational experiences and contributes to the dissemination across Asia of the expertise and innovation developed in Italy.
Conference Information
Dates: 30–31 October 2026
Venue: METT Singapore, 11 Canning Walk, Singapore 178881
Languages: English, Italian and Mandarin
Programme and further information: https://info.reach.edu.sg/2026-reach-conference
Press Office
Enrico Nicolosi – Press and Communication Attaché
Embassy of Italy in Singapore
enrico.nicolosi@esteri.it
+65 6253 3549
