The Greek island of Lesvos and its famed “liquid gold” will take center stage on May 27-30 during the annual ELIA Lesvos Confest, an international conference and festival dedicated to olives, olive oil, culture, wellness and sustainability.
Held under the theme “Olive Oil is a Cure-all”, this year’s gathering brings together experts, academics, producers, chefs and creatives from Greece and abroad for four days of panels, tastings, workshops, masterclasses, and immersive cultural experiences across the North Aegean island.
Endorsed by the International Olive Council (IOC) and supported by Yale University and the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, ELIA Lesvos Confest aims to position Lesvos as an international hub for dialogue on sustainable agri-food systems, innovation and olive tourism.
The Olive Oil Connection
Sunrise over one of the many olive groves near Skala Kallonis on Lesvos.
Conference sessions hosted at the Municipal Theater of Mytilene will address some of the olive sector’s most pressing issues, including climate change and the resilience of olive cultivation, regenerative agriculture, sustainable olive oil production, the Mediterranean diet, health and wellness, and strategies for branding Greek olive oil in international markets.
A standout feature of this year’s program is a panel titled “From the Olive Grove to the Screen”, which explores how cinema, digital arts, and artificial intelligence are shaping the global narrative and cultural identity of olives and olive oil.
Another major highlight will be the Culinary Gala, where prominent chefs prepare olive oil-based dishes showcasing its connection to gastronomy and Lesvos’ rich culinary heritage.
The Legacy of the Olive Grove
Speaking to TO BHMA International Edition, Fotini Tirpintiri, president of the Elaias Nisos Lesvos Cultural Association, which organizes the event, stressed the importance of initiatives like ELIA Lesvos Confest for both the island and Greece’s wider olive sector.
“International events like this conference are necessary in the ever-evolving olive sector,” Tirpintiri said. “The olive grove was, is, and will remain our connecting link to culture, sustainability, development, health, well-being, and longevity.”
She emphasized the need for a long-term national strategy to protect and develop Greece’s olive groves, describing them as an “intangible heritage” deeply tied to the country’s identity and history.
“The olive tree was, is, and will continue to exist on this planet. It is our duty to protect it and elevate it to where it deserves to be for future generations,” she tells TO BHMA International Edition.
According to Tirpintiri, the timing of the event coincides with the seasonal awakening of the olive grove and the anticipation of the upcoming harvest, making it an ideal moment for producers, researchers, and industry leaders to exchange ideas and assess the latest developments in the sector.
Lesvos in the Spotlight
One of the popular dishes on Lesvos: grilled octopus in extra virgin olive oil.
Beyond the conference halls, ELIA Lesvos Confest also seeks to immerse visitors in the island’s cultural identity. Tirpintiri noted that delegates gain firsthand experience of Lesvos’ “rich and multidimensional cultural beauty, history and unparalleled gastronomy”.
The festival opens at the Mythical Coast Wellness Retreat with a four-hour olive oil tasting experience organized by the International Olive Oil Network (IOON), showcasing Lesvos’ distinctive olive varieties and their connection to gastronomy and tourism.
Admission to ELIA Lesvos Confest is free to the public, with simultaneous interpretation available in Greek and English.
“At the end of the day, what creates this whole beautiful feast that fully reflects the Greek olive grove and its people is this magical island, Lesvos, that captivates you from the very first moment,” Tirpintiri said.
