Makers Weekend 2026

Summer U is the European Union of Jewish Students’ largest annual event, bringing together hundreds of young Jewish people from across Europe for a week of learning, community, culture, and celebration. A central role in bringing the event to life is played by the Makers, a team of young volunteers who work alongside the EUJS Office to help plan and deliver the programme.

The Makers Weekend is the official starting point of this process. Held several months before Summer U, it brings the selected Makers together to meet, receive training, explore the venue, and begin planning the different parts of the event. In March 2026, our Makers travelled to Évora, Portugal, to take the first major step towards Summer U 2026.

This year’s team brought together 22 Makers from across Europe, including both new volunteers and returning Makers. Fourteen members of the team had never been Makers before, while eight brought experience from previous editions. Some were even preparing for their very first Summer U, bringing new ideas and perspectives to the team from the very beginning.

Throughout the weekend, the Makers took part in team-building activities and practical training on leadership, communication, inclusion, participant support, and handling challenging situations. They also joined their working groups, covering General, Jewish, and Sports Programming, Logistics, Spaces, Ceremonies, and Communications, and began developing the activities, sessions, and experiences that would eventually shape the week.

Most importantly, the Makers Weekend was where the team began to become a community. It marked the start of several months of online meetings, planning, creativity, and teamwork, leading all the way to Summer U 2026.