Rising Tide Summit
August 28 – 31, 2026 · Schloss Marbach

Where the ecosystem
comes together

Three days of ideas, workshops, and deep connection on the shores of Lake Constance.

Fri 28 Aug → Mon 31 Aug
Schloss Marbach, Germany
70+ participants
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Updates

Latest news

30 Jun 2026
Workshop sign-ups are now open
You can now sign up for the Sunday morning workshops. Two rounds of 80-minute participant-facilitated sessions — choose one per round. Spots are limited to 10. Workshop names will be announced shortly.
About the Summit

Bringing the ecosystem together

The Rising Tide Summit is an annual gathering of our extended community — grantees, partners, co-creators, and friends of the Foundation — coming together to share, connect, and think ambitiously about what it means to catalyze agency and flourishing across the world.

This year's theme, Catalyzing the Ecosystem, reflects our conviction that lasting change happens through networks, not just individual projects. We gather not to coordinate from the centre, but to discover the spontaneous connections that only emerge when diverse people spend time together.

70+
Participants from across the world
3
Full programme days at Schloss Marbach
30+
Countries represented
Rising Tide Summit — Catalyzing the Ecosystem
Lasting change happens through networks, not just individual projects. Rising Tide Foundation
The Venue

Schloss Marbach

Schloss Marbach on a hillside above Lake Constance

Perched directly on the shores of Lake Constance with the Alps on the horizon, Schloss Marbach is one of Switzerland's most remarkable retreat venues — a 19th-century manor with terraces that open onto the water.

Address
Schloss Marbach, Öhningen, Germany
on Lake Constance (Bodensee)
Dates
Friday 28 August – Tuesday 1 September 2026
Arrival
Friday 28 August, arrive before 17:00
BBQ welcome dinner that evening
Accommodation
Fully covered for all participants
All meals included
Programme

Three full days of ideas & connection

The programme weaves together peer-led sessions, workshops, co-creation, and shared time at one of Europe's most inspiring retreat venues. Arrival on Friday evening, departure Tuesday morning.

08:00 – 15:00
Airport Shuttle
Two coaches from Zurich Airport to Schloss Marbach: departures at 10:00 and 15:00. Plan your flight to arrive before 17:00 — there is a wait at the airport between the two coaches.
17:00
Doors Open
Drinks, welcome, and warm-up on the terrace overlooking Lake Constance.
Social
19:00
Welcome Dinner
BBQ on the terrace. A first chance to meet and connect informally.
Social
22:30
Wine Down
Drinks and conversation in the bar.
Social
07:00
Rise & Shine
Morning movement and connection outdoors, led by a fellow participant.
Morning
09:00
Warming Up
Sessions start on time.
09:20
Sparks — Round I
5-minute lightning talks — short enough to leave you wanting more. Designed to spark ideas in your own work and life.
Plenary
11:00
Flourishing 360°
Flourishing is not a monolith, but comprised of many components, each heavily reliant on the other. Rising Tide is focused on 5 of these areas, some more evident than others, that emphasize the importance of human agency on the path to flourishing.
Plenary
12:30
Lunch
Social
13:45
Sparks — Round II
A second round of 5-minute lightning talks from fellow participants.
Plenary
14:30
Impact (?) 360°
We all measure. In fact, we often have to for a variety of reasons. But often our measures tell us more about the measure itself than it does about the thing we are measuring. In this session we will explore how measurement can contribute meaningfully to the increase in agency and flourishing of those our programs aim to serve, versus a reductive metric for donor compliance — sparking a discussion that breaks through the noise of mere compliance to create meaningful transformation in the lives of individuals.
Plenary
15:55
Individual & Shared Reflection
Time to process the day — individually, then together.
18:30
Cocktails & Dinner
Social
21:00
Optional Film / Wine Down
Screening of a narrative short film on the lived reality of inflation in Venezuela, followed by informal conversation.
Social
07:00
Rise & Shine
Morning movement and connection outdoors.
Morning
09:00
Warming Up
Sessions start on time.
09:20
Workshops — Round 1
80-minute participant-facilitated sessions. Learn a skill or experience a fellow participant's work firsthand. Sign up for your workshop →
Workshop
11:00
Workshops — Round 2
A second round of 80-minute workshops running in parallel. Sign up for your workshop →
Workshop
12:30
Lunch
Social
13:45
Rising Tide Excursion
Off-site time discovering the region at a relaxed pace. Details to be confirmed.
Excursion
07:00
Rise & Shine
Morning movement and connection outdoors.
Morning
09:00
Warming Up
Sessions start on time.
09:20
Co-Creation — Round 1
Collaborative working sessions around shared challenges. Draw on diverse perspectives, unpack problems, and sketch ways forward together.
Co-Creation
12:00
Lunch
Social
14:15
Co-Creation — Round 2
Continuing the collaborative work from the morning session.
Co-Creation
16:40
Individual & Shared Reflections
Closing round for the summit — taking stock of what we've built and discovered together.
Plenary
19:00
Cocktails & Closing Dinner
A more formal evening to celebrate the summit. Not black tie, but nice.
Social
21:00
Wine Down
A final evening together.
Social
Workshops

Sunday morning workshops

On Sunday 30 August, two rounds of 80-minute workshops run in parallel — each facilitated by a fellow participant. Choose one for each round. Spots are limited to 10 per workshop.

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Sign up for your workshops

Choose one workshop per round. Your name is all we need — email is optional.

You're signed up! 🎉

Summit Photos

Moments from the summit

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Getting There

Travel information

Coaches run between Zurich Airport and Schloss Marbach on arrival and departure days. All transfers are included.

Fly into Zurich

Zurich Airport (ZRH) is the closest hub — approximately 1 hour by coach to Schloss Marbach. Plan to arrive on Friday 28 August before 15:00 to catch the last shuttle.

Group Coach Transfer

  • Coach 1 departs Zurich Airport Fri 28 Aug at 10:00
  • Coach 2 departs Zurich Airport Fri 28 Aug at 15:00
  • Plan your flight to arrive at Schloss Marbach before 17:00
  • Return shuttles depart Tue 1 Sep morning

Visas & Entry

Schloss Marbach is in Germany (Baden-Württemberg), in the Schengen Area. If you need an invitation letter for your visa application, please contact us — we will provide one promptly.

Public Transport

You can also travel independently by train. Search Schloss Marbach as your destination on the SBB website for connections from Zurich Airport.

We recommend buying your ticket in advance on the SBB app — it's faster, cheaper, and avoids queues at the station.

Practical Information

Everything you need to know

Yes — accommodation and all meals throughout the summit are fully covered by Rising Tide Foundation for all invited participants. You do not need to arrange or pay for accommodation.
The Summit is for invited participants only, and unfortunately we are not able to accommodate additional guests, partners, or family members this year. The format is designed around a specific and intentionally curated group.
Schloss Marbach is located in Germany (Schengen Area). EU and Schengen passport holders do not need a visa. For participants from other countries, please check your specific visa requirements early. If you need an official invitation letter to support a Schengen visa application, please contact us and we will send one promptly.
The programme will mix formal sessions with informal time — smart casual works well for most of it. Evenings on the lake terrace can be cool in late August, so bring a layer. Comfortable shoes for walking around the grounds are recommended. If there's a planned excursion, we'll let you know in advance.
The primary language of the summit is English. Some breakout sessions may be offered in other languages depending on participant preferences — we'll communicate this in the programme.
For any questions about the summit, travel, or logistics, please reach out to the FIP team at Rising Tide Foundation. Joan Vilarnau is your point of contact for all operational questions.
Participants

Who's coming

Get to know the people joining us at Schloss Marbach this August.

Questions?

The FIP team is here to help with anything you need — visa letters, travel planning, programme questions.

Get in touch