Romania’s parenting event that really matters Takes Place on October 17–18, in Bucharest
Bucharest, February 5, 2026. ParentED Fest, the event that brings some of the world’s most renowned international experts in parenting and personal development to Bucharest, along with the latest research in child development, returns for its third edition in 2026, taking place over the weekend of October 17–18 in Bucharest.
The first confirmed speakers are Alfie Kohn and Erica Komisar, two influential voices who have reshaped the way millions of parents and educators understand discipline, attachment and children’s emotional needs. These are only the first experts announced, with more prominent names from the fields of parenting, psychology, and child development to be revealed in the coming months.
Modern parenting comes with real emotional pressures. According to a 2024 study conducted by Reveal Marketing Research, 55% of Romanian parents consider communication with their children to be one of their biggest challenges, while 54% say that managing stress and exhaustion is a significant burden in their parenting role.
The event responds to the need for modern, evidence-informed approaches and is addressed not only to parents, but also to professionals working with children of all ages: teachers, educators, coaches, therapists, and counselors. Following the success of the first two editions in 2024 and 2025, which welcomed over 3,000 participants and featured some of the most important international names in the field, ParentED Fest has become the only parenting event in Romania that truly matters.
A special Early Bird ticket campaign, available in very limited numbers, is launching alongside the announcement of the first confirmed speakers. Tickets are available at parentedfest.ro and through the iabilet.ro network.
One of the World’s Leading Critics of Punishment- and Reward-Based Education
Author of multiple international bestsellers, Alfie Kohn is one of the most prominent advocates of respectful, non-punitive parenting. His critiques of rewards and competition have helped shape the thinking of parents, educators, and leaders around the world.
Alfie Kohn writes and speaks extensively about education, parenting, and human behavior. He is the author of 14 books translated into more than 20 languages, including Romanian, among them Unconditional Parenting, Punished by Rewards, The Myth of the Spoiled Child, and No Contest: The Case Against Competition. He lectures internationally and has appeared on numerous television programs, including twice on The Oprah Winfrey Show. Among his hundreds of published articles are “Five Reasons to Stop Saying ‘Good Job!’”, “How Not to Teach Values”, and “Raising an UnTrump.” Kohn hosts the Kohn’s Zone podcast, lives in Boston, and his resources can be found at www.alfiekohn.org.
A Leading Voice for Attachment and Early Emotional Development
The second speaker taking the ParentED Fest stage, appearing in Romania for the first time, is Erica Komisar, LCSW, a clinical social worker, psychoanalyst, and parenting expert with over 30 years of experience in private practice. Erica is internationally recognized for her work in attachment, emotional development, and mental health throughout childhood and adolescence, with a particular focus on anxiety, depression, and building resilience in teenagers.
She is the author of Being There, Chicken Little: The Sky Isn’t Falling, and The Power of Play (released in 2025), and a regular contributor to The Wall Street Journal, The Institute for Family Studies, and The Dispatch. She has appeared on CBS, Fox News, and The Diary of a CEO podcast. Erica is the founder of Attachment Circles, a member of the advisory board of ARC (Alliance for Responsible Citizenship), and has presented at the United Nations on topics related to child development and emotional health. She lives in New York City with her husband and their three children, now young adults.
A Place Where Parents Feel Less Alone on the Parenting Journey
ParentED Fest was born from the personal journey of two parents, Diana and Bogdan Bălan, who found themselves at a crossroads, searching for guidance in a world filled with noise, opinions, and conflicting advice about raising children. The founders’ mission and vision are to bring science-based, emotionally guided education closer to parents, so that every parent can feel less alone on the journey of raising the next generation.
From conferences led by top specialists in parenting, neuroscience, and psychology, to exclusive workshops and moments of genuine human connection, the event creates a safe and stimulating space for learning, reflection, and personal transformation.
ParentED Fest is organized with the support of Lidl Romania – Strategic Partner, Sanador – Healthcare Partner, Fundatia Kids Hero – Empowerment Partner, as well as ThedaMar, Catena, and Raiffeisen Bank.
ParentED Fest is the official education provider of the Royal Margareta of Romania Foundation. More information is available at https://parentedfest.ro.
