On 15 May 2026, the first edition of the ALPIMED+ Festival was held in Cuneo as part of the Cuneo Montagna Festival. Organised as part of the PITER ALPIMED+ cross-border cooperation programme supported by Interreg ALCOTRA, the event brought together institutions, researchers, businesses, associations, citizens, and project leaders from the Alpes-Maritimes, the province of Cuneo, and the province of Imperia around a common challenge: the sustainable management of water resources.

Following a presentation of the actions undertaken as part of the PITER ALPIMED+ and its various projects, discussions highlighted the strategic role of water for Mediterranean Alpine territories. In a context of climate change and increasing pressure on natural resources, the preservation of this resource appears to be a shared challenge that transcends administrative borders and requires responses built at the cross-border territory level.

The afternoon was dedicated to the first ALPIMED+ cross-border forums, designed as spaces for dialogue and co-construction. Divided into four themes – economic, citizen, scientific, and projects – participants were invited to share their experiences, identify priority challenges, and formulate concrete proposals for the future of the territory. This participatory approach aimed to inform the future Alpine Mediterranean Strategy 2030-2050, which is currently being developed.

For ALPIMED+ ECOTERR partners, including Université Côte d’Azur and IMREDD, this first edition illustrates the importance of dialogue between research, socio-economic stakeholders, institutions and citizens for building collective responses to environmental challenges. The discussions initiated around water management, biodiversity and climate change adaptation will contribute to informing actions carried out in the coming years in the Mediterranean Alps region.