Summer Opening Family Retreat 2026

If you look deeply into the palm of your hand, you will see your parents and all generations of your ancestors. All of them are alive in this moment. Each is present in your body. You are the continuation of each of these people.

— Thich Nhat Hanh

From 11 July to 3 August, 2026, Plum Village hosted our annual Summer Opening Family Retreat, welcoming nearly 2,500 participants from around 50 countries, including adults, families with children and teens, and practitioners of all ages.

Our Summer Retreat is often referred to as a Dharma festival, in which we are able to nourish ourselves with the dharma in many ways: inspiring Dharma talks by senior monastics; mindful meals together in families; joyful play and total relaxation; creative expression through art, song, and dance; and communal offerings, such as the Earth Festival, Peace Festival, and Rose Ceremony. Through mindful exercises, sitting meditation, walking meditation, dharma sharing and other mindfulness practices, we learned how to dwell in the present moment, to come back to our bodies and breath to take care of strong emotions, and to find reconciliation in our relationships and ourselves.

It is a new day, we vow to go through it in mindfulness…

Amidst this summer’s multiple heat waves and the raging fires nearby, as well as the individual and collective anxieties and fears about the different global poly-crises, Brother Phap Linh reminded us in his Dharma talk about the importance of generating joy in order to handle and transform our suffering. He offered us many simple ways to cultivate joy.

Joy of relaxationJoy of normalJoy of being aliveJoy of caring for the present momentJoy of celebrating another’s winJoy of offeringJoy of wishing other’s wellJoy of joyJoy of insight and letting goJoy of wonderJoy of being in natureJoy of interbeing

Two families share here about their nourishing experience practicing with our beloved community in our Summer Opening Retreat.

Being in Plum Village during the Family Retreat is like floating in a cloud of intention, mindfulness, peace, community, learning, and renewal in a backdrop of many varieties of fruit trees, insects, birds, humans and beautiful children and teens playing and becoming. It’s a sacred place full of life, love and laughter.

Hye-Young Kim-Garnier; Korea, USA, France

My 2026 Plum Village retreat in New Hamlet was marked by intense heat, but also by moments of deep beauty: the bells, the sisters’ singing, the Buddha Hall, walking meditation, and the fruit-filled trees. I came away with clearer insights about impermanence, silent connection with the sangha, my child’s growing independence, and the way the retreat opened space for my whole family to grow. With gratitude for the wonderful time at Plum Village!

Karen Oliviera, Brazil & Sweden

We invite you to enjoy the many wondrous moments of this special retreat, savoring the beauty of summer and the joy, peace, and healing of practicing as one big dharma family.

Welcoming smiles on arrival daySunrise meditationMindful movements on Plum HillTeens enjoying breakfast togetherJoyfully singing togetherChanting Namo’valokiteshvaraOffering compassion to all beingsDharma talk by Sister Boi NghiemDharma sharingPancake breakfast on lazy dayBrother Phap Ly’s Dharma talk for childrenGerman children’s programWashing pots mindfully and joyfullyCultivating joy in the children’s programQuestions and ResponsesResponding to a child’s questionDharma talk by Brother Phap UngMusical offering in Son HaChanting before the Dharma talkDharma talk by Sister Giac NghiemCelebrating peaceChildren’s offering in the Be-InLearning how to invite the bellVisiting the Happy FarmLazy day soccer matchGratitude to our spiritual ancestors5 Mindfulness Transmission CeremonyReceiving the 5 MTs certificateSupporting each other on the spiritual pathThe importance of spiritual friendsDharma talk by Sister Dinh NghiemThe joy of togethernessCelebrating the Earth FestivalOffering lanterns in the Peace FestivalDharma talk by Brother Phap HuuThe children offering joyThe teens offering loveThe Rose CeremonyHonoring our parentsThe evening big bell chant inviting us to practice Noble Silence

The most precious inheritance that parents can give their children is their own happiness.

— Thich Nhat Hanh

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You are warmly invited to practice with us for an Autumn Mindful Living Weekend with our beloved 3 hamlet Plum Village community from Friday to Monday, 4th to 7th September, 2026.