This introductory paper examines how territories confront contemporary crises and engage in large-scale transitions, economic, social, ecological and technological. It argues that territorial resilience depends on the ability of local actors to absorb shocks, adapt governance practices, and initiate structural transformations rather than merely restoring pre-crisis condition. Drawing on the contributions presented at the 2024 ASRDLF congress, the article highlights the complexity and diversity of these processes across different spatial contexts. Transitions are shaped by intertwined dynamics: top-down policies set by national and supranational institutions, bottom-up initiatives driven by citizens and local organizations, and transversal forms of polycentric governance. Case studies reveal how historical legacies, institutional inertia, and path dependencies influence territorial capacities to commit to sustainable transitions. Examples include decarbonization challenges in former industrial regions, the agroecological trajectories of insular territories, residential mobility and governance differentiation, and social innovations such as fare-free public transport. Creativity and innovation emerge as key resources that enable territories to respond to crises, experiment with new solutions, and reconfigure socio-economic systems. The article emphasizes the territorial embeddedness of creative dynamics and the role of proximities, networks, cultural assets, and collective learning. Urban spaces, in particular, serve as catalysts for creative clustering and experimentation. Finally, the paper outlines how trajectories of transition unfold over time, depending on actors’ abilities to interpret constraints, negotiate compromises, and build shared strategies. It calls for renewed research on how localized creativity, innovation ecosystems, and inter-territorial collaborations can nurture self-reinforcing resilience and guide territories toward inclusive and sustainable development.