IDD 2026
WHAT’S NEXT FOR DEMOCRACY?
INNOVATION AND ALLIANCES IN A CHANGING WORLD
IDD 2026
WHAT’S NEXT FOR DEMOCRACY?
INNOVATION AND ALLIANCES IN A CHANGING WORLD
THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING
The 2026 edition of the International Democracy Day Brussels Conference brought together democracy practitioners, policymakers, civil society leaders and experts from across Europe and beyond to explore “What’s Next for Democracy? Innovation and Alliances in a Changing World.” The 12th edition of IDD Brussels examined how democratic actors can respond to a changing global environment through new forms of cooperation, democratic innovation and stronger alliances.
IDD Brussels 2026 was organised jointly by the European Partnership for Democracy (EPD), International IDEA, the European Network of Political Foundations (ENoP), the European Endowment for Democracy (EED), and Carnegie Europe. The event featured speakers from European institutions, international organisations, civil society, academia and grassroots initiatives, including Věra Jourová, Richard Youngs, Barbara Smith, Simon Coveney, Šimon Pánek, Kevin Casas-Zamora and many others.
MEET THE SPEAKERS
Meet some of the high level speakers from this year’s conference.
Věra jourová
Former European Commission Vice-President for Values and Transparency and Chair of Democracy27
Ambassador Luke Feeny
Representative of Ireland to the Political and Security Committee of the European Union on behalf of the Irish Presidency
Simon Coveney
Co-founder of CaraDem, International Affairs Specialist and Former Senior Member of the Irish Government
A new edition | A new vision | Coming soon |
A new edition | A new vision | Coming soon |
A new edition | A new vision | Coming soon |
A new edition | A new vision | Coming soon |
A new edition | A new vision | Coming soon |
A new edition | A new vision | Coming soon |
A new edition | A new vision | Coming soon |
A new edition | A new vision | Coming soon |
INTERNATIONAL DEMOCRACY DAY BRUSSELS
The International Democracy Day Brussels Conference (IDD Brussels) is an annual event that brings together leading voices in democracy support, governance, and civic engagement. Since its inception, the conference has served as a platform to foster dialogue, share expertise, and build partnerships among policymakers, civil society representatives, researchers, and international organisations.
Organised by a consortium of European and global partners, IDD Brussels aims to highlight the value of democracy as a cornerstone of security, prosperity, and inclusive societies. Each year, the conference offers space for critical reflection on democratic trends, challenges, and innovations, connecting experiences from Europe and around the world.
Now in its eleventh edition, IDD Brussels continues to provide an opportunity to exchange ideas, showcase success stories, and inspire collective action to defend and advance democratic principles.
We invite you to explore previous editions of the conference below to learn more about past themes, speakers, and outcomes.
PAST EDITIONS
IDD through the years.
VOICES FROM 2026 EDITIONS
Promoting and protecting democracy is a never ending job, and it is not only work for politicians, it requires intensive work from civil society.
Věra JourováFormer European Commission Vice-President for Values and Transparency and Chair of Democracy27
Why do we treat democracy like a project? We set up three-year project cycles, but why don't we fund democracy systematically? Why not fund democracy the same way we fund security? Security receives an annual budget, it isn't depended on project grants. We should rethink the projectising of democracy
Emmy OtimRegional Manager East Africa, KIC Sweden
“No political solution can succeed without meaningful leadership of women, men or young people”
Elfatih siddig SuleimanSudanese civil society activist, researcher, and advocate for democracy and human rights
LATEST NEWS
Stay informed with the latest updates, insights, and highlights from the world of democracy and European policy.
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