The satellite events are events organised by universities renowned in the sphere of political studies and international relations, non-governmental organisations, municipalities and other institutions.

The organising institutions are free to propose the dates and format of their event, the speakers and the specific topic(s) in line with this year’s Forum main theme. Possible formats include seminars, lecture in schools, survey, social media campaigns or radio/TV debates.

The satellite events should take place before the Forum so that their findings could be presented at the Forum and eventually be included in the Forum’s final report.

The Organising institutions should prepare a brief presentation of the findings of the event which will be put on the website of the World Forum for Democracy.

Events

Back From Gothenburg to Strasbourg: Reviving Democracy Together

28 Aug 2025
Frihamnsdagarna, Sweden
Event Information

On 28 August 2025, Frihamnsdagarna – one of Sweden’s largest open forums for democracy and societal dialogue – opened its fifth edition in Gothenburg with a seminar fully aligned with the theme of this year’s World Forum for Democracy: “Democracy at risk: how can we revive it?”

The festival began with a breakfast gathering, followed by an opening panel moderated by award-winning journalist Emanuel Karlsten. The discussion brought together diverse voices: Jeremy Pryce, former basketball player and community developer who recently sparked wide debate with a social media post on democracy; Anna Sanne Göransson, Engagement Strategist and co-founder of Digidem Lab; politician Heléne Eliasson, Chair of the Regional Executive Board in Västra Götaland; and Michel Östlund, artist behind the sculpture Mod (Swedish for “courage”), which has been displayed at several democratic arenas in Sweden.

The conversation was enriched with video interventions from two initiatives that will also join the World Forum for Democracy in Strasbourg: Peter O’Neill, Imagine Festival of Ideas & Politics in Belfast, and Ella Alcock, Open Cities Lab in South Africa, presenting the project My Representative.

A key theme was how to engage young people in democratic life and what is needed to counter polarization and foster a climate for constructive dialogue.

This year’s Frihamnsdagarna gathered hundreds of associations, companies, and organizations, marking five years of growth into a true festival of democracy and freedom of expression. With thousands of visitors enjoying three days of debates, music, and culture on Gothenburg’s waterfront, the opening seminar set the tone for a highly successful event. Frihamnsdagarna is proud to contribute to the global democratic conversation, building bridges from Gothenburg to Strasbourg.

Image Gallery