European Green Academy 2026

The 2026 edition of the European Green Academy (EGA) in Brussels, opens its doors this coming April, creating an inspiring learning space that brings together Green thinkers, political actors, civil society organisations, and engaged activists from across and beyond Europe. This year’s Academy is crucial – unfolding at a moment when democracy across Europe is under an intensifying attack, and urgent questions of resilience, autonomy and collective action demand fresh thinking and alliances.

About the event

Europe enters 2026 facing a stark political reality. Democratic backsliding, shrinking civic space, geopolitical instability, and the rise of hybrid and technological threats are reshaping the political landscape towards fear, rollback, and polarisation. Civil society is being systematically constrained: its autonomy reduced, its legitimacy attacked, and its role in democratic life eroded. At the same time, rapidly evolving technologies are transforming how citizens access information and participate in public life, creating new vulnerabilities that authoritarian actors are quick to exploit. 

Against this backdrop, Greens and progressives face mounting challenges in organising, building alliances, and collectively envisioning alternatives. EGA 2026 meets this moment head-on: creating a space to deepen understanding, strengthen transnational exchange and connections, and develop fresh ideas to defend democracy and rebuild resilience – through stronger participation, a reimagined and holistic approach to security and protection, and ambitious ecosocial transformation. 

Over 1.5 days, and through a dynamic mix of plenaries, workshops, debates, targeted training sessions and creative formats, EGA offers an inspiring learning environment where participants can engage with diverse actors and forward-looking ideas. With a strong focus on political education and tailored methodologies, EGA aims to equip participants with fresh insights, practical skills, and forward-looking perspectives to navigate today’s key challenges. It is a space for learning, building resilience, and mapping pathways for collective alliances in turbulent political times – as we work towards a just, ecological, and democratic Europe. 

Read more about last years’ edition here.  

Programme 

Find the European Green Academy programme in PDF here.

At the heart of the EGA 2026 programme lies a central question: how can we build resilient, autonomous, and vibrant societies amid technological capture, geopolitical instability, and deep ecological crisis?

Thematic pillars:

• Democracy under pressure  
• Digital sovereignty and democracy   
• Autonomy & resilience 

Across the Academy, participants will engage in: 

• Plenaries with leading voices from politics, academia, activism, and civil society 
• Workshops and training sessions offering practical tools, skills, and methodologies 
• Debates and roundtables exploring forward-looking Green ideas 
• Networking spaces to foster collaboration and transnational exchange 
• Creative and artistic interventions 

Meet the Speakers

• Nika Kovač, Activist, My Voice My Choice
• Agnese Lāce, Latvia Minister of Culture; co-chair of PROGRESĪVIE
• Rosa Martínez, Secretary of State for Social Rights, Spain 
• Tarik Abou-Chadi, Professor of European Politics, Oxford University
• Nicolae Ștefănuță, Vice President of the European Parliament, MEP, Greens/EFA
• Dominika Lasota, co-founder of the Wschód (“Sunrise”) Initiative, member of Fridays for Future Poland
• Renata Ávila Pinto, CEO, Open Knowledge Foundation
• Shannon Vallor, Co-Director, Centre for Technomoral Futures, author The AI Mirror: How to Reclaim Our Humanity in an Age of Machine Thinking 
• Justyna Wydrzyńska, Abortion Dream Team
• Stefanos Loukopoulos, Co-Founder & Director, Vouliwatch
• Zoya Miari, Palestinian-Ukrainian Storyteller, Peace Ambassador
• Tomas Tomilinas, MP Democrats for Lithuania
• Gabriela Svárovská, MP, Co-Chair, Zelení
• Atte Harjanne, MP, Vihreä liitto (Finnish Greens)
• Aarti Narsee, Senior Policy Officer & Lead for Rule of Law Advocacy, European Civic Forum
• Jean Cattan, Head of the National Initiative, Café IA; former Secretary General of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Technology Council
• Natalija Simović, Local Councilor, Zeleno Levi Front  
• Richard Wouters, Researcher, Wetenschappelijk Bureau GroenLinks
• Adam Reichardt, Editor-in-Chief, New Eastern Europe
• Karen Boers, FARI, the Brussels AI Institute for the Common Good
• Ariane Giraneza Birekeraho, Antwerp City Councillor, Groen 
• Alice Stollmeyer, Executive Director, Defend Democracy 
• Kristina Wilfore, Co-Founder, #ShePersisted & Director of Innovation and Global Projects at Reset Tech 
• Benedetta de Marte, Secretary General, European Green Party
• Andrej Zlatović, Co-Spokesperson, Federation of Young European Greens  
• Ági Fernengel, Director, School of Public Life
• Liza Bezvershenko, Independent Civil Society & Advocacy Specialist
• Cynthia Muthoni, Local Councillor, Green Party of England and Wales

The European Green Academy will be hosted by Eliza Popper, Co-Founder of the Good Enough Company.

Friday 24 April

Saturday 25 April

Practical Information

Please download our Practical Info Pack for Participants here.

• Date & Time:  24 April 2026 (13:00-22:00) – 25 April 2026 (09:30-22:00)
• Location: Brussels Information Point (BIP), Rue Royale 2-4 Koningsstraat, 1000 Brussels 
• Venue Map
  Language & Format:  English, in-person participation only
• Accessibility & safe spaces: GEF remains committed to ensuring an inclusive and respectful environment for all participants. A safe spaces policy will apply throughout the event. 
• Contact: For any questions regarding the European Green Academy 2026, please contact events@gef.eu. 

This event is organised by the Green European Foundation with the financial support of the European Parliament to the Green European Foundation.