Finland’s leading European policy event, the Europe Forum, will once again bring together decision-makers, experts and citizens in Turku on 26–28 August 2026. Registration is now open for some of the most interesting discussions of early autumn.
The Europe Forum speaker lineup once again features an exceptionally strong group of EU decision-makers, ministers, leading researchers and influential figures from the international business community. Over the course of three days, the programme includes more than 50 discussions and 200 speakers addressing topical social and European issues. More than 1,000 participants have already registered to attend in person.
Current policy directions and future outlooks will be explored by, among others, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission Henna Virkkunen, Minister for European Affairs and Ownership Steering Joakim Strand, Timo Pesonen, Director-General of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space, Hiski Haukkala, Director of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, and Anna-Kaisa Itkonen, spokesperson for energy and climate affairs at the European Commission. Members of the European Parliament travelling to Turku include Mika Aaltola, Li Andersson, Eero Heinäluoma, Anna-Maja Henriksson, Ville Niinistö, Maria Ohisalo, Sirpa Pietikäinen, Aura Salla, Pekka Toveri and Sebastian Tynkkynen.
International speakers also on the programme
The Europe Forum will once again bring a significant number of international guests to Turku, with leading foreign researchers, civil society figures and business leaders offering perspectives on global developments and prospects.
Ulla Müller, Head of the Nordic Office of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), will bring perspectives on global development and equality to Turku. Social sustainability will be explored by Marie Moran, Associate Professor at University College Dublin in Ireland, the country holding the EU Council Presidency. International solutions for the circular economy and the green transition in industry will be presented by Stefan Breitenbach, Project Manager at the Port of Hamburg in Germany, and Claus Runge, Chief Sustainability Officer at pharmaceutical giant Bayer AG. One of the keynote speakers at this year’s Turku Climate Forum, organised as part of the Europe Forum, will be Philippe Froissard, Head of Unit at the European Commission.
Registration for the Europe Forum is now open
The Europe Forum will take place at the Turku City Theatre on 26–28 August. The event is free of charge and open to everyone, and participants can either attend in person or follow the programme live online.
Registration for the forum is now open. Places are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. You can register for the event here.
All Europe Forum programme sessions can also be watched live on the event website at www.europeforum.fi.
No advance registration is required to participate online. Programme sessions in Finnish and Swedish will be simultaneously interpreted into English in real time, ensuring that the forum is accessible to an international audience as well.
Recordings of the event will also be available afterwards on YouTube.
Speakers’ Corner invites the public to Hansakortteli on 27 August
The Europe Forum also invites the general public to take part in Speakers’ Corner, which will be held at Hansatori in Hansakortteli on Thursday, 27 August, from 2 to 5 p.m. Turun Sanomat will also broadcast the event live on its website.
The programme will include, for example, views from Members of the European Parliament Ville Niinistö, Li Andersson and Aura Salla. Young people’s perspectives on the future of Europe will be presented by Eetu Hakulinen, Chair of the P-klubi, and Alma Jokinen, Finland’s EU Delegate for Nuorisoala ry. The role of the media as a pillar supporting functioning democracy will be discussed by Rami Nieminen, Editor-in-Chief of Turun Sanomat, Laura Saarikoski, Secretary General of the Helsingin Sanomain Säätiö Foundation, and radio journalist Harri Moisio.
The moderator will be Professor Markku Jokisipilä, Chair of the Board of the Schuman Society and Director of the Centre for Parliamentary Studies at the University of Turku. The event is free and open to everyone, and no advance registration is required. See you at Hansakortteli!
Exercise, quizzes and music alongside the Europe Forum
In addition to the official programme, a range of side events will be organised as part of the Europe Forum. On Friday, 28 August, the Swedish Consulate in Turku will organise the God morgon Åbo morning run. The run will start at 7:30 a.m. in front of the Turku City Theatre, and participants can choose to walk or run according to their fitness level. The route will return to the starting point. There is no participation fee, making this a refreshing way to start the forum day. After the run, participants are also invited to a kaffe och fika gathering outside the theatre.
On the opening day of the forum, 26 August, the Representation of the European Commission in Finland invites everyone interested in quizzes to test their knowledge of Europe at the Arvo neighborhood restaurant from 7 p.m. onwards. At Bar Kuka, the evening will continue at 7:30 p.m. with Levyraati, an event exploring the worlds of music and EU themes. Since 2007, Bar Kuka’s Levyraati has regularly brought together a panel to review songs suggested by the audience, and now it will be the turn of the Europe Forum’s distinguished panel to serve as the judges.
Join us and look towards the future of Europe!