4.700 participants at the European Forum Alpbach 2025
The success of the European Forum Alpbach confirms the chosen path.
With the closing panel, featuring among others Federal Chancellor Christian Stocker and his Belgian counterpart Bart De Wever, the European Forum Alpbach 2025 (EFA25) came to an end. The Forum recorded around 4,700 participants from 127 countries, a marked increase compared to the previous year (2024: 4,300). Among them were 500 scholarship holders, selected from more than 7,000 applications – a new record.
Strong presence from politics and business
European politics was widely represented: numerous senior EU officials, including three Commissioners, travelled to Alpbach. The business sector also sent a clear signal: 36 CEOs spoke as guests on the podium (2024: 15), with many more actively engaging in the Forum. From Austria, the Federal President and three quarters of the Federal Government took part.
The future of Europe in focus
Under this year’s theme “Recharge Europe”, the Forum addressed how Europe can renew its economic, social and institutional strengths in order to remain capable of action and prepared for the future. In more than 550 sessions (2024: 500), innovative approaches were developed for sustainably “recharging” Europe.
“Europe stands at a turning point. It is our responsibility to build bridges between generations, regions and ways of life. Alpbach shows us every year anew that dialogue and diversity are the foundation of a strong Europe. The EFA is relevant – and it is leading in Austria,” emphasised Othmar Karas, President of the European Forum Alpbach.
Reporting Partners secure outcomes
In 2025, cooperation with leading think tanks was significantly expanded: eight national and international partners supported the Forum and oversaw the thematic tracks. They analysed the discussions, documented key results, and provided impulses for the further development of EFA365. Reporting Partners included, among others, Bruegel, WIFO, the Hertie School, the European University Institute, IIASA, the KONTEXT Institute, the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP), and AIES.
“The most important task of the European Forum Alpbach is to strengthen Europe. Our Reporting Partners safeguard the ideas and outcomes of the discussions and ensure they remain sustainably usable. In doing so, they make a vital contribution to further developing the EFA into a year-round forum,” emphasised Feri Thierry, Secretary General of the European Forum Alpbach.
Looking ahead to 2026
The impulses generated in Alpbach flow directly into the work of EFA365, which ensures that the insights gained during the summer are translated into concrete projects and further developed throughout the year.
The next European Forum Alpbach will take place from 22 August to 4 September 2026.
The traditional reception with the Alpbach Rifle Company and the Alpbach Federal Music Band at the Austria in Europe Days Opening.
Othmar Karas (EFA-President and former First Vice-President of the European Parliament) during his opening speech at the Europe in the World Days.
Jean-Claude Juncker (former President of the European Commission) at a panel discussion.
The Loggia with the church of Alpbach in the background.
f.l.t.r.: Othmar Karas (EFA-President), Anton Mattle (Governor of Tyrol), Jean-Claude Juncker (former President of the European Commission), Arno Kompatscher (Governor of South Tyrol), Maurizio Fugatti (Governor of Trentino), and Norbert Totschnig (Austrian Federal Minister of Agriculture, Regions and Tourism) at the Tyrol Day.
Scholarship holders attend a seminar on "Power, Activism, and Change" with Alberto Alemanno (HEC Paris).
Fatou Jeng (Founder of Clean Earth Gambia) at the seminar "Global Politics and Influence: Africa at the Crossroad of Geopolitics and Climate Crisis".
Jessika Roswall (EU Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and Competitive Circular Economy) at a session.
Discussion of Europe's place in the world with (f.l.t.r.) Wolfgang Ischinger (President of the Foundation Council, Munich Security Conference Foundation), Peter Bosek (CEO, Erste Group), Corinna Milborn (Director of Information, ProSiebenSat1Puls4), Beate Meinl-Reisinger (Austrian Federal Minister for European and International Affairs), Jan Lipavský (Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs), and Oana Țoiu (Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs).
Participants on a hike.
Participants engage in a hike and discussion with Armin Laschet (Member and Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the German Bundestag and Co-Chair of the EFA Strategic Advisory Council), focusing on the mainstreaming of extremism.
Alexander van der Bellen (Federal President of Austria) at his opening speech for the Austria in Europe Days.
f.l.t.r.: Panel discussion with Bart De Wever (Prime Minister of Belgium), Moderator Raffaela Schaidreiter (ORF-Correspondent, Head of Office ORF-Brussels), Christian Stocker (Federal Chancellor of Austria), and Axel van Trotsenburg (Senior Managing Director, World Bank).
Radikale Töchter ask thought-provoking questions as part of the Arts & Culture programme at the EFA25.
Christian Stocker (Federal Chancellor of Austria) at the closing of the Austria in Europe Days.
Edgars Rinkēvičs (President of the Republic of Latvia) holds an opening speech.
Maria Luís Albuquerque (EU Commissioner for Financial Services and the Savings and Investments Union) on a hike about a Green Industrial Deal.
Participants at a panel discussion.
Joseph E. Stiglitz (Nobel Laureate) and Sabine Weyand (EU Director-General for Trade) at a Brown Bag Lunch hosted by SZ Dossier.
Lukas Oscar at a concert as part of the Arts & Culture programme.
Participants at a Brown Bag Lunch.
Participants of the international evening, organised by the Forum Alpbach Network (FAN) Committee.