EFA25 Highlights
Until the next European Forum Alpbach – from 22 August to 4 September 2026 – we invite you to revisit some of the highlights of EFA25.
EFA25 in Numbers
EFA25 concluded with a powerful message of renewal and unity, welcoming 4,700 participants from 127 countries – including 500 scholarship holders selected from a record of 7,000+ applications. Under the theme “Recharge Europe,” over 550 sessions tackled the future of Europe’s economic, social, and institutional resilience. The Forum saw exceptional engagement from political leaders, as well as a record number of business leaders, with 36 CEOs taking part.
Reporting Partners
What began last year continued with full momentum in 2025:
Eight renowned think tanks joined EFA25 as Reporting Partners, helping to secure the forum’s long-term impact and extend the debates far beyond Alpbach. Their insights will be published on the EFA website in the coming weeks.
Find out which think tanks contributed as Reporting Partners at EFA25.
80 Years of EFA
At the EFA25 we had the privilege of celebrating an incredibly special anniversary:
For 80 years, the European Forum Alpbach has brought together students, scholars, artists, thought leaders and visionaries. At its heart, one central question has always remained: What kind of Europe do we want to shape?
To mark this 80th anniversary, we launched a series of projects that highlight the impact of the Forum. They focus on the people who have shaped Alpbach, on bold new ideas for Europe’s future collected through an open call, and on the milestones that have defined the Forum across generations.
Discover the stories, voices and visions that continue to shape Alpbach to this day.
EFA25 Media Highlights: Watch & Listen
You couldn’t attend the European Forum Alpbach 2025? Or you would like to listen back to selected content at your own pace?
Our media partners closely followed EFA25 and recorded engaging conversations, discussions and lectures.
You can find podcasts and recordings produced during the Forum here:
- Die Presse - Presse-Podcast: Was wichtig ist in Alpbach
- JOYN: European Forum Alpbach
- Falter - Falter Radio: Indien und die Welt der starken Männer / Europa als Spielball der Supermächte
- Politico - EU Confidential: Limping through the Trump era: Can Europe lead again? / Escalating trouble – Trump takes on the UN and Europe
and many more!
EFA25 Impressions
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.