EFA26 tickets and first programme highlights available

With just under four months to go, the European Forum Alpbach (EFA) has released the first details of the programme and its distinguished participants, demonstrating that, even after more than 80 years, the Forum remains the place to address pressing questions concerning the future of Europe. Anyone wishing to take part in this exchange from 24 August to 4 September can now purchase tickets for this year’s forum online. A key change for 2026: this year, a single ticket for the Conference Days is sufficient to attend the entire 5-day programme and join in the discussions.  

How Europe Wins: Focus on key questions for the future  

With its 2026 theme, “How Europe Wins”, the EFA is very much focused on current events in Europe and around the world. The emphasis is placed on key questions: Is Europe currently on the road to victory? Can Europe still win on the decisive issues? If so, alone or with which partners? Does someone have to lose for Europe to win? And in which fields is Europe already better today than many realise?  

Exchange across generations, disciplines and borders  

Traditionally, dialogue on these issues and the formulation of answers and solutions take place not only across disciplines and countries, but above all across generations. The 500 scholarship holders play a central role at the Forum, particularly during the Academy Days in the first week.  

“With over 5,000 applications from more than 160 countries, interest in an EFA scholarship is once again overwhelming this year. It demonstrates the forum’s enduring appeal and significance for young people and the future of Europe. The next generation is not merely taking part in Alpbach; they are shaping and significantly influencing this unique format,” says EFA President Othmar Karas, delighted with the success of the scholarship programme.  

High-profile international and national figures in Alpbach  

Once again, this year, these young people will meet with high-profile figures from the worlds of politics, business, civil society, culture, and academia. Among those who have already confirmed their attendance are: Magnus Brunner (EU Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration), Mairead McGuinness (former EU Commissionner and current EU Special Envoy), Lea Ypi (Professor of Politics and Philosophy, London School of Economics), Joseph E. Stiglitz (Nobel laureate, economist, policy advisor and professor at Columbia University), Burkhard Balz (Member of the Executive Board of the German National Bank), Věra Jourová (former Vice-President of the European Commission). Once again this year, high-profile figures from Austria will be gathering in Alpbach – including Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger, Minister for European Affairs Claudia Bauer and the Governor of the Austrian National Bank, Martin Kocher.

Discussions at regional, European and global levels on financing, capacity to act, technology and infrastructure  

The Conference Days will open on Sunday 30 August and will offer five days of intensive debates and working sessions until Friday 4 September. As is typical for the EFA, these will take place not only in the rooms of the Congress Centrum Alpbach, but also during hikes, gatherings in traditional restaurants and informal exchanges on the fringes of the cultural programme.  

Each evening, the programme will culminate on an inspiring Main Stage. There, a specific topic will be examined in particular depth. The focus ranges from the question of financing Europe’s future plans, through Europe’s capacity to act, to the interplay between technology, infrastructure and society. The aim is to generate a European momentum that, together with the ideas, proposals and solutions, will have an impact far beyond Alpbach.  

“A strong Europe needs not only open dialogue across generations and disciplines, but above all decisive action. For me, the success of the EFA is therefore measured not only by the discussions and experiences during the weeks in Alpbach, but in particular by the results and actions that we subsequently implement together,” says EFA President Karas, setting clear goals for the forum.