Visit of Heads of State in Alpbach
The European Forum Alpbach looks forward to welcoming the heads of state of the German-speaking countries on 2 September 2026
A “Summit” as part of the EFA26, featuring personal exchanges between the heads of state and scholarship holders, as well as a working session on “How Europe Wins” in Alpbach.
Quote from EFA President Othmar Karas:
“It is a great honour and recognition to welcome Federal President Van der Bellen and his counterparts to the EFA this year. Once again, Alpbach will become a place for dialogue and solutions at the highest level. The theme of the meeting of the heads of state is ‘Unity in Europe’. This unity is a key foundation for our work on this year’s theme, ‘How Europe Wins’.”
Vienna/Alpbach. The European Forum Alpbach (EFA) was delighted by Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen’s announcement that he would invite the guests of the meeting of the heads of state of the German-speaking countries to this year’s European Forum Alpbach.
EFA President Othmar Karas describes it as “a great honour and recognition” to host the summit as “a unique gathering in Alpbach’s long history, bringing together representatives from six countries.” Once again, Alpbach will become “a place for dialogue and solutions at the highest level. The theme of the meeting of the heads of state is “Unity in Europe.” This unity is a key foundation for our work on this year’s theme, ‘How Europe Wins,’” Karas says, looking forward to the exchange of ideas.
The programme for the visit of the highest-ranking delegations from Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein and Belgium on 2 September will include a working session on EFA’s annual theme, “How Europe Wins”, at the Congress Centrum Alpbach, followed by a personal exchange between the heads of state and the EFA scholarship holders from their respective home countries.
“For more than 80 years, the Alpbach spirit has thrived on dialogue – across generations and disciplines, and always across borders, offices and hierarchies. I am delighted that this spirit will unfold in a very special setting this year and become an experience for all our guests and local residents, helping to make our shared home, Europe, stronger, more confident and more united,” says EFA President Karas.
Media information:
To participate in the media-accessible events during the heads of state’s visit to EFA26, an additional accreditation from the Austrian Presidential Chancellery must be obtained by 12:00 p.m. on August 27 at akkreditierungen@hofburg.at. Accreditation for the European Forum Alpbach alone is not sufficient.