EFA26 Programme


The programme and list of speakers will be updated continuously. We look forward to seeing you in Alpbach!

EFA26: 24 August - 4 September 2026

Europe faces fundamental questions: Is Europe currently on the road to victory? Can Europe still win on the decisive issues? EFA26 will explore these questions, with voices from politics, science, business and culture, with young thinkers and experienced decision-makers.

Speakers Selection

speaker-image

Clara Raposo

Vice-Governor

Banco de Portugal

speaker-image

Daniela Schwarzer

President elect

Hertie School

speaker-image

Alberto Alemanno

Jean Monnet Professor of European Law

HEC Paris / The Good Lobby

speaker-image

Eva Maria Holzleitner

Federal Minister for Women, Science and Research

Federal Ministry for Women, Science and Research

speaker-image

Christoph Wiederkehr

Federal Minister for Education

Austrian Ministry of Education (BMB)

speaker-image

Peter Hanke

Federal Minister for Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure

Republic of Austria

speaker-image

Gernot Wagner

Climate Economist

Columbia Business School

speaker-image

Ferit Hoxha

Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs

Government of Albania

speaker-image

Micael Johansson

President and CEO

Saab AB

speaker-image

Ignacy Niemczycki

Secretary of State for European Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Poland

speaker-image

Enrico Letta

Dean IE University, Madrid and President Jacques Delors Institute, Paris

IE University and Jacques Delors Institute

speaker-image

Andreas Treichl

CEO

ERSTE Foundation

speaker-image

Norbert Totschnig

Federal Minister

Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Regions and Water Management (BMLUK)

speaker-image

Armin Laschet

Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee

German Bundestag

speaker-image

Olivia Lazard

Fellow at the Berggruen Institute; Founder at Transition Intelligence

Berggruen Institute; Transition Intelligence

speaker-image

Claudia Bauer (fmr. Plakolm)

Federal Minister for Europe, Integration and Family

Republic of Austria

speaker-image

Othmar Karas

President

European Forum Alpbach

speaker-image

Michael Faulend

Vice-Governor

Croatian National Bank (HNB)

speaker-image

Martin Vohánka

CEO & Founder

BLIZKSOBE Foundation

speaker-image

Magnus Brunner

EU Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration

European Commission

speaker-image

Cathryn Clüver Ashbrook

Executive Vice President

Bertelsmann Stiftung

speaker-image

Thomas Byrne

Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Ireland

speaker-image

Siegfried Mureșan

Member of the European Parliament, Vice Chair of the EPP Group

European Parliament

speaker-image

Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer

Federal Minister for Economic Affairs, Energy and Tourism

Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs, Energy and Tourism

speaker-image

Beate Meinl-Reisinger

Federal Minister for European and International Affairs

Republic of Austria

speaker-image

Carl Bildt

Co-Chair

ECFR

speaker-image

Agnès Bénassy-Quéré

Deputy Governor

Banque de France

speaker-image

Kirsten Dunlop

CEO

Climate KIC

speaker-image

Ivan Krastev

Albert Hirschman Permanent Fellow

Institute for Human Sciences, IWM Vienna

speaker-image

Lea Ypi

Professor of Politics and Philosophy

The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)

Modules

Programme

All times in CEST
Euregio Days
Starting times
Evening
Career Development: Future Skills in the Euregio Labour Market
90
The labour market in the Euregio Tyrol-South Tyrol-Trentino is changing rapidly due to new skill demands. This session brings together perspectives from higher education, vocational education and practice to discuss Future Skills in an open dialogue. The exchange highlights regional qualification needs and outlines pathways for cross-border career development.
Congress Centrum Alpbach , CCA – Schrödinger-Saal
18:30 - 20:00 Career Development: Future Skills in the Euregio Labour Market
FIN
Network
Into the Silence
English 30
A place of calm: Spiritual impulses from various religious and philosophical backgrounds invite you to contemplate and reflect. Inspiring initiators tell their stories, take you on a journey of the mind and initiate moments of genuine stillness. 
Ort Alpbach , Church
speaker-image
19:00 - 19:30 Into the Silence
speaker-image
Rituals
Open Air Concert: Alpbach Brass Band
German; English 30
On Fridays during the summer months, the Alpbach brass band gives an open-air concert in the village square. All Alpbach residents as well as national and international guests are warmly invited!
Ort Alpbach , Village Square
20:00 - 20:30 Open Air Concert: Alpbach Brass Band
Rituals
EuregioImpactNight: Between Vision and Reality
150
Social entrepreneurs develop business solutions to societal challenges. Founders and experts from the fields of impact investing and innovation promotion will share practical insights into building impact-driven businesses and discuss opportunities and structural challenges in a regional and European context. The discussion will be further explored in the subsequent World Café session.
Congress Centrum Alpbach , CCA – Schrödinger-Saal
20:30 - 23:00 EuregioImpactNight: Between Vision and Reality
FIN
Content
Starting times
Afternoon
Euregio Young Researchers Award
210
Young researchers under the age of 35 present their research projects on the topic of strong regions. The aim is to make research from the region more visible and to foster intergenerational dialogue with decisionmakers from academia and politics. A high‑level jury selects the award winners, who are honoured in the evening.
Congress Centrum Alpbach , CCA – Heiss-Saal
speaker-image
14:00 - 17:30 Euregio Young Researchers Award
speaker-image
CLI
DEM
FIN
SEC
Content
Euregio Innovation Award
210
The Euregio Innovation Award recognises creative products, technologies, and services that strengthen the competitive position of the Euregio Tyrol-South Tyrol-Trentino. Companies from all three regions present their projects. A high-level jury selects the award winners, who are honoured in the evening.
Congress Centrum Alpbach , CCA – Rogger-Saal
speaker-image
14:00 - 17:30 Euregio Innovation Award
speaker-image
CLI
DEM
FIN
SEC
Content
Hike | EU Dialogue with Local Communities
150
Local communities need direct channels to the European Union. This Hike brings members of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), the European Commission (EC), EU Local Councillors, Young Elected Politicians, and citizens into dialogue. It stops at a hut for an exchange on the partnership between the CoR and EC and next steps to strengthen the EU Local Councillors network. The Hike concludes at the Alpengasthof Roosmoos.   //INFO: Wear sturdy shoes and bring drinking water. 
Congress Centrum Alpbach , Hike Start 3 | CCA Terrace
speaker-image speaker-image speaker-image speaker-image
15:00 - 17:30 Hike | EU Dialogue with Local Communities
speaker-image
+4
DEM
Content

Get your personalised programme

Create your own EFA26 schedule – tailored to your availability, interests, and preferred experience.

Join the conversation!