Athens Democracy Forum 2026
The world is at a crossroads. Liberal democracy - once taken for granted as the dominant global ideal - now faces open contestation. From the erosion of core principles in established democracies to the rise of authoritarian alternatives, the question is no longer whether democracy is under threat, but how it can adapt, deliver, and inspire in the 21st century.
At the Athens Democracy Forum 2026, the participants will confront this moment head-on. Rooted in the Greek capital’s legacy as both the birthplace of democracy and a laboratory for its reinvention, this year’s Forum will ask: Why democracy - and how must it evolve to be fit for purpose in an era of exponential change?
Together, the participants will reimagine democracy - not as a static ideal, but as a living system capable of learning, adapting and delivering for all.