Interactive Programming at OFF 2026
Discover the dynamic tracks, thought-provoking panels, and immersive workshops featured at the 2026 Oslo Freedom Forum.
Debates to be announced
Panel
The Middle East in Turmoil: Geopolitical Wars and the Future of Democratic Governance
Jun 1, 2026
15:00-16:00
- Theatre
Moderated by
The Middle East and North Africa region has long been shaped by geopolitical rivalries, proxy wars, and sudden political upheavals. Time and again, the fall — or weakening — of entrenched regimes has raised hopes for democratic change. Yet the region’s recent history shows a more complicated reality: moments of upheaval often give way not to democracy, but to new forms of authoritarian rule, fragile states, or prolonged instability. Drawing on developments in Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and beyond, this panel discussion will examine whether the region is witnessing the opening of new political possibilities, or the consolidation of familiar patterns under new circumstances.
Panel
Protecting the Lawyers Who Defend Democracy
Jun 1, 2026
15:00-16:00
- Lille Sal
Moderated by
Lawyers in authoritarian regimes face a growing trend of targeted attacks, as political prosecution and professional sanctions are weaponized to stifle legal advocacy. Attacks on lawyers undermine the rule of law, endangering those who do vital work to represent dissenters, vulnerable populations, and opposition groups in closed societies. Panelists will highlight personal stories of brave legal advocacy and emerging strategies for protecting at-risk lawyers, strengthening international accountability, and reinforcing global support networks.
Panel
Standing up to Rising Autocrats in Georgia, Serbia, and Beyond
Jun 3, 2026
10:30-11:30
- Smaller Panel Room
Moderated by
Countries across Europe and the Caucasus are experiencing and growing authoritarianism, prompting mass protests, mobilization of civic engagement, and the rise of pro-democracy movements. From Serbia to Hungary and from Georgia to Armenia, these movements face the same set of challenges: democratic backsliding, escalating repression, and the emergence of populist parties. This panel provides a platform for cross-border dialogue among democracy advocates and human rights defenders. The goal is to share best practices, expertise, and strategies to counter the ongoing democratic erosion and entrenchment of authoritarianism.
Panel
Persecuted for Belief
Jun 3, 2026
15:30-16:30
- Small Panel Room
Moderated by
Globally, religious believers face censorship, harassment, surveillance, and imprisonment under the banner of combating extremism or maintaining national security and public order. This discussion unpacks the legal tools and political systems used to control religious life and highlights the resilience of communities advocating for their right to believe.
Panel
How Dictators Use Corruption To Destroy Democracy (and Get Insanely Rich in the Process)
Jun 3, 2026
14:15-15:15
- Small Panel Room
Moderated by
This panel will expose the global architecture of corruption, discussing how autocrats hide their wealth and who is helping them along the way. Featuring leading researchers, journalists, and experts, this panel will reveal the latest from the frontlines of the struggle to end modern kleptocracy.
Panel
Ending Modern Slavery in Global Supply Chains
Jun 3, 2026
11:45-12:45
- Big Panel Room
Moderated by
Modern slavery persists in every region of the world, yet the laws meant to prevent it vary widely in strength, scope, and enforcement. Progress in supply chain due diligence legislation has been uneven — and often symbolic. This panel will include legal experts, advocates, and policymakers to unpack what’s working, what isn’t, and where global modern slavery laws must go next. Panelists will explore enforcement gaps, corporate accountability, and emerging models that have the potential to drive real protections for vulnerable workers.
Panel
Maduro's Fall and the Future of Authoritarians in Latin America
Jun 3, 2026
14:15-15:15
- Big Panel Room
Moderated by
The capture of Nicolás Maduro has jolted the authoritarian landscape of the Americas — but it has not ended it. This panel brings together leading democratic voices from Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Cuba to assess what this moment means for entrenched dictatorships, hybrid authoritarian regimes like El Salvador, and countries potentially transitioning out of authoritarianism such as Bolivia and Honduras.
Panel
Beautiful Game, Ugly Politics: Is the World Cup Good for Democracy?
Jun 3, 2026
15:30-16:30
- Big Panel Room
Moderated by
This panel explores the complex political ramifications of the world’s biggest sporting event, examining whether hosting or participating in the World Cup strengthens democratic institutions by promoting civic pride, global visibility, and public engagement, or whether it instead enables authoritarian image-laundering, restricts civil liberties, and invites corruption.
Panel
Building New Audiences to Implement Freedom in Iran, Lebanon, and Turkey
Jun 3, 2026
11:45-12:45
- Smaller Panel Room
Moderated by
Across the Middle East, the work of advancing freedom requires both resisting authoritarianism and building credible alternatives. This session features three Reynolds Freedom Fellows at Atlas Network from Iran, Lebanon, and Turkey who are expanding the audience for liberal ideas in highly constrained environments. They will discuss how civil society leaders can cultivate new constituencies for economic and personal freedom, develop locally-rooted policy solutions, and strengthen institutions capable of sustaining reform. Their experiences illustrate how principled, strategic engagement can lay the groundwork for durable change even in politically fragile societies.
Panel
Reporting Against Authoritarianism
Jun 3, 2026
10:30-11:30
Journalists are often the first to document the abuses of authoritarian regimes — and among the first to be targeted for doing so. From censorship and surveillance to imprisonment, exile, and violence, reporters working under repressive regimes face extraordinary risks in their efforts to tell the truth without fear or favor. This panel will explore how journalists continue to investigate state abuse, verify information when access is restricted, and cover resistance movements, even as regimes shut down communications and restrict independent media in their bids for narrative control.
Workshop
Dismantling Dictatorship: What Do YOU Think it Takes?
Jun 1, 2026
15:00-17:30
- Workshop 1
Roughly 76% of the world’s population lives under an authoritarian regime. Democracy and freedom stand in principled opposition to authoritarianism, but how do you think our shared struggle should proceed? Stop by our workshop to use interactive digital tools to sort and rank the strategies you believe matter most for dismantling dictatorship: mass mobilization or patient institution-building? Sanctions or solidarity? Technology or transitional justice? Your responses will be used in research to help map the strategic diversity of the global freedom movement — and reveal where it converges.
Workshop
Engaging Meta's Oversight Board
Jun 3, 2026
15:30-16:30
- Workshop Room
The workshop will be an opportunity for the OFF community to learn more about Meta’s Oversight Board and how they can interact with it in their own work. It will explore how the Board can be a useful tool for advocacy and campaigning, and bring in actors who have done so successfully to offer their own views.
Workshop
Psychological First Aid for Activists with Dr. Elissa Epel & Annette Knopp
Jun 3, 2026
15:30-16:30
- Tent
A collaborative session introducing core principles of psychological first aid tailored for high-stress environments. Participants will learn how to recognize signs of distress in themselves and others, offer immediate support, and respond with care in moments of emotional activation. Grounded in trauma-informed and science-based approaches, this session strengthens peer support capacity and reinforces resilience as a shared, collective practice.
Workshop
The Future of Philanthropy - Hosted by EverGive
Jun 3, 2026
10:30-11:30
- Workshop Room
Less than 1% of philanthropic dollars worldwide go toward human rights — and only a fraction reaches those confronting authoritarian regimes. But the problem is not just how little is given. It is how it is given. One-time donations get spent. Grant cycles end. Movements built on fragile funding cannot outlast the regimes they oppose. This workshop, hosted by EverGive, explores a fundamentally different model: converting philanthropic capital into a hard asset reserve that generates recurring grants — permanently. What would the freedom movement look like if its financial foundations were as durable as the threats it faces? Whether you are a funder, advocate, or movement leader, this session will challenge assumptions, spark new partnerships, and redefine what philanthropy can achieve in the fight for freedom.
Workshop
Beyond Captivity: Supporting Survivors of Wrongful Detention and Isolation
Jun 3, 2026
14:15-15:15
- Workshop Room
When an individual is released from an unjust detention, the world celebrates. But release is often only the first step toward recovery for these individuals. In this workshop, Dr. Young Hoang will share his expertise as a psychologist at the U.S. Department of State specializing in care for individuals who have experienced detention and isolation. He will share strategies for supporting survivors through the process of reentry after detention along with insights for family members and other loved ones.
Fireside Chat
What Does Justice Look Like for Survivors of Sexual Torture?
Jun 1, 2026
15:00-16:00
- Atrium
As conflict escalates across the globe, wartime sexual- and gender-based violence — including sexual torture — is rising with it. Too often, international law leaves survivors without meaningful recourse and fails to hold perpetrators accountable. In this fireside chat, international human rights lawyer Kate Gibson interviews UN Special Rapporteur on torture Dr. Alice Jill Edwards and Sudanese activist Sulaima Ishaq Elkhalifa Sharif to explore what real justice for survivors looks like, the legal frameworks needed to deliver it, and the need to update our approach in order to achieve it.
Creative Dissent
Stand-Up Stands Up | COMEDY SHOW
Jun 3, 2026
16:45-17:15
Stand-Up Stands Up is the comedy show you’re not supposed to see.
Stand-up comedy is one of the purest, most unfiltered expressions of free speech. It’s a space where truth is told through laughter, where societal norms are questioned, and where power is held to account. But in authoritarian regimes, this freedom is not just discouraged. It is punished.
Featuring three fearless stand-up comedians from countries where speaking freely can come at an extraordinary cost, Stand-Up Stands Up is more than a comedy show — it is a bold statement that comedy can be a defense against repression, a light in darkness, and a universal language of nonviolent resistance.
Resilience
OFF Medical Clinic | OFFICE HOURS
Jun 1, 2026
8:30-17:30
June 3, 2026
- OFF Clinic
Activists sometimes lack time to manage their personal health, which is vital to sustaining their work. We are delighted to have C. Michael Wright, MD, and Tabita A. Wright, MD, accompanied by Norwegian doctor Erik Engebretsen, to offer medical checks for OFF attendees, including physical examinations and laboratory tests.
Book Signing
Jacob Mchangama: “The Future of Free Speech”
Jun 1, 2026
16:30-17:30
- Atrium
Join us for a timely and thought-provoking book signing session with Jacob Mchangama, founder and executive director of The Future of Free Speech, research professor at Vanderbilt University, and senior fellow at the Foundation for Individual Rights Expression (FIRE). In his latest work, “The Future of Free Speech,” Mchangama delivers a sharp analysis of the mounting pressure on free expression worldwide. From liberal democracies to authoritarian regimes, he reveals how censorship, speech controls, misinformation debates, and rapidly changing digital platforms are reshaping the boundaries of the right to speak freely. His book offers a compelling call to defend open dialogue to meet modern challenges and uphold democratic values.
Lightning Talks
Ignite Talks
Jun 1, 2026
16:30-17:30
- Lille Sal
HRF’s Freedom Fellows are dissidents from authoritarian regimes worldwide who receive a year of hands-on mentorship from leading experts in nonviolent movement building. Fellows will deliver five-minute Ignite Talks — fast-paced presentations that combine concise storytelling with timed slides — to share their stories of activism and their visions for a freer future.
