A team effort
Hybrid European Democracy Festival comes into life in cooperation of organisations who are passionate about bringing innovation to public discussion and democracy.
2 days of discussions
20 European cities
2000 eager participants
Concept
Hybrid European Democracy Festival is discussion festival that connects people from all over Europe who want to be inspired about the future. For two days in May 2024 you can join the festival from over 20 locations around Europe to be part of seamless hyperlocal public discussions. The discussions will allow participants to find new perspectives, solutions and ideas to challenges the whole Europe is facing.
Let's make the European public discussion cool again
HEDF aims to create a new kind of public discussion in Europe. The kind that is accessible to people without expensive travel or digital skills. A human discussion enhanced by digital means. Making the discussion on global issues actually global.
Our other goal is this
HEDF aims to create a new kind of public discussion in Europe. The kind that is accessible to people without expensive travel or digital skills. A human discussion by digital means. Making the discussion on global issues actually global.
A democracy festival with two full days of discussions
HEDF is a democracy festival where people can physically get together, talk to each other, get inspired, exchange opinions and debate their ideas. It is more than a discussion event – it’s a meeting place that gets you inspired and excited about the future.
The experience of a hyperlocal discussion
Festival will introduce a new way for pan-European public debate – hyperlocal discussions. You will get to seamlessly exchange ideas, views and questions with people all over Europe without having to leave your home city with the feeling of a physical discussion.
Connecting local and international challenges
Discussions at HEDF help to create understanding between local and international challenges. We do not dive into complex politics but focus our discussions on personal and local experiences to ensure that everyone can be engaged into the discussion.
Seamless festival hubs in 20+ European cities
HEDF will take place in 20+ different cities all over Europe. Each festival hub will give you a chance to meet up with inspiring people. Discussions will connect you with other festival hubs from diverse cities and countries – just find the nearest one for you to take part.
We're building a European public sphere for the 21st century
The salons of the future are neither physical nor digital, they are hyperlocal. Despite all the technological advances, humans stay human. And humans like human contact. So the new public sphere that can enable a truly democratic Europe has to be on a human level – this is what we call a hyperlocal format.
We see that global challenges need global discussions
With the ever deepening environmental challenges, geopolitical disruptions and technological advances the global governance needs to speed up to keep up. Our hyperlocal discussions are a testing platform for a new form of international democratic discussion, allowing for a truly international thoughtful public opinion to emerge.
We're looking for hope and spreading it far and wide
Discussions are not just about information – they are as much, if not more about social movements, about inspiration, about activization. So we see the bleakness of our prospects as a species and answer with a dash of hope.
