KEYNOTE: Jasmine Malekzadem

Jasmine Malekzadem is a sharp and inspiring voice in the debate on justice, diversity and democracy. For years, she has followed the protest movements in Iran and broader questions of resistance and solidarity in authoritarian contexts.

KEYNOTE: Maria Ressa (digital)

She challenged dictators, exposed disinformation and defended truth at the risk of her own freedom. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa is coming to Forward Fest. Be inspired by her fight for democracy in a world of digital chaos.

Els Hertogen on the future of international solidarity

International solidarity in a world under high tension? This closing session brings together the core questions of Forward Fest 2026.

Security: From Fear to Freedom

Today, “safety” dominates the political discourse. Policy choices, budgets and alliances are increasingly built around it. But what does that mean for citizens and civil society? Should we go along with this dominant narrative?

Border Colonialism

This talk flips the perspective and sparks our radical imagination: what becomes possible when we look beyond dominant border thinking and make room for new language around community, mobility, and justice?

Budget Myths Debunked

The public debate is dominated by narratives about runaway budgets, unsustainable social security, and sky-high taxes on labour. But what assumptions lie behind that discourse? And are they actually correct?

The Battle Over Gender

Gender has become a political battleground. Anti-gender movements are gaining ground worldwide and increasingly appropriating progressive language. In this session, çavaria shows how these strategies work.

Europe’s industrial renaissance: cooperation or zero-sum game?

Europe is redrawing its industrial policy. Will this renaissance drive the Green Deal and a just transition—or fuel a zero-sum race that deepens inequality? Join us to explore who stands to gain, who risks losing, and which choices matter most.

Navigating Multilaterally in Geopolitical Turbulence

The world order is shifting at breakneck speed. New power blocs are gaining ground, the Global South is claiming its place, and old certainties are crumbling. What does this geopolitical acceleration mean for solidarity, power and justice — and for Europe’s role in a multipolar world?

Towards a Just Digital Future for All

From AI to platforms, digital technology is the result of political choices. Taking a global perspective, we explore what this means for rights, inequality, and international solidarity.

What does innovation mean for our sector?

Innovation isn’t a luxury, it’s essential. Discover how mindset, collaboration and experimentation can boost impact, even in uncertain times.

Authoritarian regimes: stay engaged or retreat?

In a world where conflicts are increasing and authoritarian regimes dominate, international engagement is under pressure. This session explores how Belgium and the EU can remain engaged where civic space is shrinking and what choices that requires today

Global Gateway Beyond the Slogans

How sustainable and equitable is the EU investment model, really? Through a concrete case in Benin, we explore what Global Gateway means for partnership, local value creation, and the balance between development, trade, and geopolitics.

The Law as a Battleground: The Do’s and Don’ts of Strategic Litigation

Strategic litigation is becoming a key lever for change. In this session, discover when a lawsuit can make a difference, which choices matter most, and which pitfalls to avoid.

How Can We Confront the Rise of the Far Right?

How do we push back against the rise of the far right? We unravel the narratives that bolster their influence, how they put solidarity and democracy under pressure, and which strategies truly work.

When Inequality Rules: Who Saves Democracy?

What happens to democracy when wealth determines power? Discover how inequality is straining our institutions — from Big Tech to climate policy — and who can save democracy when influence and capital increasingly converge.

Is it something to cry about or to laugh about?

Lectrr and Elisabeth Lucie Baeten explore how humor and satire can expose injustice without trivialising it. When does humor cut through the noise? Where is the cut the crap moment? A sharp, relatable and often hilarious look at the power of humor in times of polarisation and crisis.

Closing statement by Maxime Prévot and Mieke Van Herreweghe

In this closing session, Maxime Prévot and Mieke Van Herreweghe will each, in turn, look ahead to the future of international solidarity and international cooperation in these turbulent times.