Festival of Ideas
Academy Talks
Round Tables
Panel Discussions
How can we build partnerships across borders and divides? This question guides this year’s Festival of Ideas at the Robert Bosch Academy.
The festival opens the Academy’s Richard von Weizsäcker Forum, welcoming the public to the Robert Bosch Stiftung at Französische Straße 32 in Berlin. Academy Talks, panel discussions, and round tables offer opportunities to engage directly with international experts.
Under the theme Forging Partnerships and Building Alliances, join around 100 international leaders from politics, academia, culture, business, and civil society to challenge assumptions and explore cooperation across divides. We look forward to welcoming you.
Festival of Ideas Program
All sessions are held at the Robert Bosch Stiftung, Französische Straße 32, 10117 Berlin.
Registration is required.
14:00–15:30
16:00–17:30
18:30–21:30
Side Event
10:30–12:00
Speakers
FAQs on the Festival of Ideas
What is the Festival of Ideas?
The Festival of Ideas is held as the public portion of the Richard von Weizsäcker Forum. Every year, the Richard von Weizsäcker Forum brings together around 100 Richard von Weizsäcker Fellows, international leading figures from the worlds of politics, academia, culture, business, and civil society. It provides a space for open debate as well as for confidential conversations.
The Festival of Ideas, held on the first day of the Forum, will open up these exchanges to the public for the first time.
When and where does the Festival of Ideas take place?
Join us on Monday, 5 October 2026, starting at 14:00, and on Thursday, 8 October 2026, starting at 11:00, at the Robert Bosch Stiftung, Französische Straße 32, 10117 Berlin.
What is the program?
Monday, 5 October 2026
The afternoon sessions take place in two time slots, with a break in between. Sessions within each time slot run in parallel.
14:00–15:30
- Academy Talks
- Round Table: “Migration as a Bridge: Building Partnerships across Difference”
- Round Table: “Africa and Europe: Partnerships beyond Colonial Legacies”
16:00–17:30
- Panel discussion: “When Winning Isn’t Enough: Identity, Power, and Movement-Building After the Ballot Box”
- Round Table: “The Future is in the Cities”
- Round Table: “Post-war Europe: Next Chapter in Solidarity”
18:30
- Keynote address by Dr Shashi Tharoor: “The Middle Power Moment: Shaping the Future of Global Partnerships.”
20:00
- Reception
Thursday, 8 October 2026
11:00
- Panel discussion: "Global Solidarity Compact"
What are Academy Talks?
Academy Talks bring big ideas to life in just eight minutes. In engaging, TED-style presentations, world-renowned experts make complex global issues easy to understand – offering fresh perspectives and ideas to spark conversation.
This year's Academy Talks feature:
- Huang Jing on how Beijing sees the world;
- Cathryn Clüver Ashbrook on the future of American alliances;
- Catherine Mulligan on data, value, and technology as public goods;
- Rana Dajani on what evolution says about trust and cooperation;
- Ekaterina Schulmann on Russia from the inside;
- john a. powell on belonging without othering;
- Karolina Wigura on the legacy of 1989; and
- Kumi Naidoo on the climate emergency.
What is this year's theme?
This year's theme is "Forging Partnerships and Building Alliances."
The sessions approach this topic from a variety of angles and disciplines. Multilateral institutions and governments (both state and local, both large and small) are key parts of this discussion, but so too are different parts of civil society, companies, and individuals themselves.
Does the Festival of Ideas cost anything?
No. The Festival of Ideas is completely free of charge. We only ask that you register for your preferred sessions via this website.
Do I need to register?
Yes, please register via this website. Space is limited, and participation is subject to confirmation.
To comply with fire safety regulations and the building’s maximum occupancy limit, you may only attend sessions for which your place has been confirmed. Please leave the building after your confirmed session unless you also have a confirmed place in the next session.
I am a Richard von Weizsäcker Fellow. Do I need to register?
Yes, please register via this website. You can also access information on the Festival of Ideas via the LineUpr conference app used for the Forum in general.
Can I bring someone?
Yes, but please make sure they register via this website.
Can I come for only one session?
Of course! You are welcome to attend the programming only for Block 1, Block 2, or the keynote or evening reception. Please indicate your preferred sessions while registering.
I registered, but my plans changed. How do I cancel my spot?
If you know you will no longer be able to attend, please cancel using the link provided in your confirmation email. This frees up a spot for someone on the waiting list.
Which sessions can I attend?
While all sessions are open to the public, space is limited. Academy Talks and the Podium Discussion will be held in the Atrium of the building. Round Tables provide a more intimate setting. All sessions are subject to confirmation. We will do our best to make sure as many people as possible can take part.
The Academy Talks and the Round Tables run at the same time. Can I attend both?
No. If you registered for both, you will receive confirmation only for one.
What if it is fully booked?
While we will do our best to make sure as many people as possible can participate, space is limited. Once we have reached capacity, a waiting list will open up. As soon as a spot opens up, we will notify you.
Who is the organizer?
The Festival of Ideas is an event organized by the Robert Bosch Academy. The Academy is an independent and nonpartisan institution of the Robert Bosch Stiftung. We provide a space for intellectual freedom and independent thinking. Through our Richard von Weizsäcker Fellowship, we bring outstanding thinkers and researchers to Berlin, giving them the chance to explore the questions that will shape tomorrow.
Learn more about the Robert Bosch Academy.