Budapest Forum 2026 to focus on democratic renewal after illiberal rule

The Budapest Forum returns Oct. 1 in Budapest with political leaders, scholars and policy experts gathering at CEU to examine how democracies can recover after prolonged democratic erosion. The event will put Hungary at the center of a broader discussion about rebuilding institutions, restoring trust and managing political polarization.

Why it matters: - Democratic systems in Europe and beyond are under pressure from economic insecurity, geopolitical instability, migration, technological change and social polarization. - The Forum is designed to examine what comes after illiberalism, when winning elections is only the start of rebuilding institutions and public trust. - The event places Hungary in a wider debate about whether democratic renewal is possible after prolonged erosion.

What happened: - The Budapest Forum returns on Oct. 1, 2026, at CEU in Budapest. - The 2026 edition carries the theme “New Dynamics of Democratic Change.” - The Municipality of Budapest, Political Capital Institute and CEU Democracy Institute are organizing the Forum. - Political leaders, scholars and policy experts will gather to discuss democratic change in Hungary, Europe and the wider world.

The details: - One session will focus on “Hungary after illiberalism – rebuilding democratic institutions and reintegrating Hungary into Europe.” - Speakers on that panel include Kim Lane Scheppele of Princeton University, Renáta Uitz of the CEU Democracy Institute and Zoltán Fleck of Eötvös Loránd University. - Another session asks whether Central Europe can find a common response to current crises, with speakers from Poland, GLOBSEC, Hungary’s foreign affairs institute, the Waclaw Felczak Institute and Central Media Group. - A separate panel looks at Europe’s 2027 electoral turning point and the future of mainstream politics amid populism and fragmentation. - Another session examines security in a changing world, with participants from Taiwan, the Association for International Affairs, the Martens Center and the John Lukacs Institute for Politics and Strategy. - Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema, Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony, Kata Tüttő and Thomas O. Melia will discuss municipal resilience under overlapping crises. - The Forum will also mark the 70th anniversary of the 1956 Revolution with a Hungarian-language session on lessons for today’s crises. - A final Hungarian-language discussion will examine narratives of the past, democracy and social cohesion in Hungary. - The event will be held at CEU, Nádor utca 15, 1051 Budapest. - Media accreditation is open, and journalists can register for the Forum. - Individual interviews with selected speakers can be arranged, subject to availability. - The media contact is Krisztina Fogas at fogask@ceu.edu. - The press release also lists CEU social media pages, including LinkedIn, Bluesky, Instagram, Facebook and Threads.

Between the lines: - The Forum is framing democratic decline as a governance problem, not just an election problem. - Hungary serves as both case study and warning, but the agenda expands the discussion to European coordination, global security and local government resilience. - The inclusion of historical sessions suggests organizers want to connect current democratic stress with Hungary’s political memory.

What's next: - The Forum takes place Oct. 1, with speakers and journalists expected at CEU in Budapest. - Organizers say interview requests can be made in advance, depending on speaker availability. - The event will add another public test of how post-illiberal democracies can rebuild political institutions and confidence.