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¡ The Night of Ideas is back !

Launched in 2016, the Night of Ideas has become a worldwide project staged in 190 cities and 104 different countries. In Stockholm, Helsinki, Copenhagen and Oslo, the French Institutes organise debates and performances to challenge our understanding of the world.

The 2025 edition’s theme « Taking action » invites us to reflect on the ability of states, civil societies, and individuals to respond effectively to geopolitical and climate upheavals and the increasing challenges of social cohesion.

For many years, the Nordic countries have been regularly taken as examples for the virtues of their social model and environmental policies. And yet, just like in other countries, there are forces at play that could weaken social cohesion. During four vibrant nights of debates and cultural events, the French Institutes of Denmark, Norway, Finland, and Sweden will explore the contemporary forms and challenges of civic engagement from a Franco-Nordic perspective.

Sweden - Finland | Acting is speaking: a comparative approach to the definition of freedom of expression and its new transcriptions in public space

Kicking off a series of four exciting nights, Sweden and Finland will tackle the debates surrounding freedom of speech and activism. In Stockholm, the discussion will focus on freedom of expression, its potential threats and its use in activist contexts. In Helsinki, the debate will focus on the relevance of activism in the face of global challenges that seem to question the effectiveness of our democracies and public participation models.

September: Denmark - Norway | Imaginaries of the transition and new forms of resistance

Amidst the overwhelming images of ecological collapse, how can we summon the strength to take action? With empathy and resilience as guiding principles, the French Institutes of Denmark and Norway invite activists, thinkers, and artists to envision new forms of resistance. Far from surrendering to despair, the 2025 Night of Ideas seeks to reignite collective energy and harness the transformative power of imagination for change.

Sweden - June 3rd

Sweden, often seen as a model of democracy and fundamental rights, has seen new tensions emerging : democratic backsliding, debates on the limits of satire and caricature, and the rise of more radical forms of activism. At the emblematic cultural venue, Kulturhuset, French, Swedish, and Nordic thinkers and artists will engage the public in reimagining public speech and its role in our democracies.

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Finland - June 4-5th

In Finland, where consensus dominates the political culture, forms of protest like those of Extinction Rebellion shock and face strong criticism. Yet, even legal actions, such as the Sami’s judicial victories, often have no impact. In a context of coalition with the far right, the institutional consensus is fracturing. This raises key questions: why do people become activists? What does this reveal about our democracies? And can new forms of citizen engagement respond to the urgent need for action?

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Denmark - September 11th

Despite the climate emergency and scientific consensus, European institutions remain slow to act, while ecology is increasingly framed as punitive—restricting freedoms and harming growth. The now-common notion of "punitive ecology" undermines ambitious action. Reimagining the ecological transition through popular culture is essential to make it a desirable and engaging project.

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Norway - September 12-13th

Forests have become central to climate struggles and a space of resistance against global overproduction. In both Norway and France, they serve as places for new forms of activism that blend civil disobedience, citizen engagement and deep ecology. This project will gather French and Nordic activists, thinkers and artists in the forest to explore today’s protest practices and collectively imagine ways to re-enchant the world through action.

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