Sakharov Conference 2026 poster “Authoritarianism on the Rise” Vilnius
Sakharov Conference 2026 poster “Authoritarianism on the Rise” Vilnius

Program and registration will be available soon!

Join the Sixteenth International Sakharov Conference, marking 50 years since the founding of the Helsinki Movement. Engage with global experts in Vilnius on democracy, human rights, and resistance to authoritarianism.

STORY BEHIND THE PHOTO

The image used for this year’s Sakharov Conference poster shows the arrest of Aleksandr Podrabinek, one of the founders of the Working Commission to Investigate the Use of Psychiatry for Political Purposes, which was affiliated with the Moscow Helsinki Commission. Podrabinek was sentenced to five years of exile and later re-arrested during his exile, receiving an additional three years in a labor camp. His story remains one of the defining examples of civic courage and resistance in the face of Soviet repression.

1977 arrest of Aleksandr Podrabinek, Soviet dissident and human rights activist
1977 arrest of Aleksandr Podrabinek, Soviet dissident and human rights activist

Arrest of Aleksandr Podrabinek, Moscow, 1977

ABOUT

This year’s Sakharov Conference will explore:

  • The global return of authoritarian governance and its modern tools

  • The erosion of democratic institutions and civic freedoms

  • The impact of the war in Ukraine on European and global security

  • The legacy of the Helsinki Accords in today’s world

  • The role of new generations and civic initiatives in defending human rights

The world that emerged after the Cold War is facing deep transformation.
The resurgence of authoritarianism, war, and disinformation challenges the foundations of the international order built on human rights and democracy. Fifty years after the founding of the Helsinki Movement, this year’s Sakharov Conference reflects on the lessons of civic courage and the ongoing struggle for freedom, dignity, and justice.

Bringing together scholars, policymakers, and activists, the 2026 Sakharov Conference will feature high-level panels, discussions, and sessions held under the Chatham House Rule. Participants will explore how societies can resist authoritarian trends and strengthen democratic resilience in the decades ahead.

A LOOK BACK AT THE 15TH SAKHAROV CONFERENCE

SPEAKERS

Karin von Hippel

David Owen

Junhyup Kwon

Simon Wessely

Maka Berulava

Michel Eltchaninoff

Lawrence Freedman

Sándor Seremet

Olena Protsenko

Eugene Sadler Smith

Letizia Santhià

James Sherr

Yaroslav Hrytsak

Abram de Swaan

Brigita Dyburyte

Peter Dickinson

Natalia Chaban

Michael Rohschürmann

Ivan Krastev

Simon Baron-Cohen

Janet Gunn

Ian Buruma

Denis Suarsana

09:00-09:30 Registration

09:30-09:50 Opening session

09:30-09:40 Robert van Voren, Executive Director, Andrei Sakharov Research Center

09:40-09:45 Juozas Augutis, Rector, Vytautas Magnus University

09:45-09:50 Volodymyr Bugrov, Rector, Taras Shevchenko National University

09:50-10:10 Keynote speech 1: Ivan Krastev* (BG)

10:10-10:30 Keynote speech 2: Michel Eltchaninoff (FR): What is Putin-Trumpism?

10:30-11:00 Coffee break

11:00-11:10 Julius Pranevicius, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania

11:10-12:45 Panel I: The war in Ukraine and the changed political reality in Europe
Moderator: Janet Gunn (UK)
Panel members: Yaroslav Hrytsak (UA), Sandor Seremet (H), Dr. Michael Rohschürmann (D), Natalia Chaban (NZ), young challenger - Olena Protsenko (UA)

12:45-12:50 Olena Herasimyuk: asking support for the Hospitallers medical battalion

12:50-14:00 Lunch break

14:00-14:30 Confronted by Evil – General Romeo Dallaire in Ukraine (documentary movie premier)

14:30-14:50 Keynote speech 3: Peter Dickinson* (UK/UA)

14:50-16:30 Panel II: 50 years after the Helsinki Accords: The collapse of Europe’s security system and the return of the nuclear threat
Moderator: Janet H. Anderson (UK)
Keynote introduction: Lawrence Freedman* (UK)
Panel members: Karin von Hippel (UK), James Sherr (UK/EE), young challenger – Letizia Santhia (IT)

16:30-17:00 Coffee break

17:00-18:30 Panel III: Is the Pacific the next battleground?
Moderator: Janet Gunn (UK)
Panel members: Denis Suarsana (ID), Ian Buruma (USA/NL), Junhyup Kwon (KR), young challenger – Brigita Dyburytė (LT)

PROGRAM

09:00-09:30 Registration and coffee

09:30-09:50 Keynote speech 1: David Owen (UK)*: Leaders who can take us to the abyss

09:50-10:20 Keynote speech 2: Eugene Sadler-Smith (UK): The Hubris Hazard and Stepping Back from the Abyss

10:20-10:40 Keynote speech 3: Simon Baron-Cohen (UK)*: Empathy and Conflict Resolution

10:40-11:10 Coffee break

11:10-12:50 Panel IV: The human factor: are we our worst enemy?Moderator: Janet H. Anderson (UK)
Panel members: Roméo Dallaire (CA), Abram de Swaan (NL), Simon Wessely (UK), young challenger – Maka Berulava (GE)

12:50-13:00 Closing remarks

13:15-14:30 Lunch break

14:30-17:30 Closed session – Chatham House Rule – by invitation only
What can we learn from the war in Ukraine?

*Speaker will attend online

Venue

The National Museum – Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania was founded in 2009 and is housed in a historic residence - the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania in Vilnius Lower Castle. After more than 20 years of extensive archaeological and historical research, some palace areas have been restored, while others have been reconstructed.

The Museum collects, preserves, researches, and presents the historical and cultural heritage of the Lithuanian state, the Grand Dutchy of Lithuania, and its rulers through various means, including permanent exhibitions of rich and unique archaeological findings, collections of European applied and fine arts from the Gothic to the Baroque periods, and other valuable materials related to Lithuanian studies.

The Museum, more than just a repository of history, is a vibrant hub of educational and cultural activities. It disseminates information on cultural tourism, facilitates state-representative events, and actively engages with civil society. Its mission is to strengthen historical consciousness, foster national values, and maintain the Lithuanian community throughout the world. It also seeks to raise awareness of cultural and artistic heritage and to present the traditional historical and cultural links between European countries and peoples.

The Conference will take place at the National Museum, set within the historic Palace of the Grand Dukes in Vilnius.

Address: Katedros sq. 4, Vilnius

Contact us:

For any inquiries or to get involved, please reach out to us.

Organizers