Reporting from the 2026 EU Arctic Forum

The busy floor at EU Arctic Forum – hosted this year in the European Commission, Brussels

EU Arctic Forum – Indigenous Peoples’ Dialogue & Arctic Youth Dialogue

The EU Arctic forum provides an important platform for diverse actors from around the Arctic to come together and reflect on recent developments or issues that lie at the forefront of policy consideration in the region. Drawing in perspectives from governments, international organisations (especially the European Union), civil society, industry, research, indigenous and local communities, the annual forum fluctuates between hosting at the European Commission and different cities in the European Arctic..

Why TouchTD are in Brussels

TouchTD attended the forum as representatives for ArcticKnows Horizon Europe project. As a partner organisation and coordinator of the Dissemination, Exploitation of Results and Communication (DEC) work package, TouchTD were in an ideal position to summarise the energetic discussions. In particular considering those debates and their relevance to the ongoing research emerging from ArcticKnows.

The packed and diverse audience drawn to the discussions inside EC building

The direction of this year’s Arctic Forum

Across the forum It became clear right from the start that partnerships and co-creative processes were not viewed simply as casual terminology. Rather they are considered as essential features that need to be continually practiced and adapted as climate crisis demands ever more urgent responses across the globe. Not least in the Arctic, where alarming climatic trends have accelerated at up to four times greater than the global averages.

The current period of far-reaching geo-political shifts in the Arctic were also highlighted. These have resulted in rapid transformations as to how the region is viewed and prioritised. Despite such changes, several core values were repeated and re-iterated again and again by speakers and panellists on this significant stage,

  • The rule of law
  • The sovereignty of Northern and indigenous communities
  • Policy and practice based on the embedding of empirical information or data

All of these elements were stressed as being non-negotiable. Furthermore, the soft power and significant value of EU programmes around the Arctic continues to build and grow. For example the Horizon Europe programme (through which the ArcticKnows project is funded) continues to evolve. Building on impactful research, and drawing on substantial budgetary support, the programme is also expanding its geographical reach with associate membership stretching to include global Arctic research institutes in Canada, Republic of Korea and as of 2026 , Japan.

Arctic partnerships and practical networks

However, the ArcticKnows project’s biggest takeaway at the forum is that partnerships, exchanges, and friendships are thriving across all scales around the Arctic. Through individual knowledge bearers, to municipalities and mayors, around youth representatives and through scientific networks. These connections strongly benefit from practical experiences and exchanges out in the Arctic landscapes or amongst the communities inhabiting the region. This was best expressed by one Arctic indigenous voice, who stated that from their perspective there are only benefits when you move beyond your home place and “Step over the land”.

Panel highlighting the benefits of dynamic networks across the Arctic

The need to raise the profile of Arctic social science

As noted by Lars Kullerud (President of the University of the Arctic) when speaking about cross-polar research trends, it was highlighted that social sciences and humanities still appear to lag and are under-represented in research literature when contrasted with outputs delivered by natural science researchers. This elevates the role or importance of research and co-creation emerging for instance from projects like ArcticKnows, which is guided predominantly (although not exclusively) by social science tools and methodologies.

The presence of policy reports or other academic publications to be utilised by local communities and governance bodies may distort these raw literature figures, but it is still apparent that funding for natural science far exceeds that of social science. However, mentions of sustainable development, transforming economic sectors and acknowledgement of the need for co-creation embracing local and indigenous knowledge points perhaps point to a shift in the balance of scientific approaches required.

TouchTD’s concluding thoughts…

The final conclusion from this forum for TouchTD and ArcticKnows, is that our project remains extremely relevant and valuable.  By placing an emphasis on co-creative and regenerative approaches, ArcticKnows is not aiming at simply transporting policy from the European Commission to be implemented inside the Arctic. Instead, we are looking to facilitate, and help built a two-way flow around EU Arctic policy. Ensuring that through the research process, policies are directly informed and shaped by local and indigenous communities, whilst bringing positive impacts for those communities in the European Arctic, as well as to the wider European Union.

In 2027 the EU Arctic Forum hits the road again and will be hosted by the vibrant ‘capital of North Iceland’, Akureyri – TouchTD and ArcticKnows plan to be there and to contribute strongly in this evolving space.

Stay in touch!

For more information on the ongoing research explored through ArcticKnows project, please visit: