Norway's Democracy Festival in Arendal: What is Trust Built on in Norway?

Arendalsuka is an annual week-long event where representatives from politics, society, and business from all over the country meet to discuss and shape policies for the present and the future. It always takes place during the second week of August (this year from August 10th to 14th, 2026) and has run regularly since 2012 [1]. It is set in the administrative centre of the municipality - in the Arendal town, in the southern Norwegian region of Sørlandet. During the days of what is most commonly called this "democracy festival," it hosts thousands of actors and hundreds of volunteers who help organize it.

Speaking of Festivals...

When people think of a festival, many things come to mind, but this "festival" is mainly about coming together, debates, and civic engagement. Yes, there is also music and culture, but more as an evening complement to create an atmosphere.

"Engagement" — to people from Central Europe, this word can sometimes sound almost hostile. We are a bit wary of it; it reminds us of things from our lived past. Arendalsuka is not just about political engagement (yes, political parties and movements had the largest tents and sometimes the most attention), but very much about social and civic engagement. The clubs, associations, and groups of all possible focuses and types that one can see there show that they are a crucial part of society. The entire administration of the country does not rest solely on political parties. Quite the opposite. Here in Norway, they are like a backbone—in a moral sense, but also in the sense that they actually allow people to function and organize in a way that suits them best. This is where the vital lifeblood flows, nourishing society while also creating a balance. Just like the media.

Media as a Partner, Not an Enemy

Yes, the media plays a similar role. They were there, and there were many of them. They did not have to wait and chase after politicians, influencers, and other actors. On the contrary, politicians came to them at their broadcasting spots—which are often set up on the decks of anchored boats that temporarily become media tents.

To repeat—politicians were invited to debates and they attended, and journalists and hosts conducted almost nonstop interviews, panel discussions, and debates. These were broadcast with sound, even on large screens, so they could be followed from the shore. There were hundreds of different presentation formats and scenarios—and I am not exaggerating at all.

For those of us who come from "democracies" that are already over 35 years old but still slide back into totalitarian sentiments and suffer from childhood illnesses, this is a massive contrast. Immediately, one thinks: "Ah! This is how it can be? This is how it works?" This is missing in Slovakia. It is missing both in the area of association and volunteering, and in the approach of state representatives and politicians toward the media. Yes, there are hundreds of associations and clubs in Slovakia, and they are incredibly important and valuable. But for the state and politicians, they are not equals. Quite the contrary. And the same goes for the media. In our country, they are often perceived as a necessary evil. Yet it could easily be the other way around—the media as a necessary good and the salt of democracy. Of course, I don't mean social media.

I admit that even in Norway, there are media outlets with varying levels of ethics, but it is very rare for a politician to afford to simply ignore them, smear them, or behave arrogantly toward their representatives. Such behavior would be widely condemned by society—and I hope it remains that way for a long time. This year (2026), we had the chance to experience the event for the third time, and we tried to attend more lectures and debates, as our Norwegian is finally at a level that allows us to do so. Yes, challenges still arise, especially with different dialects, but it can be managed.

Background and Arendalsuka in Numbers

Before 2012, Norway lacked an arena for informal meetings between business people and politicians. In 2012, Arendalsuka was organized for the first time, modeled after the Swedish version (Almedalsveckan) [2]. The week was highly successful and became the most important meeting place for leaders in politics, business, media, and the general public. Since then, interest from companies, associations, media, and politicians has been growing. But there is also a growing interest among the public to come and see it, to visit the event at least for a day [3].

Arendalsuka is an independent initiative, and its goal is to strengthen trust in politics (not just party politics). In this way, it contributes to strengthening a living democracy. It is open to everyone, and participation in all events is completely free [3]. And what numbers are we actually talking about? This year brought a breathtaking lineup of 2,247 events [3]. The program was so packed that during some hours, more than 30 events were running simultaneously in different locations [3]. If we look at the most debated topics, they were clearly dominated by:

• Economy and Business: 505 events

• Health and Welfare: 501 events

• Security and Preparedness: 414 events

• Technology and Research: 407 events

• Working Life: 332 events

• Democracy and Rights: 309 events In terms of formats, debates (1,035 events) and conversations (674 events) clearly dominated, confirming that face-to-face discussion is the heart of the entire festival.

The 2026 Trust Survey: A Mirror of Norwegian Society

Directly during the festival, the annual exclusive survey Tillitsbarometeret 2026 (Trust Barometer) was presented, prepared for Arendalsuka by the agency Respons Analyse. The survey of 1,001 respondents showed extraordinary stability in the Norwegian system, but also brought several warning signs. If we look at the percentage of people who expressed high trust (values of 6–10 on a 10-point scale), the ranking of institutions is as follows:

1. Norwegian non-profit and charitable organizations: 87% (a slight decrease from 90% in 2025, which was the only statistically significant change).

2. Trade unions: 73%.

3. Parliament: 72%.

4. Employers' associations: 64%.

5. Government: 63%.

6. Traditional Norwegian media: 60%.

7. Local councils: 59%.

8. Political parties: 46%.

9. Social media: 10% (long-standing at the absolute bottom).

These numbers are like a dream for a Central European. Imagine a country where nearly three-quarters of the population trust the parliament (72%)! That is the cornerstone of Scandinavian success—mutual trust. However, the survey also confirmed familiar trends: higher trust is held by people with higher education, residents of larger cities, and voters of traditional parties, while voters of the right-wing populist Progress Party (FrP) express significantly lower trust in state institutions (less than 50% of them trust the parliament, and only 28% trust the government). Young people under 30, on the other hand, trust traditional media less (52%) but trust social media significantly more (19% compared to the 10% average).

This year, however, the survey for the first time included questions about corruption and nepotism, which shook Norwegian idealism a bit. Up to 22% (a fifth) of Norwegians believe that quite a few or almost all Norwegian politicians are involved in corruption. And even more surprisingly, 66% (two-thirds) of respondents believe that how you are treated by public authorities depends on who you know (friendly favors). Interestingly, half (50%) of public administration employees themselves agree with this statement. It turns out that even the Scandinavian paradise is not immune to doubts and the feeling that connections play a role.

When the Library Comes Alive with Debates on AI and Language Protection

From my perspective, the themes of this year's event were artificial intelligence and the environment. In the program, we could find a special AI Tent, which hosted 26 events, but discussions about modern technologies penetrated everywhere. My personal domain, to which I dedicated all of Wednesday, was culture, art, and especially libraries. My steps led to the municipal library Arendalsbiblioteket, which was one of the busiest venues of the entire festival with 34 events. In Scandinavia, libraries have a completely different position than in our country—they are perceived as safe, neutral, and free community hubs for open discussion, true "arenas of democracy."

The Norwegian Library Association, translators, writers, and publishers held fascinating debates here about how to protect the national language in the digital age and under the influence of artificial intelligence, how to promote reading among children, and how to face the declining reading literacy of adults. It was a powerful experience: to see how, in a space full of books, the threats and opportunities of algorithms for the writing craft and the survival of a small language community like the Norwegians are openly discussed.

An Atmosphere to Experience

Arendalsuka is not just about dry debates. The whole town breathes incredible energy. Evening concerts on the pier, warm sun, dozens of stands where volunteers offer you free refreshments and excellent coffee with a smile. And then there is the view of the Pollen harbor, which was filled during the festival with beautifully decorated old and new ships with tall masts. This combination of intellectual stimulation, democratic ethos, and a relaxed coastal atmosphere is something one must experience firsthand.

Conclusion: What Am I Taking Home (or pass on as an experience to my home country)?

When I compare my experiences from Arendalsuka after three years, I realize that the biggest difference between our Central European and Scandinavian political culture is not the level of GDP or technological progress. It is the courage to talk without barriers and the ability to listen. Arendalsuka showed us that democracy is built from the bottom up, but with respect. It can be a place where a minister and a student have a free coffee at the same stand, where the most complex questions of the future, such as artificial intelligence, are discussed even among the general public.

Despite the fact that even in Norway, surveys reveal growing skepticism towards politicians or concerns about corruption and nepotism, their response is not isolation and aggressiveness, but opening the doors to dialogue even wider. And that is a lesson we should adopt most in our region: that the best cure for distrust in democracy is more real, living, and open democracy face-to-face.