Society Expo 2026 – a national meeting place for community builders

How can we create sustainable societies in a time of rapid change? From May 27 to June 9, 2026, community builders from all over Sweden will gather in Skellefteå to exchange knowledge, deepen their understanding, and engage in dialogue about the future of community development. Leading voices such as Johan Rockström, Mattias Klum, Helena Helmersson, Annika Winsth, and Kjell A. Nordström will be present.

Society Expo 2026 is a platform where the public sector, business, academia, and civil society come together to discuss real challenges and concrete solutions. With Skellefteå as a living example, some of the most central issues shaping social development in Sweden today are explored.

An arena for knowledge, dialogue, and practical learning

Society Expo takes its starting point in Skellefteå's unique social transformation, which is both one of the fastest of its kind in Europe and places high demands on coordination, decision-making, and long-term thinking. Over two weeks, experiences, lessons, and perspectives that are relevant far beyond the local context are shared.

The program is aimed at professionals working with social development at a strategic and operational level, for example in municipalities, regions, government agencies, business, and academia. Here, theory and practice, national perspectives, and local experiences come together.

Program items during Society Expo 2026

During Society Expo, you will have the opportunity to take part in hundreds of different program items and activities, ranging from technical visits and workshops to exhibitions and interactive experiences. Here are some examples from the program:

Sustainability begins with knowledge

On May 28, leading voices from business, academia, and the public sector will gather for a Swedish-language knowledge program at Sara Kulturhus. The focus will be on how knowledge, system understanding, and collaboration can strengthen society's ability to make wise decisions in times of change. Participants include Helena Helmersson, Annika Winsth, and Kjell A. Nordström.

Our Time on Earth

On June 5, the English-language knowledge program Our Time on Earth will be held, where Johan Rockström and Mattias Klum explore how human development can take place within the planet's limits. The program combines research, visual storytelling, and reflection, and is aimed at both decision-makers and practitioners with an international outlook.

Wasteland Art and Knowledge Park

During Society Expo 2026, Wasteland – Skellefteå Climate Action Park, one of the expo's signature projects, will be inaugurated. The park will feature the art exhibition Wasteland by the artist duo Bigert & Bergström, where art, climate research, and new technology meet. The park illustrates how social transformation, remediation, and social sustainability can take physical form.

Thematic insights and conferences

In addition to the major program items, there will be a wide selection of conferences, seminars, and dialogue formats focusing on five different themes: Social Sustainability, Mobility, Climate and Environment, Housing Supply, and Skills Supply.

The program for Society Expo 2026 will be released on an ongoing basis.

Read more here