The Global Forum on Modern Direct Democracy will convene in 2026, bringing together democracy practitioners, civil society leaders, researchers, and policymakers from around the world to explore the future of modern direct democracy.

The forum focuses on how tools such as referendums, citizens’ initiatives, deliberative processes, and digital participation can strengthen democratic legitimacy, inclusion, and trust. Through a mix of panels, workshops, and case studies, participants will examine how these approaches work in practice — and how they can be adapted to different political, social, and cultural contexts.

As a global space for exchange and learning, the forum offers participants the chance to connect with peers across regions, share lessons from real-world democratic reforms, and develop ideas to expand people’s power in decision-making beyond elections.