Norad Conference 2026: Peace Out?
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, Sudanese democracy activist Alaa Salah – known as “Lady Liberty”, war correspondents, humanitarian workers, peace activists, politicians and leading conflict researchers from around the world will take the stage at this year’s Norad Conference on 28 January.
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Peace Out? – Is all hope for a more peaceful world gone?
The Norad Conference 2026, “Peace Out?”, focuses on war, conflict prevention and how Norway and Norwegian development cooperation can help build a more peaceful world. The theme is highly relevant, particularly given the world events unfolding at the start of the year.
Not since the Second World War have there been more conflicts in the world than today. Years of positive development are being reversed. Living conditions are deteriorating, and the outlook for the global economy is bleak. Human rights are under threat, far too many lives are being lost – and far too many children are growing up without ever knowing a life without war. While the number of conflicts is rising, many countries are making deep cuts to both humanitarian aid and long-term development assistance.
The Norad Conference is the Nordic region’s largest meeting place for everyone engaged in international affairs and global development. We bring together Norwegian and international politicians, researchers, activists, journalists and representatives from civil society and the private sector. The programme includes keynote speeches, panel discussions, testimonies from conflict zones and the launch of a new report on war, conflict and prevention.
The Norad Conference 2026 places the human and economic costs of war at centre stage. We highlight the urgent need to invest more in conflict prevention, while ensuring increased humanitarian assistance reaches people where wars are raging. We take a closer look at how the methods of warfare have changed – and ask:
- What is needed to prevent new wars and better protect civilians?
- How can we ensure that international humanitarian law and the rules of war are respected?
- Where can aid and international cooperation help turn the tide?
We will also examine the battle for truth – how disinformation and false narratives are used as weapons. What are the consequences when journalists are denied access to conflict zones, or when they themselves become targets? How does this shape the international community’s ability to respond?
At the Norad Conference 2026, we will highlight the human and economic costs of war and the battle for truth.