Until October 2024, the city will be the scene of a series of activities, conferences and events linked to democratic innovation and citizen participation, but also to culture, education and public space. As European Capital of Democracy, the city will address today’s most pressing challenges, such as persistent inequalities, the growth of hate speech and misinformation, unsafeguarded digitalization and the climate crisis.
Activities include the International Festival of Democracy and Technology Decidim Fest, the international awards ceremony The Annual Innovation in Politics Awards, the game jam Truth, Lies
The program of events has been presented by the Technical Office of the European Capital of Democracy, formed by Barcelona City Council and the Barcelona Metropolitan Strategic Plan and promoted by The Innovation in Politics Institut.
The road to the capital
It was at the end of June 2022 when the city’s path to this capital status began to be forged, along with twelve other European cities. Barcelona presented five experiences and projects of citizen participation and democratic innovation that helped it become the first European Capital of Democracy.
The projects were the digital citizen participation platform Decidim, participatory budgets, deliberative citizen assemblies, the Superilla Barcelona project and the Canòdrom, an athenaeum of digital and democratic innovation.
