EUSBSR Annual Forum 2026
Resilience Edition
Kultuurikatel, Tallinn, Estonia | 11–13 May 2026
Hosted by the City of Tallinn, Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Council of the Baltic Sea States
The tides are shifting, and so must we. The Baltic Sea Region is entering a decade defined by complex, interlinked challenges: climate impacts are accelerating, demographic pressures are reshaping communities, and security threats are growing – from cyberattacks and hybrid interference to vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure. These challenges do not occur in isolation. They interact, reinforce one another, and demand coordinated responses that no country or sector can achieve alone.
The 17th EUSBSR Annual Forum will bring together governments, cities, visionaries, policymakers, researchers, and civil society leaders with a shared mission: to jointly address the region’s most pressing challenges through stronger cross-sectoral cooperation, smarter coordination, and bold innovation.
On 11 May 2026, the Baltic Sea States Subregional Cooperation (BSSSC) will host the Day of Cities and Regions, which starts the grand cooperation week in Tallinn. The event’s theme is “Co-Governing Resilience: Shaping Secure, Connected and Thriving Societies”.
Resilience: at the heart of regional security and shared prosperity
In the Baltic Sea Region, resilience means more than withstanding shocks – it means thriving through them by building the capacity to adapt and collaborate in an era where crises are becoming the new normal.
By connecting climate, environmental health, economic security, and societal preparedness, the Forum will explore a whole-of-governance approach focused on four interlinked challenges:
- Security & Geopolitical Uncertainties.
- Demographic Shifts & Regional Competitiveness.
- Climate Change & Environment of the Baltic Sea.
- Governance, Implementation Gaps, & Financing.
From culture to bioeconomy and transport, all 14 policy areas of the Strategy will join forces to turn resilience into reality – building a future-ready Baltic Sea Region together.
Charting the course to 2030 and beyond
The EUSBSR Forum 2026 is a call for collective, better-integrated action. We aim to move beyond traditional sector-based discussions and create stronger synergies and coherence across policy areas. Because the challenges facing our region are simultaneous, interconnected, and complex, the solutions must also be cross-sectoral, coordinated, and aligned.
The EUSBSR Annual Forum 2026 will deliver:
- Reinforced cross-border alliances that support shared sustainability goals across all policy areas.
- A common, future-aligned vision for the Baltic Sea Region that leads to smart, secure, and resilient innovation.
🌊Join the movement. Be the change. Turn the tide.
In Tallinn, we will not only discuss solutions – we will ignite them. Further updates on the programme to follow.
The host for the Annual Forum 2026 is the City of Tallinn and the Forum is organised together with the Council of the Baltic Sea States Secretariat (CBSS) in close collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia and the Baltic Sea Strategy Point. The event is funded by the Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme, the City of Tallinn and the Council of the Baltic Sea States Secretariat.