IAA Europe’s 20th General Assembly and 2026 Symposium will take place from 5–7 October 2026 across Malmö, Sweden and Copenhagen, Denmark.
Hosted by IAA Europe in collaboration with Konstnärernas Riksorganisation, the Swedish National Committee, and Billedkunstnernes Forbund, the Danish National Committee, the three-day gathering will bring together representatives from across IAA Europe’s network for discussion, exchange and collective action.
The Power of Art
This year’s symposium, The Power of Art: Artistic Freedom, Fair Conditions and Democratic Resilience in Europe, will take place on Tuesday 6 October at the Art Museum in Kungsparken, Malmö.
Bringing together a network of more than 40 professional visual arts organisations from across Europe, alongside artists and cultural organisations in Sweden and Denmark, the symposium will consider how artists and their representative bodies can respond to growing political, economic and cultural pressures.
The programme will explore:
- artistic freedom and the conditions that can lead to censorship, exclusion and silenced voices
- fair working conditions for artists, including developing European commitments and policy frameworks
- the use of art and culture as political “soft power”
- the infrastructure and investment needed to sustain artistic practice
- the relationship between culture, militarisation and democratic resilience
- how artists and arts organisations respond to periods of political upheaval
The full symposium programme and speaker information will be announced shortly.
General Assembly and cultural visits
The 20th General Assembly of IAA Europe will take place on Monday 5 October at Sankt Gertrud in Malmö, followed by an evening dinner for IAA Europe delegates.
The programme will also include voluntary visits to museums and galleries in Malmö on 6 October and Copenhagen on 7 October, offering delegates further opportunities for connection, exchange and engagement with the cultural life of both cities.
Online participation will be available for both the General Assembly and Symposium. Advance registration is required for in-person and online attendance.
Key dates
14 August 2026
Deadline for National Committees to submit proposed items for inclusion on the General Assembly agenda.
11 September 2026
Registration deadline for delegates and observers attending in person or online.
19 September 2026
Deadline for National Committees to submit their national reports.
5–7 October 2026
IAA Europe General Assembly, Symposium and cultural visits in Malmö and Copenhagen.
Further information on registration, speakers and the full programme will be shared through the IAA Europe website and communications channels.
We look forward to welcoming colleagues from across Europe to Malmö and Copenhagen this October.