As democracy faces mounting pressures around the globe, fresh initiatives and new data are painting a complex picture of both hope and challenge in 2026. From high-profile events in Sweden and Strasbourg to a sweeping global survey, the state of democracy is being re-examined and reimagined through technology, civic engagement, and candid public opinion.
In Gothenburg, Sweden, a gathering of democracy advocates is drawing attention for its focus on participatory democracy and digital innovation. Audrey Tang, Taiwan’s former Digital Minister and recipient of the 2025 Right Livelihood Award, is at the heart of these discussions. According to Right Livelihood, Tang was honored for her groundbreaking work in harnessing digital technology to deepen civic engagement and counteract online polarization. Her visit to Sweden centers on a public conversation about the future of participatory democracy, organized by Digidem Lab in collaboration with Right Livelihood and the Gothenburg City Library.
The event, which is open to the public and conducted in English, brings together a diverse panel: Tang herself, Right Livelihood’s Executive Director Ole von Uexküll, Jenny Antonsson from the City of Gothenburg, Anna Sanne Göransson from Digidem Lab, and moderator David Björneloo. Their discussion aims to tackle some of the most pressing issues facing democracies today—rising polarization, declining trust in institutions, and the threat of growing authoritarianism. Registration remains open until May 30, 2026, with walk-ins welcome if space permits.
Meanwhile, in Strasbourg, another ambitious project is underway. The Council of Europe’s second edition of the hackathon, titled "Hack the Hate, Renew Democracy!", is set to run from June 17 to 19, 2026. As reported by the Council of Europe, this event is a critical milestone in the New Democratic Pact for Europe, designed to foster innovative, technology-driven solutions to the scourge of online hate speech. The hackathon, held under the auspices of the Monaco Presidency of the Committee of Ministers, is not just a competition—it’s a collaborative effort to reinforce democratic values in the digital age.
Registrations for the hackathon are open until June 5, 2026. Eighty participants will work in interdisciplinary teams, connecting with 120 experts from civil society, national authorities, and academia. The challenges they will address have been crafted by representatives from Democracy Reporting International, the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, the Technical University of Munich, and the University of Strasbourg. Each team will compete for a share of a €50,000 prize pool provided by Microsoft, with additional mentorship offered to help bring their solutions to life after the event.
This isn’t the Council of Europe’s first foray into democratic innovation. The inaugural hackathon in 2025 focused on disinformation, resulting in the creation of detection tools, mitigation strategies for echo chambers, and educational kits to bolster critical thinking. This year’s focus on hate speech underscores a growing recognition that digital threats require digital solutions—and that democracy must evolve to meet them.
Yet, while these events signal an energetic push for renewal, the global mood about democracy is far from uniformly optimistic. The Democracy Perception Index 2026, released by Nira Data in collaboration with the Alliance of Democracies Foundation, offers a sobering counterpoint. Based on interviews with more than 94,000 respondents across 98 countries—covering over 90 percent of the world’s population—the survey reveals both deep support for democratic ideals and significant anxieties about their implementation.
According to the survey, more than two thirds of people worldwide say democracy is very important in their country. Support is especially strong in Greece, Hungary, and Sweden, while the Democratic Republic of Congo, Saudi Arabia, and Vietnam show the lowest levels. Still, the report finds widespread pessimism about the direction in which individual countries are heading, particularly in established democracies and across Europe. France, Germany, Lebanon, Puerto Rico, and Nigeria are singled out for their especially negative outlooks.
What do people want from democracy? The survey found that in 62 percent of countries, respondents believe the main purpose of democracy is to improve living standards and well-being. In 18 percent, promoting a fair and peaceful society is the top priority; in 10 percent, it’s the freedom to choose one’s government; and in 9 percent, the focus is on protecting individual rights and freedoms. As Nira Data’s CEO Nico Jaspers puts it in the report’s foreword, “What we see is not declining demand, but rising expectations: citizens are looking for systems that deliver security, stability, and economic progress. This growing disconnect between democratic ideals and lived reality is a defining challenge for leaders today.”
When it comes to the nuts and bolts of democratic life, the survey ranks countries based on how citizens perceive elections, freedom of speech, political pluralism, civic education, separation of powers, rule of law, government transparency, and peaceful transitions of power. Nordic countries—Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, and Switzerland—top the list, while Slovakia, Yemen, Paraguay, Ukraine, and Cameroon rank lowest. Interestingly, some non-democracies such as China, Oman, and Vietnam scored highly among their own citizens, likely reflecting the influence of state-controlled media and narratives rather than actual democratic conditions. The report cautions that these findings measure perception, not objective reality.
One of the most striking findings is the global weakness in government transparency. Across the board, respondents expressed the belief that their governments often withhold crucial information, and many doubted that courts would check governmental overreach. This lack of confidence in checks and balances is a red flag for democratic health worldwide.
The survey also probed attitudes toward security, defense, and the international order. Half of respondents agreed that nations should adhere to international law even if it limits their freedom of action, while 31 percent disagreed. Strengthening alliances emerged as the most common strategy for national security, with military investment prioritized in 18 countries—especially in the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of Asia-Pacific. Willingness to fight if attacked was highest in the Middle East and North Africa (62 percent among those aged 18 to 55), and lowest in Europe (37 percent).
On the global stage, the United States’ image has taken a hit. The Democracy Perception Index reports an 11-point drop in global perception of the U.S. over the past year, making it one of the most negatively viewed countries in the world as of 2026.
As democracy is scrutinized from all angles, these events and findings highlight both the urgency and the complexity of the challenges ahead. Whether through public conversations in Sweden, collaborative hackathons in Strasbourg, or the candid voices of citizens worldwide, the search for a more resilient, inclusive, and responsive democracy is very much alive.