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Saving the West? An invention at its tipping point

Leuphana Conference Week from February 25th to February 27th 2026

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The first few weeks of this year have shaken the West to its core. Not gradually, but in fast motion.
The West, long a promise of freedom, progress, prosperity, and the rule of law. For others, it is above all a history of upheaval: marked by violence, exclusion, and the externalization of costs.

In light of war in Europe, authoritarian counter-movements, and a liberal world order that has become fragile, the question arises anew—between hope and disillusionment, self-image and global criticism:

What remains of the West—as an idea, as an order, as an orientation?

We have compiled everything you need to know about the conference week on our website. The program for our conference is currently under construction. What you see here is a preliminary version, so it's worth checking back regularly, as new sessions, speakers, and highlights are being added all the time.

The conference week 2026 will take place from February 25 to February 27, 2026.

Overview of the program for the Conference Week 2026

Program Overview ©Leuphana
Three days of Conference program, from morning till evening

As one of more than 1,500 first-semester students, you began your studies in October 2025 with a project-oriented approach during Opening Week on campus. During the conference week, you will present your insights from the university's “Transformation” module – to the entire city.

Together with stakeholders from politics and society, business, and research, you will explore the power of democratic change in times of global upheaval. At the conference week 2026 from February 25 to 27. The main stage, workshop formats, and exhibitions will invite you to take a look at tomorrow.

What responsibility do you bear for the world of tomorrow?

The Guests of the Conference Week 2026

Liya Yu ©Liya Yu
Liya Yu, neuropolitische Philosophin & Künstlerin
Emilia Roig ©Susanne Erler
Emilia Roig, Bestseller-Autorin und Expertin für Intersektionalität sowie systemische Ungleichheiten
Sigmar Gabriel ©Inga Haar
Sigmar Gabriel, Vorsitzender der Atlantik-Brücke und ehemaliger Vizekanzler
Portrait von Maja Göpel ©Jelka von Lange
Maja Göpel, Politökonomin, Transformationsforscherin und Honorarprofessorin an der Leuphana
Benjamin von Brackel ©Jennifer Sanchez
Benjamin von Brackel, freier Autor und Wissenschaftsjournalist
Daniela Sepehri ©Nassim Rad
Daniela Sepehri, Autorin und Journalistin mit den Schwerpunkten Iran, Migration, Antirassismus und Feminismus
Eythar Gubara ©Eberhard Kehrer
Eythar Gubara, Fotografin, Aktivistin und Filmemacherin
Nikita Dhawan ©TU Dresden
Nikita Dhawan, Professur für Politikwissenschaft mit Schwerpunkt Politische Theorie und Ideengeschichte an der TU Dresden
Portrait von Diana Kinnert ©Robert Rieger
Diana Kinnert, Politikerin und Publizistin
Lea Dohm ©Ben Mangelsdorf
Lea Dohm, Psychologin und Expertin für Klimapsychologie, Mitgründerin von Psychologists for Future
Portrait von Diba Mirzaei ©Benjamin Jenak
Diba Mirzaei, Politikwissenschaftlerin am GIGA Institut, Forschungsfokus auf Staaten im Küstengebiet des Persischen Golfs
Markus Rex ©AWI
Markus Rex, Polarforscher und Leiter der Sektion Atmosphärenphysik des Alfred-Wegener-Instituts
Meryem Choukri ©Naėmi Eckert
Meryem Choukri, Doktorandin für Wissensarchive Schwarzer und migrantischer Feministinnen
Gerrit Kurtz ©SWP
Gerrit Kurtz, Wissenschaftler in der Forschungsgruppe Afrika und Mittlerer Osten, Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP) Deutsches Institut für Internationale Politik und Sicherheit
Portrait of Nike Hornbostel ©Nike Hornbostel
Nike Hornbostel, Coach für Führungskräfte, Karriere- und Teamentwicklung

Registration

The main participants in the conference week are around 1,500 first-semester students.  In addition, experienced students and university staff, as well as interested citizens from the city and metropolitan region, are welcome to attend the conference week.

First-semester students should register for the conference week via myStudy (see conference package).

Interested parties from the university and the region can simply register for the public events of the conference here.

If you have any questions during the conference week, please visit the information point in the foyer of the Libeskind-Building.

Do you want to load external content supplied by Youtube?
With your consent, further personal data will be transmitted to, among others, Google in the USA in order to show you Youtube videos. However, the European Court of Justice has deemed the level of data protection in the USA, measured against EU standards, to be insufficient. There is also the possibility that your data may then be processed by US authorities. If you click on “Yes“, the data will only be passed on for the display of this video. If you click on “Always“, the data is generally passed on when Youtube videos are displayed on our site. For more information, please refer to our Privacy policy.

Please take note of our Datenschutzinformationen.

Contact

konferenzwoche@leuphana.de

 

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