Oslo Freedom Forum

06/18/2026

06/16/2026

For the first time in 18 years, Mohammad Al Abdallah returned to Syria and embraced his father outside the walls of Sednaya prison.

At the Oslo Freedom Forum, he reflected on life under the Assad regime and its collapse, the generations shaped by imprisonment and exile, and the long road toward justice that still lay ahead.

After decades of dictatorship, Syrians were confronting what had been done to them — and deciding what would come next.

See his full talk → https://youtu.be/YW8uSXijtiA

06/12/2026

pandji pragiwaksono brought comedy with a powerful message to the Oslo Freedom Forum stage, reflecting on the backlash he faced following the release of his tenth stand-up special, Mens Rea, on Netflix in Indonesia.

06/12/2026

Pandji Pragiwaksono brought comedy with a powerful message to the Oslo Freedom Forum stage, reflecting on the backlash he faced following the release of his tenth stand-up special, Mens Rea, on Netflix in Indonesia.

Watch the full set: https://ow.ly/gmcy50Zb6Fr

06/11/2026

During the Freedom Tech track at the 2026 Oslo Freedom Forum, Femi Longe, global freedom tech lead at HRF, honors the life and legacy of Hadiya Masieh, a dear friend of HRF and a passionate advocate for financial freedom. Through her work with the Groundswell Project, Hadiya supported women recovering from repression and dedicated her life to helping others rebuild with dignity. Her legacy lives on in the lives she changed, and in the freer, more hopeful future she helped imagine and build.

Watch the full tribute: https://ow.ly/KlJN50ZaEBY

06/10/2026

At the Oslo Freedom Forum, Indonesian comedian Pandji Pragiwaksono turned lived experiences into punchlines that challenged repression, proving that a well-timed joke can do more than get a laugh.

His set was a reminder that laughter isn’t an escape from serious issues; it can be a way of processing them, sharing them and moving them forward.

06/09/2026

At the 2026 Oslo Freedom Forum, activists, artists, technologists, and changemakers from around the world came together to confront authoritarianism and strengthen the movement for freedom.

In this video, attendees reflect on the conversations that challenged them, the stories that inspired them, and the connections that reminded them they are not alone. Their voices capture what makes the Oslo Freedom Forum more than an event—it’s a community united by courage, creativity, and solidarity.

The forum may have ended, but its impact continues.

See you next year: https://oslofreedomforum.com/event/oslo-freedom-forum-2027/off-2027-attendance-application/

06/08/2026

The 2026 Oslo Freedom Forum has come to a close, but the impact of our gathering continues to resonate.

This year’s theme, Dismantling Dictatorship, reflected a simple truth: authoritarian regimes are built on fear, myth, and captured institutions, but they can be dismantled through courage, truth, and deliberate action.

While the Forum has come to a close, the conversations it sparked are only beginning. We’re excited to stay connected with this remarkable community and to see where the ideas, relationships, and discussions that began here will lead. We hope the stories shared this year continue to inspire action, strengthen solidarity, and advance the cause of freedom around the world.

06/06/2026

At the 2026 Oslo Freedom Forum’s Freedom Tech track, Sabina Waithira Gitau, co-founder of the Bitcoin payment app Tando, explains that many people need to see Bitcoin work before they trust it. Tando lets users test it with just a hundred sats (less than a dollar), and verify the experience for themselves. It’s a bet that Bitcoin adoption will grow when the tool feels accessible.