Strengthening democratic culture for Europe’s next generation
Nets4Dem is inviting local governments to submit their democratic challenges for the Bilbao Democracy Lab, taking place on 10–12 February 2026. Bring a concrete issue your city/region is facing and leave with a clear action plan to strengthen democratic culture, particularly among your younger citizens.
Across Europe, democracy is under increasing pressure as technological change and globalisation reshape economies and social relations, fuelling disinformation, polarisation and declining trust, especially among younger people.
Cities are responding by reinventing participation, rebuilding trust between citizens and institutions, and giving young people a stronger voice in decisions that affect them.
Hosted by Bilbao City Council, the Democracy Lab is the next milestone in this collective city journey, and your challenge can help set the agenda.
A Lab rooted in democratic renewal
Rooted in the Basque Country’s tradition of collaborative and open government, the Lab will bring together city officials, civil society practitioners and researchers to put shared responsibility, transparency and active citizenship into practice, with a strong focus on children and young people.
Participants will also explore the Basque region’s enabling conditions and cultural roots that have strengthened relationships between citizens and public institutions, and consider how these can be adapted in other cities.
The programme centres on three strands where cities are called to act: nurturing democratic values with young people and children, building democratic culture in practice, and using new technologies, including AI.
Selected Challenge Owners (cities) will work with a diverse stakeholder group to co-design actionable solutions to real democratic challenges.
Why take part
As a challenge owner, your city will:
- Co-design practical responses with peers and experts.
- Prototype and test ideas in real time, with rapid feedback.
- Join a European learning community on democracy innovation and civic engagement.
- Showcase outcomes alongside Basque democratic innovation practices.
How to submit your challenge
- Read the call for challenges guidelines carefully.
- Fill out the online application form. The deadline for submission is Friday, 7 November 2025.
