Arendalsuka 2026 Norway policy debates

In early July, the Norwegian Science Foundation (NSF) and the humanitarian organization Caritas announced that they would host panels and debates during the upcoming Arendalsuka festival in August 2026.

By early August, the festival’s programme was released, showing more than 2,200 events scheduled from 10‑14 August. The agenda includes sessions on the Church Heritage Fund’s renovation plans for listed churches, discussions of the master‑certificate’s role in a sustainable labour market, and a trend report describing digital platforms as a “fifth state power.” The Directorate for Building Quality will examine how digitalising planning could speed new housing construction. The Norwegian Real Estate Agents Association co‑hosts housing‑market panels with Selvaag Bolig, Minister Bjørnar Skjæran and industry leaders, covering the housing shortage, AI use in the sector, recent changes to the transfer law, and proposals for more affordable construction, as well as debates on rental‑property sales and broader housing challenges.