The University Hosting the Largest Conference Ever Held in the Faroe Islands

There is enormous international interest in attending a conference in the Faroe Islands: more than 1,400 participants from across the globe have registered, and as host, the University of the Faroe Islands is busy with preparations.

From 26–29 May, the University of the Faroe Islands will host the major international conference UArctic Congress 2026. At the same time, the Ocean Connectivity Conference will also take place.

Some events will already begin on Monday, 25 May, including a welcome reception at the National Stadium from 16:00–18:00 and a public event on small nations and great power rivalry at Kongshøll at the university at 19:00.

The scientific conference will be held at the Tjarnir arena, and the participant list has now reached 1,400 people. This will therefore be the largest international conference ever held in the Faroe Islands.

The extensive and highly diverse programme includes around 200 presentations featuring new and exciting knowledge. Researchers and speakers will contribute oral presentations, poster sessions, panel discussions, roundtable debates, and workshops, all organised around five main themes:

• Sustainable business development and international cooperation
• Oceans and marine research
• Climate change in the Arctic
• Biodiversity
• Indigenous Peoples and Northern societies

The programme also includes a general assembly, a rectors’ meeting, and several additional events.

The Arctic Council’s Ocean Conference

A special feature of this year’s programme is that the Arctic Council’s Ocean Connectivity Conference will form part of UArctic Congress 2026. The event will therefore consist of two conferences with an integrated programme.

The University of the Faroe Islands is organising the Ocean Connectivity Conference in close collaboration with the Arctic Council, the Faroe Marine Research Institute, and the Faroese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Fisheries.

Katrín Jakobsdóttir and Costas Kadis on the Programme

Among the keynote speakers are former Prime Minister of Iceland Katrín Jakobsdóttir and European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans Costas Kadis.

Both will appear on stage during the opening ceremony on 26 May, where they will deliver keynote addresses and focus on important questions concerning the future of the Arctic and the oceans.

About UArctic

UArctic (University of the Arctic) is an international cooperative network of universities, research institutions, and other organisations working with education and research in and about the Arctic.

Around 200 institutions from across the world are members of the network, including the University of the Faroe Islands.

Further information about the conference is available at www.uarcticcongress.fo, where visitors can explore the programme.