TrueLeak AcademyInternational Conference

    Civil society resilience against disinformation

    A one-day conference in Cologne bringing together civil society, media and state actors from Germany, Poland, Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova.

    Date
    27 November 2026
    Place
    Cologne, Germany
    Format
    Three panels, pitches and more
    View programme

    About the conference

    Coordinated disinformation campaigns target elections, undermine trust in democratic institutions and exploit questions of identity and memory. Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova have been facing this pressure for years, and their experience is highly relevant for Germany and for societies across Europe.

    The second regional conference of the TrueLeak Academy focuses on the international partners and brings together up to 200 experts from civil society, media, research and state institutions. In three expert panels with open fishbowl discussions, they examine what has actually worked against disinformation and where responsibility lies.

    A Marketplace of Opportunities gives around twelve civil society initiatives a stage of their own. The day closes with an evening reception for networking.

    Programme

    1. 09:30 – 10:00

      Arrival, registration and welcome coffee

      The Marketplace of Opportunities opens; stands are staffed from registration.

    2. 10:00 – 10:30

      Opening and welcome addresses

      Welcome by the organisers and addresses by representatives of state institutions and embassies.

    3. 10:30 – 11:40Panel 1Cognitive resilience: security and societyIncluding fishbowl Q&A
    4. 11:40 – 12:20

      Pitching on the main stage

      Around twelve civil society initiatives present their work in short pitches.

    5. 12:20 – 13:00

      Coffee, snacks and Marketplace of Opportunities

      Conversations at the stands and the cooperation wall.

    6. 13:00 – 14:10Panel 2Culture as a battlefield: memory and identityIncluding fishbowl Q&A
    7. 14:10 – 14:40

      Coffee, snacks and Marketplace of Opportunities

      Conversations at the stands and the cooperation wall.

    8. 14:40 – 15:50Panel 3Elections and sovereignty under pressureIncluding fishbowl Q&A
    9. 15:50 – 16:00

      Closing and outlook

      Summary of the results and an outlook on the online closing event.

    10. 16:00 – 17:30

      Reception

      Open networking with catering; the Marketplace of Opportunities remains open.

    The panels

    Each panel brings together four speakers from different countries and ends in an open fishbowl discussion with the audience. Speakers will be announced soon.

    Panel 1

    Cognitive resilience: security and society

    Hybrid threats and the militarisation of the information space. What does resilience mean operationally – and who carries responsibility, the state or society?

    Panel 2

    Culture as a battlefield: memory and identity

    Cultural products as carriers of political narrative, attacks on cultural heritage, and memory politics. If disinformation targets identity, can fact-checking be the main answer?

    Panel 3

    Elections and sovereignty under pressure

    Coordinated influence operations around elections and the EU path: which narratives travel across borders – and what has actually held the line?

    Marketplace of Opportunities

    Around twelve civil society initiatives present their work at their own stand throughout the day and in a short pitch on the main stage. The marketplace is the place to meet them, start new cooperations and leave your ideas on the cooperation wall.

    Would your organisation like a stand?

    Apply as an organisation

    Contact

    Questions about the programme, a cooperation or a date? Get in touch directly.

    Julia Chenusha

    CEO, DUWir gGmbH

    E-Mail
    Address
    DUWir gGmbH
    Hansaring 61
    50670 Köln