NordAN 2026: Public health, policy and prevention in changing times

NordAN 2026 brings together policymakers, researchers, and civil society actors from across the Nordic and Baltic region to discuss current developments in alcohol policy and public health. At a time when long-standing policy frameworks are being challenged, the conference provides a space to exchange experiences, compare national developments, and reflect on future directions.

A key aim of this year’s conference is to broaden the perspective beyond the larger Nordic countries and place greater focus on smaller and often underrepresented regions, including the Faroe Islands and Greenland. These contexts offer valuable insights into how policy is shaped in smaller societies, where close-knit communities, governance structures, and external influences interact in distinct ways.

Hosting the conference in Tórshavn is a deliberate decision to shift attention towards smaller regions and to engage more directly with their perspectives and experiences.

NordAN last held a conference in the Faroe Islands in 2006, making this a return after 20 years. This provides a unique opportunity to reflect on how the region, and alcohol policy more broadly, has evolved over two decades, and what lessons can be drawn for the future.