The Aspen Annual Conference brings together transatlantic leaders to discuss key political, economic, and societal developments. We focus on topics that are relevant not only to current governments but also seek to foster broader consensus beyond a single election cycle.
Participants can benefit from diverse perspectives on up-to-date topics such as values-based leadership in the context of new technologies, defense innovation, education, the digitalization of small businesses, and more. Experts from the business, academic, and non-profit sectors are traditionally joined by government officials on the conference panels.
Within its mission, Aspen Institute Central Europe brings together individuals who positively influence society and strive to support strategic thinking that goes beyond local and sector-related boundaries. By hosting interdisciplinary policy and public debates, the Institute contributes to open dialogue on topics relevant to current society and its advancement.
The Aspen Annual Conference is one of the Institute’s flagship events, held since its founding in Prague in 2012. Over the years, it has brought many distinguished speakers, experts, business leaders, and politicians from various countries and continents to Prague. In the past, notable speakers included Madeleine K. Albright, the 64th U.S. Secretary of State; Olena Zelenska, First Lady of Ukraine; Alexander Stubb, former Prime Minister and President of Finland; Petr Pavel, President of the Czech Republic; Andrej Kiska, former President of Slovakia; Toomas Hendrik Ilves, former President of Estonia; Petr Fiala, Prime Minister of the Czech Republic; Timothy Garton Ash, Professor at the University of Oxford; and Věra Jourová, Vice-President of the European Commission, among many others.
The Aspen Annual Conference, originally scheduled for November 2025, has been postponed. The next Aspen Annual Conference will take place on January 29, 2026, at the Prague Crossroads. Details about keynote speakers, panelists, and moderators will be announced closer to the conference date.