Brussels, Belgium.
15 - 16, October.
Registrations are now open!
In these crucial times, the global deliberative community convenes in a nation renowned for its pioneering role in deliberative democracy. We return to the country that first institutionalized Citizens' Assemblies to engage in tough conversations.
How can this global community increase its shared impact? We will spend two days working on new pathways to advance a more inclusive and resilient democratic future.
Crossroads
The “deliberative wave” is moving at different paces across different contexts. Seven years after the establishment of Democracy R&D, there are many inspiring success stories, bittersweet experimentations, dead ends to draw lessons from, uncharted territories to explore, and many new actors and network members joining the journey.
Yet, our community of practice also faces global headwinds in polarisation, autocratisation and populism, leaving none of us unaffected. While they make our work more relevant than ever, these global trends also call on us to face some hard questions. Standing at multiple crossroads, what are the pathways for public deliberation to effectively rise to this moment?
The Call for Workshop Proposals is Open!
Deadline for submissions: 27 April 2025
Beyond the Mainstage
October 14 and 17
We are preparing activities to help the community reach beyond its members. Open events to engage with local and European stakeholders. There will be opportunities for advocacy, capacity-building and more!
Frequently Asked Questions
Conference Information
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Q: What is the Democracy R&D Annual Conference?
A: The Democracy R&D Annual Conference is a global gathering of democratic innovators working in the field of deliberative democracy. It is an inclusive space for practitioners to share expertise, learn from one another, challenge ideas, and build meaningful professional connections across the network.
More information at Democracy R&D website.
Q: What is the theme for 2025?
A: The theme for the 2025 conference is "Crossroads," evoking
the varying pace of the deliberative wave across different contexts and the need to navigate growing global challenges such as polarization, autocratization, and populism. The theme invites participants to explore new pathways for public deliberation in response to these complex dynamics.Q: Who is organizing this year’s event?
A: The 2025 conference is hosted by FIDE, G1000, Democratic Society, and Missions Publiques in Brussels, Belgium.
Q: Where will the conference take place in Brussels?
A: The 2025 Democracy R&D Conference will be held at Maison du Bois, a large and modular venue that will allow us to host up to 300 participants. It is easily accessible via public transport:
Metro: Line 5 (stop: Pétillon)
Tram: Lines 7 and 25 (stop: Arsenal)
Bus: Line 34 (stop: Arsenal or Stratégie)
Train: Etterbeek Station
Q: Who typically attends the conference?
A: The conference brings together a diverse international community of practitioners, researchers, and facilitators working in deliberative democracy and citizens’ assemblies. Attendees typically include members of the Democracy R&D network. However, to ensure that new voices and perspectives continue to enrich our community, a small quota is reserved for non-members. Non-members may attend only upon invitation by an existing member of the D R&D network, subject to the approval by the conference organizers.
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Q: Who can register for the conference?
A: The Democracy R&D Annual Conference is primarily open to members of the Democracy R&D network—organizations, practitioners, and researchers working in the fields of deliberative and participatory democracy. A small number of non-members may register only upon invitation by an existing network member. If you are unsure whether you are eligible or would like to learn more about joining the network, you can:
Get in touch at contact@drd2025.org
Learn more about Democracy R&D network.
Q: What is the deadline for registration?
A: October 3rd, 2025
Q: Is there a fee to attend?
A:
- Network Member: 400€ (incl. 21% VAT)
- Non-member: 450€ (incl. 21% VAT)
Q: Is there support for participants with limited resources or with high-cost travel itineraries?
A: Yes, financial assistance is available to help ensure the conference is accessible to all, particularly participants from the Global South. Support can be requested during registration. For more details, please see the dedicated section below.
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Q: What is the structure of the conference programme?
A: The programme will include a dynamic mix of plenary sessions, interactive workshops, deep dive sessions, and networking opportunities designed to foster learning, exchange, and and impact across the Democracy R&D community.
The programme is developed through a combination of bottom-up proposals submitted by network members and organisers’ priorities aligned with the conference theme, “Crossroads.”
Q: Can I suggest or host a session during the conference?
A: Yes! Democracy R&D members can submit their Workshop Proposals here.
The deadline for submissions is April 27, 2025.
Q: What are the criteria for workshop selection?
A: Workshop proposals will be assessed based on the following criteria:
Clear goals and intended outputs
Alignment with the conference theme: “Crossroads”
Contribution to the growth and development of the Democracy R&D network
In addition, organizers will consider:
Geographic diversity of workshop hosts and organizing teams
Diversity of workshop topics, formats, and difficulty levels
Priority will be given to workshops that are well-structured, output-oriented, and contribute meaningfully to the network’s ongoing work.
Q: What do the different workshop tags and difficulty levels mean?
A: To help participants make informed choices and ensure a balanced conference program, workshops are categorized by tags (describing their purpose) and difficulty levels (describing the expected level of participant experience):
Workshop Tags:
Inform: Share new information, research, or project insights
Network: Connect specific groups or communities of practice
Train: Build practical skills or introduce tools and techniques
Solve: Tackle field-specific challenges or questions
Debate: Explore disagreements or contentious topics constructively
Difficulty Levels:
Mild: Open to everyone—ideal for newcomers
Medium: Assumes a basic understanding of citizen engagement and deliberative processes
Spicy: Designed for experienced practitioners; may include pre-reading and advanced discussions
These categories help participants navigate the program and allow hosts to design workshops that are well-matched to their audience.
Learn more in the call for workshops.
Q: Will there be any pre-conference or post-conference activities?
A: Yes, we are working on additional open pre and post-conference activities. With this, we aim to open the community to the Belgian and European organisations and institutions based in Brussels.
Stay tuned for more information.
Practical Information
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Q: What are the best ways to travel to Brussels?
A: Brussels is well connected by air, rail, and road, making it accessible from many locations.
By air: Brussels Airport (BRU) is the main international hub, with direct flights from major cities worldwide. Brussels South Charleroi Airport (CRL) is an alternative, often serving low-cost airlines.
By train: Brussels has high-speed rail connections, including Thalys (from Paris, Amsterdam, and Cologne), Eurostar (from London), and ICE (from Germany). The main stations—Brussels Midi, Central, and Nord—are well linked to public transport.
By bus: Long-distance bus companies such as FlixBus and BlaBlaCar Bus connect Brussels to many European cities.
By car: While Brussels is accessible by road, parking can be expensive and limited. Public transport is generally the easiest way to get around.
Q: Which airports are closest to the venue?
A:
Brussels Airport (BRU): The primary international airport, located about 12 km from the city center. It is connected to Brussels by train (approx. 20 minutes to Central Station) and bus.
Brussels South Charleroi Airport (CRL): Located about 60 km from Brussels, mainly serving budget airlines. Shuttle buses run regularly to Brussels Midi Station (approx. 1 hour).
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Q: What are the hotels near the conference venue?
A: Here is a list hotels nearby the conference venue: Maison du Bois. Note that we are not affiliated with any of the following hotels.
1. Aloft Brussels Schuman
Address: Pl. Jean Rey, 1040 Brussels
2. ibis Brussels Centre Châtelain
Address: Chau. de Vleurgat 191, 1050 Brussels
Q: Are there more budget-friendly accommodation options available?
A: Budget-friendly accommodation options are generally closer to the city center. Here is a list with those that are well connected to the conference venue, Maison du Bois, via metro line 5.
1. Ibis Brussels City Centre
Address: Rue Joseph Plateau 2, 1000 Brussels
2. Motel One Brussels
Address: Rue Royale 120, 1000 Brussels
3. Novotel Brussels off Grand Place
Address: Rue du Marché Aux Herbes 120, 1000 Brussels
4. EasyHotel
Address: Rue d'Argent 1, 1000 Brussels
5. The Usual Brussels
Address: Bd Adolphe Max 107, 1000 Brussels
DRD2025 participants get 15% off at The Usual Brussels when booking through the website with the promo code DRD2025.
Note: We are not affiliated with any of these hotels.
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Q: How does public transport work in Brussels?
A: Brussels has an extensive and reliable public transport system operated by STIB/MIVB, covering the city with metro, trams, and buses.
Metro: The fastest way to get around, with four main lines connecting key areas.
Trams: A great option for reaching destinations not covered by the metro.
Buses: Complement metro and tram routes, providing access to more areas.
Tickets are valid across all STIB/MIVB services and can be purchased via vending machines, mobile apps, or contactless payment. A single ticket is valid for 60 minutes, while day passes offer unlimited travel.
For real-time schedules and route planning, visit www.stib-mivb.be or use apps like Google Maps and Citymapper.
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Q: Are there measures to support diverse participation?
A: Yes, we are committed to making the D R&D 2025 Conference as accessible and inclusive as possible. We recognize that diverse participants may have different needs, and we strive to accommodate these to the best of our abilities within the means available.
As part of the registration process, there is a dedicated field where participants can express any special requirements or needs they may have. We will carefully review all individual requests and make every effort to cater to them to ensure an inclusive experience for everyone. If you have specific needs or concerns, please feel free to let us know during the registration process.
Q: Will the event be accessible for people with disabilities?
A: Yes, it is of utmost importance to us to ensure that the D R&D 2025 Conference is accessible for all participants. If you have specific accessibility requirements, please share them with us through the dedicated field in the registration form. We will review these requests and do our best to accommodate them.
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Q: Who can I contact for general inquiries?
A: For any general questions about the conference, please contact us at contact@drd2025.org
For questions about the programme and workshop submissions, get in touch at programme@drd2025.org
Supporting Participants
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Q: Is financial assistance available to attend the conference?
A: Yes. We are committed to making D R&D 2025 as inclusive and accessible as possible. To support participants who would not be able to attend otherwise—particularly those from the Global South or with high-cost itineraries—we offer a limited number of financial assistance packages.
Three levels of support are available:
Tier 1: Flight ticket reimbursement
Tier 2: Flight ticket + conference ticket
Tier 3: Flight ticket + conference ticket + daily allowance
We kindly ask all applicants to be thoughtful and request only the level of support they genuinely need. Offering this assistance requires significant resources, and your mindful selection will help ensure that we can extend this opportunity to as many members of the community as possible. By choosing responsibly, you are actively supporting the inclusiveness and accessibility of the conference for others as well.
You can request this support in the registration form.
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Q: Do I need a visa to attend the conference?
A: Whether you require a visa to attend the Democracy R&D 2025 Conference in Brussels depends on your country of origin. Belgium is part of the Schengen Area, which allows visa-free travel for short stays (up to 90 days within a 180-day period) for citizens of certain countries.
However, nationals from countries not eligible for visa-free entry must obtain a Schengen Visa (Type C) before traveling.
To check whether you need a visa and to find information about how to apply, please refer to the official resources below:
Schengen Area entry visa application (visa C) | IBZ
Applying for a Schengen visa - European Commission
We are happy to provide an official invitation letter to support your application. Please send your request to contact@drd2025.org.
We encourage participants to check visa requirements early and contact the relevant Belgian embassy or consulate in their country well in advance of travel.
