The Nordic Council of Ministers

Glædelig nationaldag, Sverige! 🇸🇪

Den 6. juni fejres Sveriges nationaldag.

Dagen markerer blandt andet valget af Gustav Vasa som konge i 1523 samt vedtagelsen af forfatningen i 1809.

I dag fejres nationaldagen med flag, ceremonier, musik og samvær på tværs af generationer.

Er du nysgerrig på Sveriges historie, kultur og det nordiske samarbejde?

Læs med her:

Statistik om Norden Statistik om Norden Norden består af Danmark, Norge, Finland, Island, Sverige samt Færøerne, Grønland og Åland. ​ Her kan du finde nyttig viden og fakta om de nordiske lande. Befolkning I Norden føder vi færre og færre børn. Til gengæld stiger antallet af ældre. Vi lever nemlig længer...

It's summer in the Nordic hemisphere and this only means one thing (ok, a few other things as well) : it's time for Nordic citizens to meet and discuss ideas in political festivals around the region. Folkemødet in Denmark is first up.

From 11–13 June, citizens, decision-makers and hundreds of organisations gather for a wide-ranging series of democratic debates at Folkemødet on the Danish island of Bornholm.

The Nordic Council of Ministers’ focus is on future of the Nordic Region, preparedness, democracy and young people. Each morning our tent hosts a reading of Nordic literature; each afternoon we lend it out to young people’s organisations.

We will share some highlights and photos here on Facebook, so stay tuned.

**What are political festivals? Find out more here https://www.norden.org/en/demokratifestivaler **

These days, both the UArctic Congress 2026 and the Ocean Connectivity Conference are taking place in Tórshavn in the Faroe Islands.

The two events bring together hundreds of leading researchers, policymakers, and Indigenous representatives from across the globe. And naturally, are present with a strong programme and a dedicated Nordic information stand.

🤝 At a time when climate change and biodiversity loss in the northern regions demand action, the need for regional knowledge sharing and joint solutions is urgent.

Read more about our participation here: https://www.norden.org/en/news/meet-nordics-uarctic-congress-and-ocean-connectivity-conference

🌍 What happens to youth employment when young people get to pay lower taxes on their wages?

✏️ And is it worth the investment to let children start preschool class a year earlier?
Across the Nordic countries, researchers have run real‑world economic policy experiments to understand whether political initiatives actually deliver the effects policymakers hope for. These natural experiments offer rare and valuable insights into how societies respond to reforms outside the lab. The Nordic countries have unique conditions for experimentation: strong institutions, high‑quality data, and broad acceptance of evidence‑based policy.

📘 Now, the Nordic Economic Policy Review 2026 is being released — this year with a special focus on exactly these types of experiments.

➡️ If you’re interested in evidence‑based policy, Nordic collaboration, or how small changes can shape long‑term outcomes, this year’s edition is well worth a look.

https://pub.norden.org/nord2026-001/

📣 Deadline approaching! Submit your nominations for the Nordic Council Environment Prize

Do you know of an initiative that helps children and young people learn about the climate and environment? 🌿 Submit your nomination by 29 April.

👉 https://www.norden.org/en/news/deadline-approaching-submit-your-nominations-nordic-council-environment-prize

What are you reading this Easter?🐣📚

Get inspired by this year’s 13 nominated works for the Nordic Council Literature Prize, where stories of identity, relationships, and change are in focus.

Easter reading is a strong Nordic tradition. Especially in Norway, where so called “påskekrim” – reading crime fiction during the Easter holidays – has been a widespread phenomenon for over a century.

This year, both the Norwegian and the Sámi juries independently nominated the same novel by Sigbjørn Skåden, published in Norwegian and Tornedalian Sámi.

Here, we follow Police Inspector Huuva, who travels from Oslo back to the Sámi village of Planterhaug, once known as Láŋtdievvá, to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of the old drunkard Nilsen – a story perfectly suited for a suspenseful Easter.

👉 See the full list of nominees and get inspired!

Mette Moestrup, Butterfly Nebula (DK)
Charlotte Weitze, Ulvemælk (DK)
Pirkko Saisio, Suliko (FI)
Quynh Tran, När andra njuter (FI)
Marjun Syderbø Kjelnæs, Marta, Marta (FO)
Debora H. Kleist, Sarsuatitat (GL)
Eva Rún Snorradóttir, Eldri konur (IS)
Jón Kalman Stefánsson, Himintungl yfir heimsins ystu brún (IS)
Dag Johan Haugerud, Sjelesorg (NO)
Sigbjørn Skåden, Planterhaug (NO)
Sigbjørn Skåden, Láŋtdievvá (Sápmi)
Anna Hallberg, AN (SE)
Linda Örtenblad, Kartotek över döda och återuppståndna (SE)
Sebastian Johans, Svanhopp. Roman om död far (AX)

Nordic Day 2026🌐💙

From Estonia to Iceland, ministers, policymakers, civil society, and youth representatives came together this week to celebrate Nordic Day 2026 and reflect on the future of democracy.

Together, we explored how we can strengthen democratic resilience, inspire participation, and equip the next generation to uphold and revitalize our Nordic democratic values.

In the Faroe Islands, the Nordic House invited children to a democracy festival with performances, concerts, and creative workshops. In Greenland, NAPA and New Arctic Kitchen brought people together to celebrate food and community.

We also organized language cafés that brought people together to practice their Nordic language of choice☕

A warm thank you to everyone who contributed to our Nordic Day events. Your engagement is exactly what helps keep democracy vibrant and strong across our region.

Photos: Peter Mydske / Stortinget; Ernir Eyjólfsson; Kristi Sits, NCM Estonia.

How did you celebrate Nordic Day? Comment below👇