The 'Kantipur Conclave-2026' is starting in Kathmandu on Monday with the aim of debating the country's roadmap amid political instability, weak institutional structures and growing public discontent. The two-day conclave will bring together intellectuals, political and policy-makers from within and outside the country to discuss contemporary issues and prospects.

According to Mahesh Swar, CEO of Kantipur Media Group, the conclave has been organized as a platform to collectively reflect on the future of the country, going beyond the formal conference. He said, “The main objective of the conclave is to try to transform the confusion seen in politics, society and economy into a clear vision and a common course of action.”

According to Kantipur Media Group, the conclave is not just a program of any one organization but an attempt to collectively think about the crisis and possibilities that Nepal is facing at the confluence of movement, democracy, technology, economy and geopolitics. The organizers say that the conclave has been organized with the aim of turning distrust and confusion into clarity through dialogue.

This edition of the conclave is attended by 53 speakers from various countries, including Nepal. Nobel Peace Prize winner and human rights activist Shirin Ebadi will give the keynote address and present an international perspective on the state of democracy, civil liberties and justice.

In the opening session on Monday, ‘From Movement to Opportunity’, representatives from Tunisia, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will share their experiences of the transitional political eras that their countries have experienced since the people’s movement. Tunisian singer Emel Mathaluthy, Sri Lankan journalist Kamanthi Wickramasinghe, Bangladeshi Marjana Mahanaz and Nepali Gen-G activist Tanuja Pandey will participate in this session.

In the session ‘Gen-G Rebellion: The Story of Shoes’ related to the youth movement, Prakash Bohara will tell a personal and political story centered on a blood-stained shoe during a demonstration. Then, analyst CK Lal will present a comprehensive assessment of the movements and political changes since 2007 under the title ‘Journey of the Nepali Revolution’.

In the session titled ‘Nepali Politics by Satirizing Yourself’, Adarsh ​​Mishra, Sita Neupane, Sundar Khanal and Prabhat Lama will raise the issue of what role public debate can play through satire. This will be followed by a discussion between Hari Sharma and Ghanshyam Bhusal on ideas, leadership and the possibilities of reform in Nepali politics in the session ‘The End of Ideology?’.

The economy-focused session ‘Reviving the Economy, Restoring Trust’ will feature participation from NRB Governor Bishwanath Poudel to key representatives of the private sector. The investment climate that has deteriorated due to unstable policies, the psychology of the private sector and options for reform will also be discussed.

The second day will begin with a session on ‘Dialogue Forum, Algorithm Confusion’ on the impact of digital politics, social media and AI. Then, the ‘People’s Panel’ will discuss how characters outside the traditional political circle have come to the center of public debate.

The session ‘Nepal in the Power Struggle’ focused on geopolitics will present an international perspective on Nepal’s relations with China, India and the US, strategic balance and diplomatic challenges. In the session ‘New Voices of the Republic’ focused on the youth, Raksha Bam, Majid Ansari, Pradeep Gyawali and Ajay Kushwaha will debate on leadership, legitimacy and civic participation. After this, the Chief Ministers of all seven provinces will stand on the same platform and participate in a live dialogue on the state and future of federalism.