Become a Co-Creator of the Opinion Festival 2026: East SOS Invites Partners

For the past 10 years, the Opinion Festival has been a space for conversations that society often lacks. It is where we discuss war and recovery, education and human rights, remembrance and accountability, community development, and the future of Ukraine.

It is a place where people can disagree while still listening to one another. A place where complex issues are not reduced to catchy headlines, but explored through dialogue in pursuit of common ground and solutions. 

Despite the ongoing war, Ukraine is already shaping its future. We are rethinking the kind of state and society we want to build. And this is impossible without trust, accountability, and open dialogue. 

Over the past decade, the Opinion Festival has become much more than an annual event. It is a platform that brings together representatives of civil society, education, culture, media, private and public sector, and international partners around the most pressing challenges the country is facing. 

The Opinion Festival in Numbers: 

• 10 years of history; 
• organizations from 8 countries have partnered with the Festival over the years, including Estonia, Poland, the Netherlands, and other European Union countries;
• more than 4,800 attendees; 
• more than 180 topics shaping Ukraine’s future;
• more than 300 Ukrainian and international speakers (including human rights activist Maksym Butkevych, former Kremlin political prisoner Leniie Umerova, Army +1 Project Lead Olha Mikhnovych, NGO Pryncyp Project Manager Kateryna Kuptsiv, and Member of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Public Health Olha Stefanishyna);
• more than 10 media partners (including Eastern Variant (Skhidnyi Variant), Rubryka, Recovery Window, Free Radio (Vilne Radio), Hromadske Radio, Nakypilo.Radio, and Eastern Point (Tochka Skhodu)).

Behind these figures are thousands of meetings, hundreds of discussions, and dozens of partnerships made possible through open dialogue. 

Supporting the Opinion Festival Means:

• creating a space for honest conversations about today’s challenges;
• making expert discussions accessible to wider audiences; 
• bringing together people from different sectors to search for solutions; 
• supporting the development of a culture of dialogue in Ukraine.

Our team believes that a strong society can only be built through partnership among the public sector, civil society, responsible businesses, international donors, and everyone willing to invest in a shared future.

That is why we are not looking for sponsors – we are looking for co-creators of the Opinion Festival: organizations that share responsibility for the development of an open and democratic society.

We Invite Partnerships From:

• international donor organizations and foundations;
• socially responsible Ukrainian and international businesses;
• professional communities and business associations.

This partnership will be especially relevant for those who:

• support community development;
• invest in education, culture, and social change;
• believe in the power of open dialogue; 
• seek to create long-term positive impact.

What Opinion Festival Partners Receive:

• Official or General Partner status;
• branding opportunities for a venue, stage, or thematic space;
• placement of partner logos and information across Festival’s materials;
• mentions in the Festival’s communications campaign, including the website, social media, press releases, and information materials;
• brand integration into the Festival program in an agreed format;
• mentions by hosts and moderators during the event (depending on the partnership package);
• an opportunity to organize a partner activity or thematic space aligned with the Festival’s values;
• photo and video materials featuring the partnership integration for future communications;
• a public report on the partnership and its results.

In September 2026, the Opinion Festival will celebrate its 10th anniversary. We want to create it together with those who understand that a strong civil society does not happen by itself. It is built where people are willing to listen, talk, and act together.

We are open to cooperation with responsible businesses, international partners, and organizations.

To discuss partnership opportunities, please contact Kseniia Lisna, Head of Partnerships and Fundraising at East SOS, at [email protected].