Breakwater Festival 2026

Investigative and high-quality journalism in practice: a three-day gathering of reporters, editors and media innovators.

Building on the historical legacy of Gdańsk as a symbol of democratic solidarity and connecting Nordic traditions of trust and transparency with the realities faced by frontline journalists in Central and Eastern Europe, Breakwater aims to strengthen the actors, networks and professional communities that underpin information integrity across the wider Nordic, Baltic Sea and Central-Eastern European region.

Breakwater is not only an initiative to protect journalism, but a long-term contribution to strengthen democratic resilience and information integrity in this region. The purpose is to strengthen the conditions that enable citizens to form their own opinions necessary for democratic societies to function, based on access to credible information, independent journalism, critical reflection, and trusted spaces for security dialogue.

Breakwater’s flagship event is the annual festival, taking place in Gdańsk for the first time in September 24-27, 2026.

The festival is organized by the Reporters Foundation – the only independent investigative and innovation hub for journalism in Poland. The mission is to strengthen fact-based reporting and cross-border collaboration.