On 30 January 2026, the solemn hearing for the opening of the judicial year will take place, starting at 6.15 p.m. During the solemn hearing, Mattias Guyomar, President of the Court, and Prof. Dr. Stephan Harbarth, President of the German Federal Constitutional Court, will address senior representatives of the Council of Europe, Presidents of the highest courts of the 46 member States of the Council of Europe, as well as former judges of the Court, ambassadors, dignitaries of the host State, and other high level invitees.

The solemn ceremony will be streamed live on the Court’s YouTube channel.

Prior to the solemn hearing, the Judicial Seminar 2026 will take place on the topic Defending media pluralism and the democratic process in challenging times. Participants will discuss four topics: “Media pluralism and the right to information,” “Freedom of information and the competences of the European Union: the case of restrictive measures,” “The integrity of the democratic process and judicial control,” and “The free expression of the people’s will as a prerequisite for the protection of a democratic state order.”

• Programme

A video of the seminar will be made available on the Court’s website.