On 2 February 2026, partners of the DEMPOD project held an online coordination meeting to review progress on podcast production and, more importantly, to further develop plans for the upcoming DEMPOD Virtual Podcast Festival, which will take place from 14 to 18 September 2026 as part of the European Digital Citizenship Week (EDCE Week).
The meeting began with a brief update on the first round of podcast production. Most partners have already uploaded their episodes, while the remaining contributions are expected to be completed by the end of February and early March. These podcasts will later be organized into thematic playlists and serve as a foundation for the festival’s public activities.
However, the core focus of the meeting was the planning of the five-day online festival. Partners discussed the overall vision, structure, and logistical setup of the event, including the daily rhythm, coordination roles, and technical arrangements. Special attention was given to how the festival can meaningfully engage young people, foster creativity, and strengthen their media literacy and digital citizenship skills.
The festival aims to bring together up to 1,000 young people from across Europe in an interactive digital space that combines learning, dialogue, and creative participation. It is designed not only as a showcase of youth-produced podcasts, but also as a platform for exchange, skill-building, and collaboration between young creators, educators, and media professionals.
Partners reviewed a draft proposal prepared by GEYC outlining the initial festival concept and agreed to provide feedback by 10 February. They also clarified their responsibilities in terms of proposing speakers, designing workshops, recruiting participants, and contributing to a joint communication campaign in the coming months.
Key next steps include finalizing the first round of podcasts by March, submitting workshop and speaker proposals by April, and launching a coordinated outreach campaign in August 2026 to ensure broad participation from youth organizations, schools, universities, and partner networks.
The next online coordination meeting is scheduled for 2 March at 13:00 CET, where partners will continue refining the program, session topics, and operational details of the festival.
Through strong collaboration and shared commitment, the DEMPOD partners are laying the groundwork for a dynamic and inclusive digital event that will empower young people to critically engage with media, express their voices through podcasting, and actively participate in Europe’s digital public space.