Programme for the 2023 Holberg Week

The annual Holberg Week takes place in the beginning of June as a celebration of the Holberg Prize Laureate, the Nils Klim Prize Laureate, and the Holberg Prize School Project winners. The week includes a number of events, that feature the Laureates as well as other prominent guests from Norway and abroad. 

2023 marks the 20th anniversary of the Holberg Prize, and throughout the year, there will be a number of events in different countries. Details will follow on our events page.

More information on the Holberg Week events, including livestream links, will also be added to our events page, as well as to the list below, as the details become finalised. All times are UTC +2 / CEST, unless otherwise stated.

For more information, see here.

Programme for the Holberg Week

The Holberg Symposium
Date: Tuesday, 6 June. 
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Venue: The University Aula in Bergen
Livestream

Academic symposium held in honour of the 2023 Holberg Laureate. There will be an introduction of the topic by the Laureate, followed by presentations by invited guests, a panel discussion and in the end an open Q&A session. 

Speakers:

• Joan Martinez-Alier (Introduction of topic)
• Silvio Funtowicz
• Ksenija Hanacek
• Brototi Roy

For more information, see here.

The Nils Klim Seminar
Date: Tuesday, 6 June.
Time: 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Venue: The University Aula in Bergen
Livestream

Academic seminar held in honour of the 2023 Nils Klim Laureate and her/his research. There will be an introduction of the topic by the Nils Klim Laureate, followed by presentations by invited guests, a panel discussion and a Q&A session. 

Speakers:

• Simona Zetterberg-Nielsen (Introduction of topic)
• Aina Nøding
• Ulrik Langen
• Samuli Björninen

For more information, see here.

An Evening with the Holberg Prize
Date: Tuesday, 6 June
Time: 6:00 p.m.–7:15 p.m.
Venue: House of Literature in Bergen
Livestream

This event will feature the Holberg Laureate and the Nils Klim Laureate in conversation about their background, their research and their experiences from academia, amongst other themes. Details to follow. 
 

Seminar for the Holberg Prize School Project
Date: Wednesday, 7 June
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 14:00 p.m.
Venue: Tårnsalen, Bergen University Museum - Natural History.

A closed seminar where the School Project finalists and the Teacher Prize recipient discuss their respective projects. The students' teachers and researcher advisers also participate. Usually, the Nils Klim Laureate will also visit the students and discuss the research process.
 

The Holberg Masterclass
Date: Wednesday, 7 June
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Venue: The University Aula in Bergen
Livestream

For the 2023 Holberg Week we will offer scholarships for five PhD candidates in the Nordic countries to participate in a masterclass with the Holberg Prize Laureate. Each participant will be asked to prepare a 5-minute presentation related to the theme chosen by the Holberg Laureate. After the presentations there will be a panel discussion, moderated by the Laureate.
 

The Holberg Lecture
Date: Wednesday, 7 June
Time: 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Venue: The University Aula in Bergen
Livestream

Lecture by the Holberg Laureate. This is the Laureate's academic statement during the Holberg Week. The lecture will be approximately one hour long.
 

Celebratory Dinner for the Holberg Prize School Project
Date: Wednesday, 7 June
Time: 7:00 p.m. – 
Venue: Grand Bergen, Nedre Ole Bulls plass 1. 

A celebratory dinner where the Holberg Prize School Project finalists will present their papers. By invitation only.
 

Award Ceremony for the Holberg Prize School Project
Date: Thursday, 8 June
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Venue: Bergen Katedralskole / Bergen Cathedral School

20 upper secondary schools and around 1000 students from all over Norway participate in the Holberg Prize School Project each year. During the ceremony, Norwegian Minister of Education Tonje Brenna will announce the First, Second and Third Prize – awarded to the student finalists – as well as the Teacher's Prize. The Award Ceremony is open to anyone who is interested. Please note that most of the event will be conducted in Norwegian. 
 

Award Ceremony for the Holberg Prize and the Nils Klim Prize
Date: Thursday, 8 June
Time: 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Venue: University Aula in Bergen
Livestream

The Official Award Ceremony for the Holberg Prize and the Nils Klim Prize. The Award Ceremony will be followed by a short reception.  This event requires registration, and it will be livestreamed.
 

The Government Banquet at Haakon's Hall
Date: Thursday, 8 June
Time: 6:15 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. 
Venue: Haakon's Hall, Bergen

Banquet in honour of the Holberg Laureate and Nils Klim Laureate, hosted by the Norwegian Government. This event is by invitation only and will not be livestreamed. 
 

The Holberg Laureate LIVE (Oslo)
Date: Friday, 9 June
Time: 6:00 p.m.–7.15 p.m.
Venue: House of Literature in Oslo
Livestream

The day after receiving the 2023 Holberg Prize in Bergen, the Laureate will be joining a Norwegian academic in conversation at the House of Literature in Oslo. The conversation topic will be chosen by the Laureate, and this event marks the end of the 2023 Holberg Week celebrations. Further information on the event will follow after the Holberg Prize Announcement on 14 March.