Almedalen 2026
Jun 22–24, 2026, 23.00–23.00, St Hansgatan 9, Visby
Sweden faces a new digital reality where innovation is challenged by cyber threats and geopolitical uncertainty. During Almedalen Week, we're bringing together leading stakeholders to identify concrete ways to strengthen the country's digital capabilities. Our garden will also showcase practical examples of new technology that enhances security and creates new opportunities for society as a whole.
Telia at Almedalen 2026
Swedish organizations have long been digital pioneers. Our superpower is the ability to turn new technology into real-world impact for businesses, the public sector, and society at large. That strength is now being tested by rising cyber threats, geopolitical instability, and fractures in global digital ecosystems.
During this year's Almedalen Week, we're bringing together leaders from business, the public sector, and politics to explore concrete actions that can strengthen Sweden's digital edge. We'll also focus on how to balance internal capabilities with partnerships, particularly through effective public-private collaboration.
We'll examine why a robust, secure, and sovereign digital infrastructure is critical for organizations to adopt new technology without compromising security. We'll do this through seminars, meetings, and roundtable discussions. In our garden, we'll also showcase real examples of how new technologies can build digital resilience.
Below you'll find information about panel discussions at this year's event. If you can't attend in person, you can watch the panels live via a link on this page. The link will be published shortly before each panel begins.
If War Comes – Can Sweden's Digital Backbone Hold?
Date: Tuesday, June 23
Time: 1:00 PM – 1:45 PM
Organizer: Swedish Armed Forces/Telia
Location: S:t Hansgatan 9, Villa Rosenhills trädgård
Communication, command, data, and robust infrastructure are now integral to operational capability. As threats intensify, the question becomes urgent: will critical networks, communications, and digital dependencies hold when it truly matters?
Sweden needs to rapidly rebuild responsibility and collaboration, even as digital vulnerabilities and unclear accountability threaten to slow progress. The challenge is to build a robust, long-term digital defense that can withstand the initial impact and be strengthened under ongoing pressure.
Participants
Anders Olsson, CEO, Telia Sweden
Thomas Nilsson, Lieutenant General, Head of MUST, Swedish Armed Forces
Mikael Frisell, Director General, Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency
Charlotte Petri Gornitzka, Governor, Gotland County
Staffan Åkesson, CTO, Telia Sweden
Freddie Södergren, Head of Mission Critical Networks, Ericsson
Winning the AI Race: What Sweden Must Build Next
Date: Wednesday, June 24
Time: 10:00 AM – 10:30 AM
Organizer: Telia/KTH/Brookfield
Location: S:t Hansgatan 9, Villa Rosenhills trädgård
Sweden's technical universities have built strong innovation clusters with leading companies, but in the AI era past strengths no longer suffice. Global competition is accelerating, with major investments in infrastructure, data, and talent. What decisions are needed to secure Sweden's AI position?
Participants
Patrik Hofbauer, President & CEO, Telia Company
Anders Söderholm, President, KTH Royal Institute of Technology
Felipe Ortiz, Managing Partner Infrastructure Investments, Brookfield Asset Management
Maria Grimberg, Moderator, Lumo Advice
From Potential to Practice: When New Technologies Like AI Become Mission-Critical
Date: Wednesday, June 24
Time: 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM
Organizer: Telia/Telia Cygate
Location: S:t Hansgatan 9, Villa Rosenhills trädgård
What requirements must be placed on infrastructure, data centers, storage, secure networks, connectivity, data, and governance for new technologies like AI to be deployed in live operations within mission-critical organizations?
As digitalization deepens and resilience requirements increase, the entire digital chain must hold. Critical operations depend on infrastructure where everything from data centers and networks to operations and AI must work together. This conversation brings together decision-makers to examine whether Sweden's digital capacity is sufficient.
Participants
Anna Olin Kardell, Moderator
Maria Stockhaus, Member of Parliament, Moderate Party
Joel Preger, Chief AI Officer, Karolinska University Hospital
Peder Sjölander, IT Director, Swedish Tax Agency
Anders Olsson, CEO, Telia Sweden
Fredrik Sidmar, CEO, Telia Cygate
Major Investment in National Test Center for Digital Technologies to Future-Proof Swedish Industry
Date: Thursday, June 25
Time: 2:00 PM – 2:30 PM
Organizer: Telia, AstaZero (RISE), Ericsson, Lund University Faculty of Engineering, Future By Lund
Location: S:t Hansgatan 9, Villa Rosenhills trädgård
A SEK 300 million investment is now being made in a national test center for digital technologies, Digital Arena Sweden, to give Swedish companies a significant technical advantage and shorten the path from innovation to finished product. The digital backbone of the test center is built on the latest technical capabilities in 5G, 6G, and AI.
The conversation explores the center's background and purpose. Above all, it discusses how it will strengthen Sweden's innovation and competitive capacity by giving companies a technical edge and shortening the path from innovation to finished product.
Participants
Fredrik Stenberg, Head of Enterprise Business, Telia Sweden
Erik Ekudden, Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Ericsson
Annika Olsson, President, Lund University Faculty of Engineering
Peter Janevik, CEO, AstaZero (RISE)
Magnus Leonhardt, Head of Strategy and Innovation (moderator), Telia Enterprise Business
Live Streams from Almedalen:
**Tuesday, June 23
1:00 PM – 1:45 PM:**
If War Comes – Can Sweden's Digital Backbone Hold?
**Wednesday, June 24
10:00 AM – 10:30 AM:**
Winning the AI Race: What Sweden Must Build Next
2:00 PM – 2:45 PM:From Potential to Practice: When New Technologies Like AI Become Mission-Critical
**Thursday, June 25
2:00 PM – 2:30 PM:**
Major Investment in National Test Center for Digital Technologies to Future-Proof Swedish Industry
All live streams are also available to watch as recordings.
Our experts on-site
Anders Olsson – CEO of Telia Sweden
Anders is CEO of Telia Sweden and a member of Telia Company's executive management team. He brings extensive experience from leadership positions in the telecommunications industry. Anders also serves on the boards of TechSverige and the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise, and hosts Telia's presence during Almedalen Week.
Fredrik Stenberg – Head of Telia Business
Fredrik has led Telia's business division since last summer. He brings extensive experience from senior leadership roles in the telecom industry and has served on the executive management team of another operator. Fredrik has held leadership positions across business operations, customer service, and transformation. He originally comes from the Stenbeck sphere, where he worked at several companies, and has also been an entrepreneur.
Fredrik Sidmar – CEO of Telia Cygate
Fredrik is CEO of Telia Cygate, part of Telia's enterprise business and a leading provider of IT infrastructure with specialized expertise in networking, security, and cloud. Telia Cygate also leads Telia's sovereign AI initiative. With extensive experience in business development and digital transformation, Fredrik works with Swedish companies and organizations to navigate and secure their digital environments.
Charlotta Brask – Head of Sustainability, Telia Sweden
Charlotta is Head of Sustainability at Telia Sweden, leading the company's work on environmental, social, and governance initiatives. She focuses on integrating sustainability across the business – from climate targets and circular economy practices to responsible digitalization and supply chain transparency.
Magnus Leonhardt – Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer, Telia
Magnus is Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer for Telia's enterprise business. He focuses on how digitalization and emerging technologies like 5G and AI can strengthen the efficiency and competitiveness of Swedish companies and public sector organizations.
Malin Fransén Kronberg – Chief Security Officer, Telia Sweden
Malin is Chief Security Officer at Telia Sweden, working at the intersection of cybersecurity, critical infrastructure, and corporate leadership. With a strategic, holistic approach to security and resilience, she focuses on how organizations can protect their operations, customers, and society in an increasingly complex and digital world.
Staffan Åkesson – Chief Technology Officer, Telia Sweden
Staffan is Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for Telia Sweden, responsible for the country's national fixed and mobile networks – a critical part of Sweden's digital infrastructure. With extensive international experience in leadership roles at both Telia and Ericsson, he drives the development of robust, future-proof networks that enable digitalization, innovation, and essential public services.
