The co-chairs of the Media Freedom Coalition regret that RightsCon will not go ahead in Lusaka, Zambia from 5-8 May 2026. RightsCon was scheduled to take place back-to-back with the World Press Freedom Day 2026 Global Conference organised by UNESCO, which will now take place primarily online.
Many participants, including journalists, media workers and human rights defenders, were planning to gather for these important conferences. The de facto cancellation of RightsCon has prevented this from happening. This is a critical time, with independent media around the world facing an unprecedented range of threats. It is vital that these discussions take place, and we will be taking part in UNESCO’s online Global Conference alongside our many colleagues from MFC member countries and beyond.
World Press Freedom Day is the most important international occasion of the year for the community of people defending media freedom. At this time, our message to journalists and media workers, as well as the human rights defenders, organisations and partners who are dedicated to supporting them, remains the same:
we stand with you.
MFC co-chairs, Finland and the United Kingdom
