Arendalsuka 2025

Once again, the cobblestones of the small Norwegian coastal town of Arendal echoed with the hurried footsteps of ministers, CEOs, local politicians, students, and organisations alike.

For one week each August, forty-six thousand locals hand over their keys, rent out their homes, and retreat, leaving the town to more than 175,000 participants. Narrow streets filled with 200 stands and 2,200 events. In their place come top politicians in shorts balancing ice creams, journalists chasing stories in real time, CEOs scanning the crowd for MPs, and activists armed with leaflets and merch.

Packed rooms are the norm during Arendalsuka, where every charming loft, garden, and harbour house is turned into a venue for debate. Photo: Sverre Søderberg / Rud Pedersen

Turning meetings into momentum
For Rud Pedersen, Arendalsuka is both a tradition and a unique working week. We arrive with a plan, and so do our clients. Together, we arrange dozens of one-on-one meetings, linking business leaders with decision makers and helping industries find their voice in the political conversation. In Arendal, the line between an old classmate and a parliamentarian is surprisingly thin. Our role is to make sure clients know which is which and how to seize the moment.

Security, elections, and the issues that defined the week
This year, headlines were dominated by security and preparedness. War and geopolitical tensions still cast long shadows over Europe. But national campaign rituals also took center stage. Monday night’s party leader debate set the tone: fiery exchanges, sharp rhetoric, and politicians racing home to campaign ahead of the September 8th election.

Senior Manager Kristine Sandvik moderates a discussion on solutions for a circular economy, engaging themes spark real energy. Photo: Sverre Søderberg / Rud Pedersen

We led events on nuclear energy, health insurance, extreme weather, building regulations, and youth employment. We also moderated conversations on digital communication infrastructure in an increasingly vulnerable world, where the risk of sabotage grows alongside our reliance on connectivity. Other sessions highlighted health (focusing on living with type 1 diabetes and the life-changing impact of early detection) and minerals that are essential for Europe’s green transition, rearmament, and industrial competitiveness.

Rud Pedersen Associate Director and Former State Secretary Roger Schjerva led a sharp and timely debate on minerals and resources more crucial than ever in today’s Europe. Photo: Sverre Søderberg / Rud Pedersen

Building networks for facing uncertainty
The backdrop is serious. Norway’s defence sector has never been more crucial, the health sector more pressured, and businesses face regulatory challenges in a volatile political landscape. With polls swinging between the center-left and a resurgent conservative coalition, uncertainty is the only certainty. Much of our work in Arendal focused on preparing clients for all possible outcomes, ensuring they have broad political networks and the foresight to adapt.

Amid it all, Rud Pedersen hosted our own event: “10 Measures to Realize Norway’s Role in Europe’s Circular Transition”, with leading voices from major industrial companies. We gathered a full house to discuss competitiveness, sustainable growth, and security in an era defined by resource scarcity and geopolitical turbulence.

Rud Pedersen Director Mona Høvset leading the discussion, creating space for dialogue between key voices and decision-makers. Photo: Sverre Søderberg / Rud Pedersen

We return home tired but energized. In a world where democratic institutions are tested, there is something quietly powerful about a place where leaders, citizens, and industries meet face-to-face, on equal terms, once a year. And if you want your company’s voice to be part of that conversation next year, give us a call and let’s discuss how you can participate.

Almost the entire Oslo office made the trip south, and while Arendalsuka is serious business, it’s also great fun to be together in the summer sun. Photo: Rud Pedersen.