NPLD-Coppieters Campus 2026 – Shaping the Future of Linguistic Diversity: The Role of Young People
The future of Europe’s regional and minority languages depends on the choices young people make every day. The languages they speak with friends, listen to in music and choose to pass on. As they grow up in digital and multilingual environments, their relationship with minority languages is shaped by power relations, socioeconomic realities and new forms of social interaction. This event brings together researchers, policymakers, educators, media professionals and youth organisations to explore how young people can be engaged as active agents in sustaining linguistic diversity, and what institutions can do to support them.
NPLD-Coppieters Campus 2026 – Shaping the Future of Linguistic Diversity: The Role of Young People, will take place on 12-13 November 2026 at Es Baluard Museu d’Art Contemporani de Palma, in Palma (Mallorca). Over two days, participants will engage in keynote speeches, case studies and roundtable discussions. The programme starts with the situation of Catalan among young people in the Balearic Islands and then turns to experiences from Frisian, Welsh, Sorbian, Basque, Galician and Swedish/Finnish-speaking communities. Topics include language education, music, role models, public media and the digital lives of young speakers and content creators. The event offers a space for dialogue and exchange of practice on language use among young people and on the policies that support it.
Program
DAY 1: THURSDAY, 12 NOVEMBER
Registration
Welcome Words
- Inaki Irazabalbeitia, Coppieters Foundation
- Anna Jungner-Nordgren, Network to Promote Linguistic Diversity (NPLD)
- Jaume Bauzà, Regional Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports. Government of the Balearic Islands
KEYNOTE: When the Future of the Languages Depends on the Future of Young People: Youth and Catalan Language in the Balearic Islands
The keynote will explore the role of young people in shaping the future of
linguistic diversity, focusing on the use of Catalan among youth in the
Balearic Islands. It will examine how power relations, socioeconomic
challenges and new forms of digital socialisation influence young people’s
language choices, transmission and engagement with minoritised
languages.
Catalina Amengual, University of the Balearic Islands
Networking Lunch
BEST PRACTICES PANEL (I): EXPERIENCES FROM THE BALEARIC ISLANDS
- Programmes to Promote Catalan language in Education
Feliça Vidal, Language Normalisation and Educational Planning Service. Government of the Balearic Islands
An overview of educational programmes that strengthen pupils’ competence in Catalan and encourage its everyday use, including language facilitators, exchanges between Catalan-speaking territories and workshops for recently arrived young people
- Catalan in the Balearic Music Scene: Music, Community and Linguistic Commitment
Àngel Pujol, Manangelment Musical Association
How music can build community and strengthen the social presence of Catalan, with examples showing the importance of public support and the potential of high-quality local music projects
- Joves de Mallorca per la Llengua: Building Social Consensus in Support of Catalan
Josep Buades, Joves de Mallorca per la Llengua
A presentation of the organisation’s current campaigns, cultural events and youth activities, together with the main challenges and priorities guiding its work to promote Catalan in Mallorca
- Mel: Connecting with Young People Through Public Media
Míriam Garcia Velasco, Corporate Communications, Marketing and Digital Media. IB3
IB3’s new digital project uses social-first content, local creators and innovative formats to reach younger audiences, build communities and give greater visibility to Catalan online
- L’Aferrada: A Meeting Point for Young Digital Creators in Catalan
Francisca Niell, Obra Cultural Balear
L’Aferrada brings together Catalan-language content creators from across the Catalan-speaking territories to strengthen their professional networks and expand the presence of Catalan in the digital sphere
Moderator: Laia Carrera, Government of the Balearic Islands
BEST PRACTICES PANEL (II): ENGAGING YOUNG SPEAKERS ACROSS EUROPE
- Taking Frisian to the Streets: The Frisian Language Village for pupils in the age of 10-14
Eabele Tjepkema, NHL Stenden University, (Frisian)
- Encouraging language use through music
Myfanwy Jones, Mentrau Iaith Cymru, (Welsh)
- Beyond Language Learning: The Innovative Adult Education Project Zorja
Karlina Margrafojc, Sorbian Institute, (Sorbian)
- Young People in Álava and Their Role Models: Pathways to Reimagining the Future
Miren Otxotorena, Soziolinguistika Klusterra, (Basque)
- Arnasetik (Basque Government – Euskarabidea- UEMA)
Sonia Rodríguez, Government of the Basque Country, (Basque)
- Role Models as Connectors
Annika Jokela-Heiman, Kielilähettiläät ry/Språkambassadörerna
rf (Language Ambassadors), (Swedish/Finnish)
Moderator: Cor van der Meer, Mercator-Fryske Akademy
DAY 2: FRIDAY, 13 NOVEMBER
PANEL DISCUSSION: SHAPING THE FUTURE OF LINGUISTIC DIVERSITY
Speakers:
Llorenç Perelló, Government of the Balearic Islands
Aitor Aldasoro, Government of the Basque Country
Jeremy Evas, Welsh Government
Anna Jungner-Nordgren, Folktinget
Moderator: Laia Carrera, Government of the Balearic Islands
LANGUAGES IN THE DIGITAL LIVES OF YOUNG PEOPLE
- Keynote reflection: Young People and Minoritised Languages in the Digital Sphere: Evidence, Practices and Policy Responses
Elin Haf Gruffydd Jones, University of Wales Trinity Saint David
Drawing on the recent Council of Europe study on regional and minority language protection and the FOSTERLANG report on young speakers and content creators, this reflection examines how digital media are reshaping language use, visibility, and participation among younger generations.
- Keynote reflection: Reaching Young Audiences Through Welsh-Language Digital Content
Guto Rhun, Digital Content Commissioner, S4C
Moderator: Cor van der Meer, Mercator-Fryske Akademy
Coffee Break
LANGUAGES IN THE DIGITAL LIVES OF YOUNG PEOPLE
- Case study: Outside the Box: How Welsh Media Is Innovating
Iwan Pitts, Bangor University
- Case study: Sarean Euskaraz: A Digital Culture Festival and Conference for Young People in Basque
Paula Kasares, Euskarabidea
Marta Chamorro, Euskarabidea
Moderator: Cor van der Meer, Mercator-Fryske Akademy
FROM CLASSROOM TO COMMUNITY: STRENGTHENING THE SOCIAL USE OF LANGUAGES AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE
- Keynote reflection: Beyond the Classroom: What Do Young People’s Language Practices Reveal About Language Policy?
Maria del Mar Vanrell, University of the Balearic Islands
Knowledge of a language does not guarantee its social use. Drawing on data concerning the language practices of young people in the Balearic Islands, this contribution will examine the factors shaping the use of Catalan outside the classroom and consider their implications for designing language policies that respond to local contexts and foster sustained social use.
- Case study: The Basque Language Interpretation Centre: attitude as a driving force for the future
Iurdana Acasuso Atutxa, Euskararen Etxea, (Basque)
- Case study: Aquí tamén se fala galego! (Galician is spoken here too!)
Alberto Pombo, IES Plurilingüe Rafael Dieste (A Coruña), (Galician)
Mónica Reigía, IES Plurilingüe Rafael Dieste (A Coruña), (Galician)
Moderator: Laia Carrera, Government of the Balearic Islands
Networking Lunch
Practicalities:
Dates and Time:
12 November 2026, 11:30 – 13 November 2026, 14:00
Venue:
Es Baluard Museu d’Art Contemporani de Palma, Plaça de la Porta de Santa Catalina 10, Palma (Mallorca), Spain
Language:
The event will be conducted in English, Spanish and Catalan
Contact:
Media inquiries can be adressed to info@ideasforeurope.eu
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This event is a joint initiative between Network to Promote Linguistic Diversity (NPLD) and Coppieters Foundation.
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This event is financially supported by the European Parliament. The European Parliament is not liable for the content of the event nor for the opinions of the speakers.
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Photo by Coppieters
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