Over Skellefteå
Skellefteå is a fast-growing city in Europe. The arrival of large-scale industrial investment has brought new residents, new languages and new complexity to the city of 75,000 inhabitants - alongside the question of who benefits from that transformation.
Inclusion runs through the city’s response at every level. The Skellefteå 2030 Strategy and the disability policy strategy, A Skellefteå for All, embed equality across all municipal operations, supported by dedicated officers for children’s rights, accessibility and association development. The Women Welcome Initiative - developed together with civil society stakeholders - has delivered over 300 activities creating safe spaces for local and newly arrived women, building connection across a community in flux. Advisory bodies bring the voices of national minorities, including Sámi and Finnish speakers, older people, persons with disabilities and young people directly into decision-making.
Looking ahead, the Society Expo 2026 platform connects public actors, civil society, academia and businesses to address how a city can grow without leaving anyone behind. In Skellefteå, rapid change and social sustainability are embedded within urban development
Finalist video