Meeting organized by Gilmar Mendes reaches its 14th edition, expanding the themes of the debates and will address the new international order, technology and sovereignty
The will have a change of embouchure this year. The event created by the dean minister (the oldest) of the Federal Supreme Court, , is more globalized and with a record of international speakers – and not just focused on Brazilian and Portuguese themes.
The meeting became known as Gilmarpalooza (a play on the name of the musical event Lollapalooza). It was an opportunity for Brazilian authorities to talk about Brazil in Portugal. In this year’s edition, Gilmar chose a more comprehensive theme: new international order, technology and sovereignty. For debate, the Lisbon Forum will have the largest participation of foreigners in its history. There will be speakers from Germany, France, United Kingdom, USA, Spain, Greece, Italy, Mozambique, Cape Verde, Colombia and Angola.
Among the starred international guests are the Israeli-American () and the American (Pulitzer Prize). The following infographic lists some of the foreigners who will be at the 14th Lisbon Forum, to be held from June 1st to 3rd, 2026:
The arrival of more international guests coincides with the reduction in the number of Brazilian authorities among the speakers. On Friday (May 29, 2026), the day he landed in Lisbon, Gilmar told the Poder360 that the Forum intends to become increasingly international, but “It also continues to be an important Portuguese-Brazilian event”.
The Supreme Court minister stated that he normally sees the decrease in the number of confirmed authorities among the speakers. He mentioned the fact that 2026 is an election year.
“Brazil is going through a circumstance. People are being replaced in their positions, governors have stepped aside to contest elections, so it is natural for there to be this type of replacement”he declared.
“But the forum is a markedly academic event and we will have the presence of the 2025 Nobel Prize in Economics. We will have Thomas Friedman, which is which is extremely important for the discussion about the global international order. We will have Ivan Duque, former president of Colombia. We will have the former president of Cape Verde, the former president of Brazil Michel Temer, once again. In short, we will have several people”he stated.
ABSENCES
The STF is going through a moment of pressure. The Court is poorly evaluated by the population and its image is damaged. AtlasIntel research released on March 20 showed that of the 10 ministers who are in the Supreme Court at the moment (since Roberto Barroso’s retirement), .
The only minister who was better rated (43%) than rejected (36%) is . The Court minister was at the 2025 forum, but will not attend this year’s edition.
Mendonça is the rapporteur of the 2 most controversial cases in Brazilian justice – the investigations into fraud at the National Social Security Institute and regarding Banco Master.
The Master case began to be processed in the STF from December 2025, under the command of Minister Dias Toffoli. With his departure on February 12th, Mendonça. Daniel Vorcaro, founder of the bank, at the Federal Police Superintendency in Brasília since March 4th.
Among those investigated in the Master case is the senator (PP-PI). The congressman issued a search and seizure warrant executed by the PF on May 7. According to the PF, Vorcaro had granted economic advantages to the senator in exchange for the congressman’s favorable actions towards the interests of the economic group linked to the bank. Ciro Nogueira denied having committed irregularities and claimed to have been the target of an operation. The senator participated in the 2025 Lisbon Forum, but is not among the speakers at this year’s edition.
The number of ministers in the (PT) government will also be smaller in 2026 compared to 2025. One of the casualties this year is the Union’s attorney general, . Recently, he saw his name put forward by the Senate to fill the vacancy left by Roberto Barroso in the STF.
PARTIES AND PRIVATE DINNERS
During the days they spend in Portugal, representatives of private companies take the opportunity to offer private parties and dinners for participants – an opportunity that businesspeople have to get closer to legal operators who work in the Judiciary. This type of contact is criticized by those who consider such meetings inappropriate.
Gilmar Mendes differently. The Dean of the STF believes that meetings such as the Forum Paulista allow members of the Judiciary to reflect on relevant contemporary issues, exchange experiences with each other and thus be better prepared for the exercise of the judiciary.
In an interview in May 2025, Mendes was asked whether there was a conflict of interest between his work as a judge and the activity of the IDP, which has contracts with the Brazilian Football Confederation to provide courses. and judge cases related to the CBF.
“I am a member of the IDP and, at a given historical moment, the IDP accepted a proposal from the CBF to carry out the courses that the CBF Academy offered. It was just a private law contract directed by the management of the IDP”he declared.
14TH LISBON FORUM
The theme of this year’s Lisbon Forum is “New international order, technology and sovereignty: democratic, economic and social challenges”. All debates will be held from June 1st to 3rd at .
In addition to the names already mentioned, it will be attended by, for example, Gabriel Galípolo, president of the Central Bank, and Aloízio Mercadante, president of the National Bank for Economic and Social Development.
The 14th Lisbon Forum is the High Patronage of the Presidency of the Portuguese Republic, given by the Portuguese president to initiatives, events, congresses, projects or celebrations that are considered to be of special public interest, civic, cultural, scientific, social or economic relevance for Portugal.
It is not about providing financing or material support. It is a seal of recognition and institutional prestige.
The distinction, according to the organization of the event, “recognizes the institutional, academic and civic relevance of the event, as well as its contribution to strengthening democratic debate and reflection on contemporary challenges faced by Portugal, Brazil and the international community”.
WHO PAYS
The Lisbon Forum is organized by IDP (Brazilian Institute of Education, Development and Research), in partnership with FGV Justiça and LPL (Lisbon Public Law Research Centre).
IDP is a private higher education company founded in 1998, in Brasília, by Gilmar Mendes – at the time, it had 2 other partners: Inocêncio Mártires Coelho (who was Attorney General of the Republic from 1981 to 1985) and Paulo Gonet Branco, who is the current Attorney General of the Republic and will be at this year’s event. Both Inocêncio and Paulo Gonet left society.
O Poder360 He contacted the IDP, FGV Justiça and LPL, through the press offices, to ask if the organization of the Lisbon Forum had any expenses with tickets and/or accommodation for this year’s guests. There was no response until the publication of this report. The text will be updated if a statement is sent to this digital newspaper.
Here are all the confirmed participants at the 14th Lisbon Forum:
