Vegans want subsidies like churches. Norwegian dispute returns to court

In Norway, the state provides financial support to both religious and non-religious communities. Norsk vegansamfunn wants to join their ranks. The association argues that veganism is a worldview that deserves equal treatment. After losing in the first instance, the case is set to return to court in November.

A vegan confirmation ceremony, a wedding ceremony, and even a gathering with roses outside a slaughterhouse. Norsk vegansamfunn has its own ways of marking important moments and expressing its beliefs. It also wants to obtain the status of a worldview community, known in Norwegian as a livssynssamfunn. The state has so far refused, finding that the organisation's activities cover too narrow a range of life.

For someone accustomed to Polish realities, the very premise of this system may seem unusual. Norway funds religious communities, but also provides support to organisations centred around a non-religious worldview. Humanists are among those that benefit. Therefore, one does not need to believe in God to receive a subsidy.

As the Norwegian government explains, the aim is to provide comparable funding for communities on a per-member basis. The benchmark is public spending on the Church of Norway.

In 2026, the rate is NOK 1,611 per year for each member who meets the statutory requirements. With 1,000 such people, this amounts to more than NOK 1.6 million for an organisation. The money does not go into the accounts of its members. Simply giving up meat, therefore, does not open the way to a new benefit.

Vegans argue that their beliefs concern much more than food. The association's declaration speaks of avoiding violence, opposing discrimination against people, and responsibility for nature. Its members believe that these principles form a coherent way of looking at the world.

The organisation offers child naming ceremonies, known as navnefest, confirmations, wedding ceremonies and funerals. A navnefest is a secular welcome ceremony for a child.

A distinctive custom is the rose ceremony. Participants gather near a slaughterhouse, bring flowers, and silently commemorate the animals being killed. They then lay down roses and leave. According to the association's description, the gatherings are intended for mourning and reflection, without banners, chants or confrontation.

The state refused registration, and on 3 July 2025, the Oslo court of first instance ruled in its favour. It found that the association's activities focus primarily on preventing the exploitation and suffering of animals. In its view, this is too narrow in scope to meet the requirements of the Act on Religious and Worldview Communities.

However, the court noted that refusal of registration does not deprive vegans of protection against discrimination. In the grounds for the judgment, it also allowed for the possibility of a different assessment in the future if the organisation's broader worldview-related activities and ceremonies develop further.

A name and a group of like-minded people alone are not enough. Norwegian regulations require the shared practice of a faith or worldview. The latter should form a coherent picture of humanity's place in the world and answer fundamental questions about good and evil. As the government guide points out, an online group alone does not meet these conditions.

So if someone gathered supporters of a plastic-free life and announced the creation of a new community, that idea alone would not secure a subsidy. They would still have to demonstrate that the organisation meets the requirements concerning worldview and activities. To receive support in 2026, it is also necessary to have at least 100 members who meet the statutory requirements.

Norsk vegansamfunn believes it deserves the same treatment as recognised communities and has appealed the ruling. According to Vårt Land, the appeal is to be heard by the Borgarting Court of Appeal in Oslo in November 2026.