Dublin is preparing to host more than 50 European heads of state and government on Thursday 12 November 2026 for the ninth summit of the European Political Community, in what is being described as the largest diplomatic gathering in the history of the Irish state.

The summit will take place at the Convention Centre Dublin, chaired by Taoiseach Micheál Martin. Leaders from across the continent will join the heads of the EU institutions for informal political and strategic discussions under the theme Europe – strong, secure and connected.

The Irish government says the leaders will share their perspectives on the most pressing issues of the day, including the economic, political and security challenges facing Europe. A formal dinner for the visiting leaders will be held at the National Gallery of Ireland on Thursday evening.

A forum created after the invasion of Ukraine

The European Political Community was established in 2022 to promote political dialogue and cooperation within the wider European family, in the months after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It brings together EU member states and non-EU European countries in a single forum, with no founding charter and no permanent secretariat.

Since then it has become a regular meeting point for European leaders to address shared challenges. The Dublin summit is the ninth, and Ireland is hosting it during its presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Swiss President Guy Parmelin is among those travelling to Dublin. Switzerland will itself host the next summit in Zurich in April 2027, and Parmelin is due to take part in a discussion on strengthening European competitiveness through innovation, connectivity and energy security, as well as holding bilateral meetings on the sidelines.

EU leaders meet again on Friday

The Dublin gathering does not end on Thursday. On Friday 13 November, the same venue hosts an informal meeting of EU heads of state or government, chaired by European Council President António Costa, giving the bloc's leaders a separate space to align their long-term strategic direction away from the formal structures of Brussels.

Britain's Prime Minister Andy Burnham is due to attend the European Political Community summit, where Downing Street sources say he hopes to finalise Labour's reset deal with the EU and meet many European leaders for the first time since taking office.

Travel disruption from today

Major travel disruption is expected in Dublin from today, Tuesday 10 November, until Friday 13 November. Around 50 leaders will attend events that affect routes to Dublin Airport, the city centre and hotels used by the delegations.

The gatherings are prompting the largest security operation ever conducted by An Garda Síochána, Ireland's police service, with road closures and diversions around the Convention Centre Dublin and the National Gallery. Travellers flying in or out of Dublin Airport this week are advised to allow extra time and check routes before setting out.

From Dublin, the forum moves on to Zurich in April 2027, followed by Greece later that year, with summits then planned in Azerbaijan and Latvia by 2028.