ECB Meeting Schedule 2026
Next ECB meeting and rate decision
The next ECB meeting is December 16–17, 2026, with the rate decision released Dec 17, 2026 at 14:15 Frankfurt time (13:15 UK) and the President's press conference at 14:45 Frankfurt time (13:45 UK). This meeting includes new staff macroeconomic projections.
- Staff projections
- Yes — new macroeconomic projections
- Meeting account released
- Jan 14, 2027
- What's at stake
- Final projections of the year; sets the opening rate path for 2027.
Track the data feeding this decision on the economic calendar, follow the wire on live news, or read the latest central bank coverage.
The European Central Bank's Governing Council holds eight monetary policy meetings in 2026. Rate decisions are published at 14:15 CET on the second day, followed by the President's press conference at 14:45 CET. Four of the eight meetings bring new staff macroeconomic projections — those tend to be the highest-volatility sessions for the euro, Bunds and European bank stocks.
2026 Governing Council meeting dates
| Month | Meeting | Decision day | Projections | Account released |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| February | 4–5 | Feb 5, 2026 | — | Mar 5, 2026 |
| March | 18–19 | Mar 19, 2026 | Yes | Apr 16, 2026 |
| April | 29–30 | Apr 30, 2026 | — | May 28, 2026 |
| June | 10–11 | Jun 11, 2026 | Yes | Jul 9, 2026 |
| July | 22–23 | Jul 23, 2026 | — | Aug 20, 2026 |
| September | 9–10 | Sep 10, 2026 | Yes | Oct 8, 2026 |
| October | 28–29 | Oct 29, 2026 | — | Nov 26, 2026 |
| December | 16–17 | Dec 17, 2026 | Yes | Jan 14, 2027 |
Source: European Central Bank Governing Council calendar. The meeting account is released roughly four weeks after each decision. Times shown in CET/CEST.
How to trade ECB days
The euro, Bund futures and European rate markets typically reprice twice: once on the 14:15 CET statement and again through the press conference, where the President's answers on inflation persistence and the easing path matter more than the prepared remarks. Projections meetings add staff forecasts for growth and inflation, and revisions to the core inflation path often move EUR rates more than the decision itself. Watch peripheral spreads — BTP-Bund is the market's real-time stress gauge on ECB days.
Track it live on the desk
- Economic calendar — euro-area CPI, PMIs and every print that shapes the ECB's path.
- 2026 FOMC calendar & interest rate decision dates — the other half of the transatlantic rate story.
- Bank of Japan meeting schedule 2026 — BoJ dates, Outlook Report meetings and press conferences.
- 2026 interest rate forecast — expected Fed, ECB, BoE and BoJ rate paths for the year.
- Newsroom — central bank coverage and post-decision analysis.
- Live news feed — headlines as the statement crosses the wire.
ECB decision time in UK, US and Asia
The ECB publishes its decision at 2:15pm Frankfurt time, with the President's press conference at 2:45pm. Elsewhere that is:
- London (UK): 1:15pm decision, 1:45pm press conference.
- New York: 8:15am decision, 8:45am press conference (one hour later during the clock-change gaps).
- Tokyo: 9:15pm in the European summer, 10:15pm in the European winter.
- Sydney: late evening to around midnight local time, depending on the season.
Release-day routine
- Before the decision, check what markets are pricing for the deposit facility rate.
- At 2:15pm Frankfurt time, read the rate decision and the monetary policy statement.
- In March, June, September and December, check the staff projections for inflation and growth.
- From 2:45pm, follow the press conference for guidance on future meetings.
- Watch the euro and German two-year yields for the market's reading.