ECB Meeting Schedule 2026
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.
Next ECB meeting
The next ECB meeting is October 28–29, 2026, with the rate decision released Oct 29, 2026 at 14:15 CET and the President's press conference at 14:45 CET. This is a statement-only meeting — no new projections.
- Staff projections
- No
- Meeting account released
- Nov 26, 2026
- What's at stake
- Positioning meeting ahead of the December projections round.
Track the data feeding this decision on the economic calendar, follow the wire on live news, or read the latest central bank coverage.
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.
- Fed meeting schedule — the other half of the transatlantic rate story.
- Newsroom — central bank coverage and post-decision analysis.
- Live news feed — headlines as the statement crosses the wire.