COP31 – Global Times

The Global Calendar: Key Dates to Watch Before 2026 Ends

By globaltimesWorld Newscalendar, COP31, Fed meeting, G20

The last stretch of 2026 is unusually crowded. Economic policy, elections, diplomacy and climate negotiations all converge in the next ten weeks, and several of them are tightly linked to the same underlying story: the energy shock and the war behind it. Here are the dates worth marking.

October 27: Federal Reserve Decision

The Fed’s next policy meeting follows September’s quarter-point increase to 3.75%-4.00%. Some banks expect a further hike, while others see a pause. The result will influence borrowing costs well beyond the United States.

October: Possible Ukraine Talks

Kyiv has said it is preparing for a new trilateral round with Russia and the United States this month. The Kremlin has not ruled it out, but no schedule has been confirmed in the reporting reviewed here.

November 3: U.S. Midterm Elections

Control of the House and Senate is at stake. Polls currently favor Democrats in national preference, and the result could reshape U.S. policy on tariffs, the Iran war and spending.

November 9 to 20: COP31 in Antalya

The Leaders’ Summit on November 11 and 12 is the highlight. Climate finance and implementation of existing pledges are expected to lead the agenda.

Early December: Another Fed Meeting

The committee wraps up its year with a final meeting in early December, when new projections will show how officials see inflation and rates in 2027.

December 10: Nobel Ceremony

Navi Pillay receives the Peace Prize in Oslo, a moment that is likely to focus attention on international law.

December: G20 Summit in Miami

Leaders of the world’s major economies are scheduled to gather in Miami. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he would be willing to meet Vladimir Putin there, though no such meeting has been arranged.

The Constant: Oil and Hormuz

No date on the calendar will matter as much as the day-to-day condition of the Strait of Hormuz. With traffic at roughly two-thirds of its pre-war level and Brent above $100, any breakthrough or escalation there could alter the outlook for every item above.

This article reflects reporting available as of October 16, 2026. Fast-moving events may have changed since.

COP31 in Antalya: A Climate Summit Held in the Shadow of an Energy Crisis

In less than four weeks, the world’s climate diplomats will gather in the Turkish resort city of Antalya for COP31, the annual United Nations climate conference. It runs from November 9 to 20 and arrives at an awkward moment, with energy security dominating headlines.

An Unusual Hosting Deal

Türkiye won the right to host after a long standoff with Australia, which had also bid. The compromise gave Ankara the presidency of the summit, held by Environment Minister Murat Kurum, while Australia leads the negotiations. The arrangement is unusual, and organizers say it will test how smoothly a co-led process can work.

An “Implementation COP”

Officials have described COP31 as an implementation COP, meaning the emphasis is on turning existing promises into measurable results. It builds on the COP30 outcome in Belém, Brazil, last year. Expect debate on three areas in particular:

Climate finance: developing countries have long argued that funding for mitigation and adaptation falls short.

National climate plans: the strengthening of new national targets, often referred to as NDCs.

Adaptation and resilience: the Pacific region, which Australia has said it wants to support, is a particular focus.

The Energy Backdrop

This year’s talks take place while oil trades above $100 a barrel and governments are releasing emergency fuel stocks. That cuts two ways. High fossil fuel prices strengthen the economic case for renewables and efficiency, but energy-security worries can also push countries toward more domestic oil, gas and coal. How negotiators handle that tension is likely to shape whether Antalya is remembered as a turning point or just another round of pledges.