Türkiye has set the COP31 leaders summit for 11–12 November in Antalya, fixing the centrepiece of the UN Climate Change Conference’s first week as preparations for participants at the Antalya EXPO Center approach completion.
The dates were announced at a briefing on 25 September by Deputy Foreign Minister Berris Ekinci and reported by Türkiye’s state news agency Anadolu. COP31 itself runs from 9 to 20 November 2026, with the leaders’ summit expected to bring heads of state and government together to raise political ambition, announce commitments and give momentum to the negotiations.
FAKTA
- The COP31 World Leaders’ Summit will take place on 11–12 November 2026, during the first week of the conference, according to the Turkish Foreign Ministry briefing.
- COP31 runs from 9 to 20 November 2026 at the Antalya EXPO Center on Türkiye’s Mediterranean coast.
- Under the Türkiye–Australia partnership, Türkiye holds the COP31 Presidency and hosts the summit while Australia’s Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen, as President of Negotiations, leads the formal negotiations.
- COP31 President-Designate Murat Kurum had earlier announced the summit in an open letter published by the UNFCCC, describing it as a key moment for political momentum.
- The summit was originally expected in Istanbul but was moved to Antalya, where the negotiations are taking place.
- A pre-COP meeting for negotiators is scheduled for 5–8 October 2026 in Fiji, with a leaders’ event in Tuvalu.
COP31 leaders summit programme takes shape
According to Anadolu’s account of the briefing, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and UN Secretary-General António Guterres are expected to welcome arriving leaders. After the opening ceremony, Erdoğan, Guterres and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese are expected to deliver remarks, and the first day will close with a gala dinner for heads of state and government hosted by Erdoğan and first lady Emine Erdoğan.
The briefing did not say which leaders have confirmed attendance. Ekinci said Ankara hopes the summit will provide “strong political momentum” for climate action. The leaders’ summit will take place on the third and fourth day of the talks — a Wednesday and Thursday — rather than on the opening days as at some previous COPs.
A dual-presidency model for COP31
COP31 follows an unusual arrangement: Türkiye hosts the conference and exercises the formal functions of the Presidency, while Australia leads the negotiations. The UNFCCC published COP31 President-Designate Kurum’s open letter setting out the dates, and the model is described as combining Türkiye’s role as host and Presidency with Australia’s responsibility for steering the negotiating process.
COP31 is being framed by the incoming presidency as an “Implementation COP” and “COP of the Future”, with priorities spanning the energy transition and electrification, zero waste and the circular economy, resilient cities, food security and climate finance. The full story is also available on Watan News International’s main site.
