# Event of the week — 2026 Assistant-curated context for public speech, not an objective importance ranking or evidence of an effect on the index. Source references are retained from the September 26, 2026 research snapshot. Intervals begin on January 1: January 1–7, January 8–14, and so on. There are 39 intervals; September 24–26 is a partial week. Event dates may differ from source publication dates. The period filter selects events by their actual dates. Participant selection and rolling windows do not change the events. Themes include politics, economics, culture, technology, sport, science, health and climate. One event is selected per week independently of index movements. Editorial and geographic biases remain. The English-only speech rule does not apply to reference sources for events. Events do not enter speech shares or correlations. ## Week 1: 2026-01-01 – 2026-01-07 **CES 2026 opens** · 2026-01-06 · Technology The CES consumer technology show opened in Las Vegas, with companies presenting developments in AI, robotics and digital health. Source: [CES / CTA](https://www.ces.tech/press-releases/innovators-show-up-ces-2026-opens-today) ## Week 2: 2026-01-08 – 2026-01-14 **Golden Globes: awards season** · 2026-01-11 · Culture At the Golden Globes ceremony, Hamnet won the award for best motion picture, drama. Source: [Golden Globes](https://goldenglobes.com/video/hamnet-wins-best-picture-drama/) ## Week 3: 2026-01-15 – 2026-01-21 **Davos forum begins** · 2026-01-19 · Economy The annual World Economic Forum meeting began in Davos, bringing together leaders from government, business and civil society. Source: [World Economic Forum](https://www.weforum.org/stories/forum-institutional/davos-2026-annual-meeting-what-to-expect/) ## Week 4: 2026-01-22 – 2026-01-28 **First Federal Reserve decision of 2026** · 2026-01-28 · Economy The Federal Open Market Committee released its statement following the January meeting. Source: [Federal Reserve](https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/pressreleases/monetary20260128a.htm) ## Week 5: 2026-01-29 – 2026-02-04 **Grammys: Bad Bunny wins album of the year** · 2026-02-01 · Culture At the 68th Grammy Awards, Bad Bunny won his first album of the year award. Source: [Recording Academy](https://www.grammy.com/news/2026-grammys-nominations-full-winners-nominees-list/) ## Week 6: 2026-02-05 – 2026-02-11 **Winter Olympics open** · 2026-02-06 · Sport The opening ceremony launched the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Italy. Source: [CONI](https://milanocortina2026.coni.it/en/news/compagnoni-tomba-and-goggia-light-the-cauldrons-146-italian-athletes-parade-at-the-milano-cortina-ceremony.html) ## Week 7: 2026-02-12 – 2026-02-18 **Munich Security Conference** · 2026-02-13 · Politics The annual Munich Security Conference opened. Speeches focused on US–European relations and European security. Source: [Associated Press](https://apnews.com/article/ed14276dfe3b957490521deee3d78414) ## Week 8: 2026-02-19 – 2026-02-25 **State of the Union address** · 2026-02-24 · Politics Donald Trump delivered the annual address to a joint session of the US Congress. Source: [GovInfo](https://www.govinfo.gov/features/state-of-the-union) ## Week 9: 2026-02-26 – 2026-03-04 **US and Israeli strikes on Iran** · 2026-02-28 · Politics The US and Israel struck Iran. At an emergency UN Security Council meeting, the secretary-general called for further escalation to be prevented. Source: [United Nations](https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statements/2026-02-28/secretary-generals-remarks-the-security-council-meeting-the-situation-the-middle-east-delivered) ## Week 10: 2026-03-05 – 2026-03-11 **Winter Paralympics open** · 2026-03-06 · Sport Verona hosted the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games. Source: [International Paralympic Committee](https://www.paralympic.org/news/milano-cortina-2026-opening-ceremony) ## Week 11: 2026-03-12 – 2026-03-18 **98th Academy Awards** · 2026-03-15 · Culture Los Angeles hosted the Academy Awards, one of the central ceremonies of the film awards season. Source: [Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences](https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2026) ## Week 12: 2026-03-19 – 2026-03-25 **European Council summit** · 2026-03-19 · Politics EU leaders adopted conclusions on Ukraine, the Middle East, competitiveness and European security. Source: [European Council](https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/european-council/2026/03/19/) ## Week 13: 2026-03-26 – 2026-04-01 **WTO Ministerial Conference** · 2026-03-26 · Economy The 14th World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference opened in Yaoundé, focusing on international trade and the future of the WTO. Source: [World Trade Organization](https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news26_e/mc14_26mar26_344_e.htm) ## Week 14: 2026-04-02 – 2026-04-08 **Artemis II completes lunar flyby** · 2026-04-06 · Science The Artemis II crew completed a seven-hour lunar flyby and observations of the far side of the Moon. Source: [NASA](https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/missions/2026/04/06/artemis-ii-flight-day-6-crew-wraps-historic-lunar-flyby/) ## Week 15: 2026-04-09 – 2026-04-15 **IMF publishes global outlook** · 2026-04-14 · Economy The April World Economic Outlook was released, presenting the IMF assessment of the global economy against the backdrop of war in the Middle East. Source: [International Monetary Fund](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/weo/issues/2026/04/14/world-economic-outlook-april-2026) ## Week 16: 2026-04-16 – 2026-04-22 **IMF Spring Meetings: closing briefing** · 2026-04-17 · Economy The Spring Meetings in Washington included a briefing by the International Monetary and Financial Committee on the global economic agenda. Source: [International Monetary Fund](https://meetings.imf.org/en/2026/spring/schedule/2026/04/17/imfc-press-briefing-207052) ## Week 17: 2026-04-23 – 2026-04-29 **April Federal Reserve decision** · 2026-04-29 · Economy The Federal Reserve released its monetary policy statement following the April 28–29 meeting. Source: [Federal Reserve](https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/pressreleases/monetary20260429a.htm) ## Week 18: 2026-04-30 – 2026-05-06 **Met Gala: fashion as art** · 2026-05-04 · Culture New York hosted the Met Gala, linked to the Costume Art exhibition and the theme of fashion as art. Source: [Associated Press](https://apnews.com/article/be1e3c30da6a2496e6929d7fdc7e0ad6) ## Week 19: 2026-05-07 – 2026-05-13 **Cannes Film Festival opens** · 2026-05-12 · Culture The 79th Cannes Film Festival began, an international platform for premieres, awards and public appearances by filmmakers. Source: [Festival de Cannes](https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/press/press-releases/cannes-2026-global-visibility-in-service-of-cinema/) ## Week 20: 2026-05-14 – 2026-05-20 **World Health Assembly** · 2026-05-18 · Health The 79th World Health Assembly, the main decision-making body of the WHO, opened in Geneva. Source: [World Health Organization](https://www.who.int/news-room/speeches/item/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-79th-world-health-assembly-high-level-welcome---18-may-2026) ## Week 21: 2026-05-21 – 2026-05-27 **Cannes announces winners** · 2026-05-23 · Culture The jury of the 79th Cannes Film Festival announced the main competition awards. Source: [Festival de Cannes](https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/press/press-releases/the-79th-festival-de-cannes-winners-list/) ## Week 22: 2026-05-28 – 2026-06-03 **Champions League final** · 2026-05-30 · Sport Budapest hosted the Champions League final: Paris Saint-Germain faced Arsenal and won the trophy. Source: [UEFA](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/history/seasons/2026/) ## Week 23: 2026-06-04 – 2026-06-10 **WWDC: new software platforms** · 2026-06-08 · Technology Apple delivered the WWDC 2026 opening keynote and presented updates to its software platforms and Apple Intelligence. Source: [Apple](https://www.apple.com.cn/newsroom/2026/06/apple-unveils-next-generation-of-apple-intelligence-siri-ai-and-more/) ## Week 24: 2026-06-11 – 2026-06-17 **FIFA World Cup kicks off** · 2026-06-11 · Sport Mexico City hosted the opening ceremony and first match of the FIFA World Cup 2026. Source: [Associated Press](https://apnews.com/article/608e920d1bf477e7aa544fd2b139331e) ## Week 25: 2026-06-18 – 2026-06-24 **June EU summit** · 2026-06-18 · Politics A two-day European Council meeting began in Brussels; leaders discussed security and support for Ukraine. Source: [European Council](https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/european-council/2026/06/18-19/) ## Week 26: 2026-06-25 – 2026-07-01 **Central banking forum in Sintra** · 2026-06-29 · Economy The ECB Forum on Central Banking began, focusing on innovation, growth and stability in the European economy. Source: [European Central Bank](https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/conferences/ecbforum/html/index.ga.html) ## Week 27: 2026-07-02 – 2026-07-08 **NATO summit in Ankara** · 2026-07-07 · Politics A two-day NATO summit began in Ankara, bringing together heads of state and government from the alliance. Source: [NATO](https://nato.int/en/news-and-events/events/event-programmes/2026/07/nato-summit-2026) ## Week 28: 2026-07-09 – 2026-07-15 **Sinner defends Wimbledon title** · 2026-07-12 · Sport Jannik Sinner defeated Alexander Zverev in the men’s singles final to retain his Wimbledon title. Source: [ATP Tour](https://www.atptour.com/en/news/sinner-zverev-wimbledon-2026-final) ## Week 29: 2026-07-16 – 2026-07-22 **Spain wins the World Cup** · 2026-07-19 · Sport Spain defeated Argentina 1–0 after extra time in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final. Source: [FIFA](https://inside.fifa.com/organisation/news/new-york-jersey-stadium-spain-world-champions-mbappe-haaland) ## Week 30: 2026-07-23 – 2026-07-29 **July Federal Reserve decision** · 2026-07-29 · Economy The Federal Reserve released its statement following the July meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee. Source: [Federal Reserve](https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/pressreleases/monetary20260729a.htm) ## Week 31: 2026-07-30 – 2026-08-05 **First estimate of US second-quarter GDP** · 2026-07-30 · Economy The BEA released its advance estimate: US real GDP grew at an annualized rate of 1.5% in the second quarter. Source: [Bureau of Economic Analysis](https://www.bea.gov/news/2026/gdp-advance-estimate-2nd-quarter-2026) ## Week 32: 2026-08-06 – 2026-08-12 **Total solar eclipse** · 2026-08-12 · Science The path of the total solar eclipse crossed Greenland, Iceland and Spain. Source: [NASA](https://science.nasa.gov/moon/eclipses/) ## Week 33: 2026-08-13 – 2026-08-19 **Federal Reserve minutes released** · 2026-08-19 · Economy Minutes from the July 28–29 FOMC meeting were published, detailing discussions of economic conditions and monetary policy. Source: [Federal Reserve](https://www.federalreserve.gov/monetarypolicy/fomcpresconf20260729.htm) ## Week 34: 2026-08-20 – 2026-08-26 **gamescom opens** · 2026-08-26 · Technology gamescom 2026 officially opened in Cologne, bringing together developers, publishers and the gaming community. Source: [gamescom](https://www.gamescom.global/de/distinguished-political-guests-will-officially-open-gamescom-2026) ## Week 35: 2026-08-27 – 2026-09-02 **Venice Film Festival begins** · 2026-09-02 · Culture The 83rd Venice Film Festival opened with the world premiere of Danny Boyle’s Ink. Source: [La Biennale di Venezia](https://www.labiennale.org/en/news/danny-boyle%E2%80%99s-ink-opening-film-biennale-cinema-2026) ## Week 36: 2026-09-03 – 2026-09-09 **Apple introduces iPhone 18 Pro** · 2026-09-09 · Technology At its September presentation, Apple introduced iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. Source: [Apple](https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2026/09/apple-debuts-iphone-18-pro-and-iphone-18-pro-max/) ## Week 37: 2026-09-10 – 2026-09-16 **78th Emmy Awards** · 2026-09-14 · Culture The 78th Emmy Awards were held in the US, recognizing achievements in the television season. Source: [Television Academy](https://www.televisionacademy.com/awards/emmys) ## Week 38: 2026-09-17 – 2026-09-23 **UN climate summit** · 2026-09-23 · Climate The UN secretary-general convened representatives of governments, business and civil society to discuss accelerating climate action. Source: [United Nations](https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/climate-summit-2026) ## Week 39: 2026-09-24 – 2026-09-26 **UN: threats from rising sea levels** · 2026-09-24 · Climate The UN General Assembly held a high-level meeting on the existential threats posed by rising sea levels. Source: [United Nations](https://www.un.org/pga/81/event/high-level-plenary-meeting-to-address-the-existential-threats-posed-by-sea-level-rise/)