Dublin to host EU AI summit in 2026

Dublin will host the government’s International AI Summit at the Royal Dublin Society on October 14th, 2026, with the central theme “Harnessing AI to Revolutionise Europe’s Competitiveness.” The event comes as Ireland and the wider EU look to strengthen digital transformation plans and address the infrastructure demands created by generative AI.

Ireland’s position as a major data centre market is central to the summit’s agenda. Rising demand for AI services has intensified pressure on energy grids, internet infrastructure and data capacity, prompting Ireland, the UK, the US and the broader EU to publish action plans aimed at supporting future growth.

The EU-led summit, overseen by the European Commission, is expected to shift from broad discussion toward more actionable plans for economic growth. Ireland’s Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, which oversees the AI Office, is organising the event. Speakers are set to include Micheál Martin, Henna Virkkunen, and executives from Qualcomm, Stripe and other digitally integrated businesses.