MEPS 2026
To Convene Regional and Global Leaders Under the Theme "After War, Before Stability: The Unfinished Middle East"
The Middle East Peace and Security (MEPS) Forum will hold its 7th edition on 1–3 December 2026 at the American University of Kurdistan (AUK) in Duhok, bringing together policymakers, academics, and global experts to address the region's most pressing challenges. The Forum is held under the patronage of H.E. Masrour Barzani, the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the Chairman of AUK’s Board of Trustees. With this year’s theme, "After War, Before Stability: The Unfinished Middle East," the Forum will translate uncertainty into actionable strategies under the banner "Turning Uncertainty into Strategy." The Forum will drive the exchange of ideas toward policymaking and action-oriented recommendations, recognizing that in a world of porous borders, our challenges and our solutions are equally interlinked.
Guided by the theme, the Forum will convene diverse voices to examine the space between conflict and lasting peace and to move discussions beyond diagnosis toward actionable, regionally grounded solutions. The Forum convenes at a pivotal moment, as peace across the region remains fragile and the architecture of a durable peace is yet to be built.
As the war in Iran continues and global peace, security, and economic stability face growing uncertainty, MEPS Forum is well positioned—through its location in Kurdistan Region of Iraq, its mission, and its historical experience — to bring together stakeholders, policymakers, scholars, and peacemakers to address these challenges and shape long-term, practical solutions for lasting regional and global stability.
Wars end with signatures; stability is built with follow-through. The Middle East today has plenty of the first and too little of the second," said Dr. Honar Issa, the Chair of the MEPS Forum.
Developed in collaboration with AUK and international partners such as Harvard University's MEI Initiative, Cambridge University, the Crisis Response Council, the Atlantic Council, Wilton Park, Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy, Oxford University, and Carnegie Corporation, the MEPS 2026 will explore:
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Peace, Security, Mediation & Governance
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Economic Stability & Shared Prosperity
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Sustainable Futures: Climate & Energy
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Innovation, Technology, Education, Youth & Shared Responsibility
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Cultural Diplomacy
Over three days, the Forum will feature keynote sessions, panel discussions, and working groups convening more than 1000 participants from over 40 countries, including policymakers, diplomats, academics, and thought leaders shaping regional policy. A full list of confirmed speakers will be announced in the coming weeks.
Further details on registration and the program agenda will be released shortly.
The Middle East Peace and Security Forum (MEPS) is an annual international-regional conference on regional and global policy, diplomacy, regional security, peacebuilding, and economics. It convenes policymakers, academics, and global experts to exchange insights and develop actionable solutions to the region's defining challenges.
About MEPS
About AUK
The American University of Kurdistan (AUK) is a leading regional hub for higher education, research, and dialogue, advancing knowledge, innovation, and international engagement from the heart of the Kurdistan Region. Through its commitment to academic excellence, global partnerships, and leadership development, AUK plays a vital role in cultivating future generations of scholars, policymakers, and professionals capable of contributing to a more peaceful, secure, and interconnected world.
Media Contact
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