Spain will host the Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State and Government, to be held in Madrid in 2026. The Summit will bring together the leaders of the 22 countries of the Ibero-American community. It will be one of the main international events organized by Spain this year, and will bolster the country's role as a link between Europe and Latin America.
The slogan for the Madrid Summity is “'Ibero-America. Together we build our Community. Together we project it into the future and into the world", reflecting the commitment to building a shared agenda to address current challenges, centred around a set of pillars:
- Sustainability and the environment.
- Innovation and social inclusion.
- Children and youth.
His Majesty King Felipe VI will chair the Madrid Summit as Head of State.
What are the Ibero-American Summits?
The Ibero-American Summits are political meetings that bring together Heads of State and of Government of the 22 Ibero-American countries—19 Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking Latin American countries, alongside Spain, Portugal and Andorra. The Summits are intended to strengthen cooperation, offer a means of jointly addressing shared challenges and promote sustainable development.
From their beginnings in Guadalajara (1991) and Madrid (1992) the Summits have been inspired by the desire to formalize the historical links between the two sides of the Atlantic through dialogue, cooperation and solidarity. Over time, the event has become a key space for political discussions, offering the opportunity to examine issues such as the economy, education, the environment and human rights.
How does the Summit system work?
There are three key bodies:
- The Ibero-American General Secretariat (SEGIB) is the international organization that coordinates cooperation among the Ibero-American countries and provides support for the organization of the Summits. Its work centres on strengthening regional cooperation, promoting common public policies, fostering sustainable development and facilitating knowledge-sharing among its 22 Member States.
Its headquarters are in Madrid and it has subregional offices in Mexico City, Lima and Montevideo.
The Secretary-General of the Secretariat is appointed by consensus by the Heads of State and of Government. The position is currently held by Andrés Allamand, from Chile.
- The Pro Tempore Secretariat, along with the Ibero-American General Secretariat, coordinates organization of the Summits, as well as the prior ministerial meetings, forums and other meetings. The outcome will be a set of initiatives that will be put to the Heads of State and of Government, which will have a genuine impact on the lives of 680 million people on both sides of the Atlantic.
Spain is Pro Tempore Secretariat for 2026, as host of the Ibero-American Summit in Madrid.
- Four issue-based Ibero-American organizations:
At the end of each Summit, a Final Declaration is reached, representing a high-level political agreement among the 22 countries of the Ibero-American community of nations.
Who participates in the Ibero-American Summits?
The Ibero-American community is a political, economic, cultural and linguistic space that is unique in the world, bringing together the 22 Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking countries of Europe and Latin America: Andorra, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Spain, Uruguay and Venezuela.
Each State that performs the duties of the Pro Tempore Secretariat sends the invitations to the 22 Member States of the Ibero-American community of nations.
Meetings are also attended by Associate Observers and Consultative Observers, ranging from representatives of countries that are not Ibero-American to United Nations bodies such as UNICEF and UN-Women. The inclusion of observers strengthens links with other stakeholders from the global community.