Date: March 9–10, 2026
Location: Kempinski Hotel Corvinus Budapest
The Hungarian Institute of International Affairs (HIIA) is pleased to present the 10th anniversary edition of the Budapest Balkans Forum (BBF), marking a decade of dialogue on the future of the Western Balkans.
Since its launch in 2016, the Budapest Balkans Forum has served as a high-level platform bringing together decision-makers, policymakers, and leading experts to examine the most pressing political, economic, and security developments in the Western Balkans. Our mission has remained constant: to encourage meaningful dialogue, foster regional cooperation, and support innovative policy thinking.
At this milestone edition of the Forum, we are proud to announce the establishment of the Balkans Institute, a new initiative dedicated to research, analysis, and engagement focused on the Western Balkans. The Institute will strengthen our long-term commitment to the region and provide a permanent platform for expertise, policy support, and regional outreach.
The 2026 Forum will be held under the theme “Prioritizing the Western Balkans.” Panel discussions will address key issues shaping the region’s future, including regional connectivity, emerging security challenges, the role of shared values, and pathways to EU enlargement pursued with greater speed, clarity, and credibility.
The future of Europe is inseparable from the future of the Balkans. Through dialogue, cooperation, and informed policymaking, the Budapest Balkans Forum aims to contribute to a more stable, connected, and integrated European continent.