Issue Date: 03/11/2026
Ireland to host high-level political summits
Meeting of the European Political Community (EPC) 12th November 2026 and Informal Meeting of EU Heads of State or Government (iEUCO) 13th November 2026.
The European Political Community (EPC) meeting of Heads of State and Government from across Europe will take place on Thursday, 12th November 2026. This will be the largest Heads of State and Government gathering that Ireland has ever hosted, with around 50 European leaders and heads of European and international organisations in attendance, and other invited attendees.
An informal meeting of Heads of State or Government of the EU will take place on Friday, 13th November 2026. The meeting will bring together the leaders of EU Member States, joined by the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission.
The policing and security operation for these meetings on the 12th and 13th November 2026 will be the largest policing and security operation undertaken by An Garda Síochána in the history of the State. This policing and security operation will commence, and increase incrementally, from Tuesday, 10th and Wednesday, 11th November 2026.
An Garda Síochána is working to ensure that the nature and scale of our policing and security operation continues to be proportionate to the need to protect everyone’s safety.
An Garda Síochána is endeavouring to minimise traffic restrictions and the impact on the public over the period 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th November 2026.
However, there will be disruption to traffic management, traffic flows and public transport over this period, in Dublin city centre in particular.
We would ask members of the public to heed the advice and instructions of Gardaí and we thank them for their continuing co-operation.
An Garda Síochána advises the public in the areas affected in Dublin to plan their day, leave extra time for their journeys and to expect delays.
The EPC will take place in the Convention Centre Dublin with a formal dinner in the National Gallery of Ireland on the evening of Thursday, 12th November 2026.
The iEUCO will take place in the Convention Centre Dublin on Friday, 13th November 2026.
Arrivals and departures for these events will take place at Dublin Airport and Casement Aerodrome.
Tuesday, 10th November 2026
An Garda Síochána Policing and Security Operation will commence on Tuesday, 10th November 2026.
A security cordon will be established around the Convention Centre Dublin from 7am, including barriers and no-parking restrictions.
North Wall Quay between Guild Street and New Wapping Street will be closed to traffic and pedestrians from 7am on 10th November 2026 until Friday evening, 13th November 2026, with east/ west traffic being diverted from approach roads.
Wednesday, 11th November 2026
A security cordon will be established around the National Gallery of Ireland from 7am, including barriers and no-parking restrictions.
Traffic and parking restrictions may be implemented in the vicinity of hotels associated with these meetings from 7am, Wednesday 11th November until late Friday morning, 13th November 2026, across Dublin south and north city centre.
A wider security cordon and extended traffic management cordon will be established around the Convention Centre Dublin from 8pm, Wednesday 11th November until Friday evening, 13th November 2026. Samuel Beckett Bridge will be closed to traffic from 8pm, with north/ south traffic across Samuel Beckett Bridge being diverted from approach roads.
Traffic movements will be restricted within an area bounded by:• Amiens Street
- Seville Place/ Sheriff Street Upper
- East Wall Road
- North Wall Quay
Access to residents and businesses will remain open, with security checks. Engagement has taken place with residents and businesses directly affected by the security cordon.
Thursday, 12th November 2026
A traffic management cordon will be established in the vicinity of the National Gallery of Ireland from 7am, Thursday 12th November until midnight Thursday 12th November 2026.
Traffic movements will be restricted within an area bounded by:
- Baggot Street
- Fitzwilliam Street
- Merrion Square North
- Clare Street
- Kildare Street
Access to residents and businesses will remain open, with security checks. Engagement has taken place with residents and businesses directly affected by this cordon.
Additional traffic and parking restrictions will be implemented on roads within Dublin city centre in the vicinity of Merrion Square and the Docklands from 7am, Thursday 12th November until late Thursday evening, 12th November 2026. It can be expected that there will be significant road closures in this area, at times between 3pm – 7pm on Thursday 12th November 2026.
Dublin Airport:
Heads of State or Government will arrive and depart from Dublin Airport during the 11th, 12th and 13th November 2026.
The highest impact of these arrivals/ departures will be:
- 1pm – 11pm Wednesday, 11th November
- 7am – 11am Thursday, 12th November
- 3pm – 8pm Friday, 13th November
Normal operations will continue at Dublin Airport. Departures and arrivals roads at T1 and T2 are unaffected. However, travelling members of the public should allow additional time to arrive at the airport during the peak impact times highlighted.
Traffic restrictions will be in place at Dunbro between R108 and R122. Additional Garda patrols will be in place along perimeter roads of Dublin Airport including the Naul Road, R108, R132 and Old Airport Road.
Access to the aircraft viewing stands on the R108 and Naul Road adjacent to Dublin Airport will be restricted.
Casement Aerodrome:
Heads of State or Government will arrive and depart from Casement Aerodrome during the 11th, 12th and 13th November 2026.
The highest impact of these arrivals/ departures will be:
- 1pm – 11pm Wednesday, 11th November
- 7am – 11am Thursday, 12th November
- 1pm – 8pm Friday, 13th November
Perimeter roads to Casement Aerodrome will be subject to additional Garda patrols and traffic restrictions. Parking/ stopping on perimeter roads will be restricted.
General Traffic Restrictions
It can be expected that temporary traffic restrictions will be implemented across the wider Dublin Region to facilitate security motorcycle escorts from Dublin Airport and Casement Aerodrome to, and within, Dublin city centre.
The highest impact of these restrictions will be:
- 1pm – 11pm Wednesday 11th November, Airports to city centre
- 7am – 11am Thursday 12th November, Airports to city centre/ in city centre
- 3pm – 11pm Thursday 12th November, city centre
- 7am – 11am Friday 13th November, city centre
- 1pm – 8pm Friday 13th November, city centre to airports
The M50 motorway and Dublin Port Tunnel are not expected to be directly affected by this policing and security operation at this time.
Public Transport
There will be disruption to traffic management, traffic flows and public transport over this period, in Dublin city centre in particular.
Public transport providers will provide specific information on the impact of this policing and security operation on their services. Please refer to their social media and websites for relevant updates.
3Arena
A number of concerts will take place in the 3Arena during the operational period of this policing and security operation. The 3Arena is outside of the security cordon for this operation.
There will be no east/ west traffic on North Wall Quay from 10th - 13th November. Vehicles can access the 3Arena along Seville Place/ Sherriff Street Upper, East Wall Road and across Tom Clarke Toll Bridge at all times.
LUAS operations will continue as normal on 10th November 2026.
There will be no LUAS services to the 3Arena on the 12th and 13th November. A restricted number of special LUAS services will be facilitated after the event on the 12th and 13th November.
There will be no pedestrian access along North Wall Quay on 12th and 13th November 2026. Pedestrians accessing the 3Arena should use Amiens Street/ Seville Place/ Spencer Dock Bridge/ Sherriff Street Upper/ North Wall Avenue before and after the events.
General Information and Advice
This is the largest policing and security operation in the history of the State.
In general, An Garda Síochána is endeavouring to minimise traffic restrictions and the impact on the public between 10th - 13th November 2026.
However, there will be disruption to traffic management, traffic flows and public transport over the period.
An Garda Síochána has been involved in intense and extensive planning for this policing and security operation over recent weeks with local authorities and transport providers.
Gardaí have, and continue to, liaise with business and local residents in the key locations and will continue to communicate directly with them during the operation.
Our objective is to continue to share as much information with the public where necessary as soon as we are in a position to do so.
We would ask members of the public to heed the advice and instructions of Gardaí and we thank them for their continuing co-operation.
In general, An Garda Síochána advises the public in the areas affected in Dublin to plan their day, leave extra time for their journeys and to expect delays.
Updates
An Garda Síochána will provide additional updates specific to the EPC and iEUCO meetings.
An Garda Síochána will provide real-time updates during the visit, where appropriate and required, through:
