NATO's Military Committee is holding its annual Chiefs of Defence level conference in Copenhagen on 18 and 19 September 2026. For Saturday, 19 September, NATO has published a timetable with set times for the opening remarks, two working sessions, the family photo, the press conference and a final session. The times below are in CEST, Copenhagen local time on that date, and follow the official event page, updated on 16 September.
Official agenda for 19 September
| Time | Activity | Confirmed public access |
|---|---|---|
| 08:00 | Opening remarks by the Chair of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone | Livestream confirmed |
| 08:30 | Session 1 | No public livestream announced in the programme |
| 11:00 | Session 2 | No public livestream announced in the programme |
| 13:00 | Family photo | Photos will be made available after the event |
| 14:00 | Joint press conference | Accredited media attendance and livestream confirmed |
| 17:00 | Final session | No public livestream announced in the programme |
Who will speak publicly and how to follow
The first public engagement on Saturday is Giuseppe Cavo Dragone's opening remarks at 08:00. The second confirmed public appearance is the 14:00 joint press conference with Cavo Dragone and Denmark's Chief of Defence, General Michael Wiggers Hyldgaard. NATO's official media advisory confirms that both the opening remarks and the press conference will be livestreamed.
Physical access to the press conference is limited to accredited media representatives. For the general public, the relevant access point is the livestream identified by NATO on the event page. The Alliance also says that photos, video and audio files will be made available after the public engagements.
Which topics are officially confirmed
NATO says its senior military leadership will discuss follow-up to the Alliance's summit in Ankara. Within that framework, three areas have been identified: further strengthening collective deterrence and defence, innovation and technology, and support for Ukraine.
The conference is chaired by Cavo Dragone and is also set to include Supreme Allied Commander Europe General Alexus G. Grynkewich and Supreme Allied Commander Transformation Admiral Pierre Vandier. The host country's Danish Defence Command published the same broad themes and central participants.
What the public agenda does not specify
The programme does not publicly assign each announced topic to Sessions 1 and 2 or to the final session. As of the 16 September update, it also does not provide thematic titles for those sessions, a country-by-country intervention list or a public speaking order for the 32 Chiefs of Defence. The published agenda therefore does not support claims about which block will cover Ukraine, innovation, or deterrence and defence.
It is also important to separate the announced themes for this conference from the Military Committee's general remit. NATO explains that the committee routinely discusses operations, missions, exercises and capabilities, but that does not mean each of those subjects has been confirmed as a specific item in the Copenhagen meeting.
The 14:00 press conference comes before the final session
There is a wording difference between NATO's official materials. The media advisory published in August said the press conference would take place at the conclusion of the meeting. The more detailed programme, updated on 16 September, places the press conference at 14:00 and still lists a final session at 17:00. For the sequence of events on 19 September, the newer and more specific event programme is the clearest reference.
What the Military Committee Conference is
The Military Committee is NATO's highest military authority and provides consensus-based military advice to the North Atlantic Council. At Chiefs of Defence level, the committee meets regularly at NATO Headquarters and once a year holds a conference hosted by an Ally. The 2026 edition is being held in Denmark and brings Allied senior military leadership together in Copenhagen.
Where to check for updates
Because schedules can change while an event is under way, the priority source for times and livestreams is the official NATO conference page. NATO's media advisory provides meeting context and coverage rules, while the Danish Defence Command provides information from the host country.
