The Atlantic Future Forum is an international summit for defence, security and technology leaders focused on enhancing the resilience and national security interests of democratic allies. It is hosted annually in one of the Royal Navy’s Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers. From 11-12 November 2026, the Forum will convene in mainland Europe for the first time, onboard HMS PRINCE OF WALES in Oslo, Norway.

The Forum, which was first staged in 2018, is led by the UK Government, hosted by the Royal Navy and co-curated with industry. It is an invitation-only event, with attendance aimed at Secretaries of State, Chiefs of Defence, National Security Advisers, Industry Leaders, Think Tanks and Academia.
 

“Atlantic Future Forum 2026 will be our 8th Forum. AFF26 is also of special significance to the UK and our partners in the North Atlantic at a time when the importance of alliances, closer ties and strategic interoperability cannot be overstated.

Our nations face complex, interconnected challenges that require united action. The Forum provides a unique environment for addressing these challenges by bringing together public and private sector leaders, alongside colleagues from academia, think tanks and SMEs.

AFF26 in Norway will be an opportunity to regroup and refocus. We’ll look to build capability partnerships, address resilience and chart a course towards greater collective security and prosperity”

LORD SEDWILL GCMG FRGS
AFF CHAIR

“There is arguably no better platform for these crucial discussions than HMS PRINCE OF WALES. The carrier exemplifies Britain’s commitment to global security and the rule of law, sending a clear message of reassurance to our allies and one of defiance to those who wish to do us harm. HMS PRINCE OF WALES also exemplifies what can be achieved when the public and private sector unite. In keeping with this ethos, the Forum will once again bring together not just senior politicians, policymakers, military figures and academia, but also some of the most innovative and exciting companies in the world.”

GENERAL SIR GWYN JENKINS, KCB OBE ADC RM
FIRST SEA LORD AND CHIEF OF NAVAL STAFF

The geostrategic backdrop to AFF is demanding: A diversifying threat picture is complicating strategic choice, economic uncertainty is challenging growth, and fiscal pressures are competing directly with the need for defence transformation – creating frictions that our adversaries are seeking to exploit.

AFF26 comes at a critical juncture for Atlantic security, and in a location central to our ability to defeat and deter threats. Norway is at the heart of NATO’s northern flank and acts as a gateway to the strategically vital High North and Arctic; consequently, it provides the perfect place to convene senior leaders to engage and explore how collective deterrence and defence can be sustained and enhanced into the future.

Key Questions Framing the AFF Discussion:

• How can the enduring strength of Atlantic alliances be protected and renewed

• How can defence and security transformation be enhanced and accelerated

• How can resilience be embedded across the whole of society in a shared approach to national and collective defence

The Forums have earned their place as one of the UK’s leadership events, with a differentiated broader focus across security, trade and prosperity. They are the first ever series of summits to be hosted in an operational aircraft carrier, providing a unique environment and utilising the significant convening power of these UK sovereign assets. They are a place where some of the best thinking and insights are shared, helping inform, shape policy and drive outcomes.

In 2026, HMS PRINCE OF WALES, with its four and half acres of deck space, will be transformed into a worldclass summit venue. From the main stage for the AFF plenary discussions and keynotes, to a host of side bar events and roundtables, dinners, receptions and all the facilities necessary to host 500 invitation-only VIPs, delegates and media.