The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party will be allowed to participate in the upcoming Munich Security Conference in 2026, according to a conference spokesman. This decision marks a significant shift, as the AfD had been excluded from previous editions of the prominent international security policy forum.
Invitations for the Munich Security Conference, scheduled for February 13 to 15, 2026, were recently sent to politicians from all parties represented in the German parliament. The selection process focused on lawmakers who serve on committees related to foreign and security policy. The current chairman of the conference, Wolfgang Ischinger, made the decision in consultation with the conference’s board of trustees.
The AfD, which is currently the largest opposition party in Germany, has gained traction with its hardline anti-immigration stance. The party has also drawn scrutiny due to its members being perceived as sympathetic to Russia. In May 2023, Germany’s domestic intelligence service designated the AfD as a “confirmed right-wing extremist” group, a classification that has sparked intense debate about the possibility of banning the party. This classification is currently on hold while a legal challenge is pending.
As of now, Alice Weidel, the parliamentary co-leader of the AfD, has not yet received an invitation. The spokesman clarified that the invitation process is still ongoing and that the Munich Security Conference retains the right to invite additional political figures, both from Germany and abroad.
The Munich Security Conference is widely regarded as one of the world’s leading forums for international security policy discussions. Each year, it attracts dozens of world leaders, along with foreign and defense ministers, who gather at Munich’s Hotel Bayerischer Hof to engage in critical discussions about global security challenges.
The reinvitation of the AfD is likely to be a focal point of controversy leading up to the event, reflecting the ongoing divisions within German politics regarding the party’s ideology and its place in the broader political landscape. As the conference approaches, stakeholders will be closely monitoring how the participation of far-right representatives may influence discussions on pressing global security issues.
