Since its establishment in 1959, the International Olive Council (IOC) has worked tirelessly as the only intergovernmental organisation dedicated exclusively to the world of olives and olive oil. Through its comprehensive programme of work, the IOC carries out activities across three main operational pillars: standardisation and research; technology and the environment; and economy and promotion.

The year 2026 promises to be a significant one, marked by several milestones that reflect the IOC’s commitment to innovation, sustainability and international cooperation.

Among the highlights will be the publication of the IOC’s first-ever carbon balance calculation tool for olive groves — a major step forward in supporting environmental sustainability in the sector. The IOC will also mark a historic moment with the deposit of olive seeds in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, ensuring the long-term preservation of olive biodiversity. In addition, the IOC will continue to support capacity-building through its expert course, Master’s and PhD programmes, convene its regular Advisory Committee meetings and sessions of the Council of Members, and organise World Olive Day celebrations across member countries. The ongoing promotion campaign in Brazil to enhance consumers’ understanding of olive oil and international standards is also set to continue for another year. The prestigious Mario Solinas Quality Awards will once again take place in both the northern and southern hemispheres, showcasing excellence in olive oil production worldwide.

Below are just a few key dates already on the calendar — with more exciting announcements to come as the year progresses. We look forward to a fruitful 2026 and to continuing our work together for the benefit of the global olive sector.

Key dates

• 26 February: deposit of olive seeds in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault (Svalbard, Norway)
• February: call for applications for the International Expert Course in Virgin Olive Oil Tasting
• 24 and 25 March: meeting of chemist and methods of analysis experts (online)
• 24 to 27 March: Regional training in olive oil quality and control through olive oil tasting (Arabic language) (Tunis, Tunisia)
• March: update of the World Catalogue of Olive Varieties with close to 400 additional varieties
• 23 April: presentation of the results of the updated Protected Denominations of Origin study
• April: publication of the carbon balance calculation tool for olive groves on the IOC website
• 5 and 6 May: meeting of experts in virgin olive oil organoleptic assessment (hybrid, Madrid, Spain)
• 5 to 7 May: Regional seminar on future strategies for the olive sector in Eurasian countries (Izmir, Türkiye)
• 17 June: Workshop on the presentation of statistical results
• 23, 24 and 25 June: committees ahead of the plenary session (online)
• 29 June: IOC Advisory Committee meeting (Lisbon, Portugal)
• 30 June: 123^rd plenary session of the Council of Members (Lisbon, Portugal)
• June: Launch of the call for applications for IOC promotional grants
• 2 and 3 July: Olive Oil World Congress (Lisbon, Portugal)
• 22 and 24 September: 7^th workshop for the harmonisation of tasting panels (online)
• September: Key activities of the ongoing promotion campaign in Brazil
• 1 October: Meeting of experts in the compositon of oils with non-standard parametres (online)
• November: Meeting of statistics experts (online)
• November: Mario Solinas Quality Award prize-giving ceremonies for the northern and southern hemispheres
• November: 124^th plenary session of the Council of Members
• 26 November: World Olive Day
• December: Publication of the updated IOC Olive Encyclopaedia

Please click here for a detailed breakdown of expected activity dates per unit and area of work. For any questions, kindly reach out to iooc@internationaloliveoil.org.