Whether it be domestic debate, international conflict or a changing online world, these are the things politics readers should look out for in 2026.
To kick off this potentially politically tumultuous year, let's list some of the 5 moments to look out for in politics in 2026.
Irish Neutrality
The question of Irish neutrality is one that will become increasingly relevant in the coming year as the reforms to the ‘Triple Lock’ mechanism are expected to reach the Dáil in the near future. The bill proposes that it will allow Ireland to have greater freedom in pursuing foreign policy by removing the veto powers of the UN security council. The bill also increases the number of defence force personnel that can be deployed without a Dáil resolution from 12 to 50. Such legislation is all the more divisive when we consider the recent election of Catherine Connolly to the Áras given one of the core messages of her campaign was a staunch defence of Irish neutrality.
European Social Media Ban
Members of the European Parliament have passed a resolution to put age bans on social media platforms for those under the age of sixteen. The rationale for this move lies in the danger that social media poses to the mental health of the young demographic and the addictive nature of these platforms. The exact form that this ban will take is at this point unknown, and it is expected to receive strong pushback from tech companies who run the platforms in question.
The Occupied Territories Bill
There has been increasing pressure on the government to pass the Occupied Territories bill in response to the Israeli government’s genocide and ongoing occupation of Palestine. The bill in its current form would block the trade of goods that come from illegal Israeli settlements in Palestine. Despite the peace deal that was agreed upon, there has been no definitive end to the conflict. Considering the scale at which Ireland trades with Israel, this particular bill is one of the most contentious of 2026.
Ukraine
Following a Paris summit related to defence, multiple major European leaders and US officials codified post war security guarantees for Ukraine. The guarantees include a US pledge to oversee a truce monitoring mechanism and commitments from the UK and France to deploy troops if a ceasefire is reached with Russia. Russia has called deployment of such commitments a ‘direct threat’ to their security. The exact manner in which Russia responds to this development is certainly one to be followed in 2026, and has the potential to end this 12 year long conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
US Midterms
In November of this year, the US will hold their midterm elections to determine who will be elected to the 35 seats of the senate, and the 435 seats of the House of Representatives. This is an especially important election cycle for the democrats following the election of a republican president, and Republican majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. The main issues that the Democrats are facing is dissatisfaction amongst young Americans and working class voters, while on the Republican side, the party is faced with low approval ratings of Donald Trump reflected in a generic congressional ballot which showed strong Democrat dominance. Both parties are faced with mounting issues and the way in which both respond in their election strategies will be vital in determining the success of each respective party in the years to come.