Middle East Forum 2026 Policy Conference

The Middle East has entered uncharted territory. Old alliances are fracturing, new states are emerging from the shadows, and the strategic calculus that guided American policy for decades no longer holds. From the collapse of Iran’s proxy network to the rise of Turkish and Qatari influence, from contested sea lanes to contested campuses, the region—and America’s role in it—is being remade in real time.

This May, the Middle East Forum convenes its 2026 Policy Conference to cut through the uncertainty. Over three days, May 19—21, 2026, leading strategists, diplomats, and security professionals will tackle the questions that matter most.

What does the decline of the Iranian axis mean for regional stability? How are Islamist networks adapting their operations in Latin America and at the southern border? Can new economic corridors like the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) reshape geopolitical alignments? And as Israel notches tactical victories across multiple fronts, is it winning the larger strategic contest?

Expect frank assessments of emerging state actors, foreign influence campaigns, and ideological battles unfolding far from the battlefield, including discussions on:

• Geopolitical Realignment — Examine the emergence of new state actors, the shifting balance of power as Iran’s axis contracts, the rise of an Islamist Turkey, the strategic promise of economic corridors like IMEC, and whether Israel’s battlefield successes are translating into durable strategic gains.
• Transnational Threats to the Homeland — Confront the expansion of Islamist networks in Latin America, the weaponization of migration at the southern border, and the full spectrum of ideological movements operating inside the United States.
• Institutional Capture and Democratic Resilience — Investigate how foreign influence operations and Islamist funding have penetrated American universities and institutions—and what can be done to reverse the damage.

For those seeking hands-on engagement, an optional War Games Simulation on May 19 offers an immersive prelude to the main program.

• Underwrite participation for two NextGen leaders (full conference access + two-night hotel stay)
• Logo placement on all digital materials and conference website
• Recognition during opening remarks
• Invitation to the exclusive May 22 private luncheon with Dr. Daniel Pipes, Gregg Roman, Dr. Michael Rubin, and Dr. Jonathan Spyer
  

• Logo placement on all digital materials and conference website
• Sponsorship of one conference panel (option to deliver introductory remarks)
• Logo displayed on panel backdrop
• Recognition during opening remarks
• Two complimentary conference tickets
• Opportunity to distribute branded collateral to attendees
• Invitation to the exclusive May 22 private luncheon
  

• Premium logo placement on digital materials, website, and two panel backdrops
• Sponsorship of two conference panels (option to deliver introductory remarks)
• Four complimentary conference tickets
• Brief speaking opportunity during the conference program
• Invitation to the exclusive May 22 private luncheon
  

• Preeminent logo placement on all digital materials and the conference website
• Sponsorship of three conference panels (option to deliver introductory remarks)
• Six VIP tickets with priority seating at the conference dinner
• Special recognition in press releases and media coverage
• Invitation to the exclusive May 22 private luncheon