Published on 18 September 2025

Swiss chairpersonship

The Swiss chairpersonship of the OSCE in 2026 is part of Switzerland's ongoing commitment to making an active contribution to peace, security and stability in Europe and beyond. The head of the FDFA, Ignazio Cassis, assumes the role of chairman-in-office of the OSCE.

Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis presented on 18 September 2025 Switzerland’s priorities during its 2026 OSCE Chairmanship. — © FDFA

The Swiss chairpersonship of the OSCE in 2026 is part of Switzerland's ongoing commitment to making an active contribution to peace, security and stability in Europe and beyond. Switzerland has set out five priorities for its chairpersonship year: the Helsinki Principles - for lasting peace; inclusive multilateral diplomacy; anticipating technologies – for a safe and humane future; democracy, the rule of law and human rights; and the OSCE's ability to act. The head of the FDFA, Ignazio Cassis, will assume the role of chairman-in-office of the OSCE.

The OSCE chairpersonship for 2026 was entrusted to Switzerland by a unanimous decision of the participating states. It is in line with the Foreign Policy Strategy 2024–27, in particular its fourth objective relating to European security. Switzerland is the first country to have chaired the OSCE three times, following previous terms in 1996 and 2014.

The main tasks of the chairpersonship include the political leadership of the organisation, the promotion of cooperative security and efforts to resolve and manage conflicts.

Ignazio Cassis, OSCE chairman-in-office

A significant number of responsibilities fall directly to the incumbent Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE, a role that is held in 2026 by Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, head of the FDFA. His speeches and official trips can be found in the ‘News’ section.

The chairman-in-office also coordinates their actions closely with the previous and subsequent chairpersons-in-office. This ‘OSCE Troika’ arrangement ensures business continuity within the organisation.

Switzerland has had a permanent delegation to the OSCE in Vienna, where the organisation is headquartered, since 1993. It is part of Switzerland's permanent mission to the OSCE, the United Nations and other international organisations in the Austrian capital.

Ministerial Council in Lugano

Once a year, the country chairing the OSCE convenes a conference at ministerial level. The Federal Council is proposing to hold next year's meeting in Lugano in December 2026. The chairman-in-office will also be hosting thematic conferences (combating anti-Semitism, anticipating technologies, founding process and core purpose of the OSCE and de-escalation in cyberspace) in Switzerland in the course of the year. For more information, visit our ‘Conferences’ page.

Brochure: Switzerland’s OSCE Chairpersonship 2026

The FDFA has published a brochure setting out the priorities of the Swiss chairpersonship and presenting the conferences that Switzerland will be organising this year.