Deposit facility rate: 2.50% (main refinancing operations 2.65%, marginal lending facility 2.90%), in effect since September 16, 2026. Next decision: Thursday, October 29, 2026, 14:15 CET.
The ECB’s Governing Council — the six members of the Executive Board plus the governors of the euro-area national central banks — holds eight monetary policy meetings a year. Each is a two-day meeting, and the decision is announced on the Thursday.
Remaining ECB meetings in 2026
| Meeting | Decision announced | Also published |
|---|---|---|
| October 28–29 2026 | Thu, Oct 29, 2026 | |
| December 16–17 2026 | Thu, Dec 17, 2026 | Staff projections |
ECB meeting dates 2027
| Meeting | Decision announced | Also published |
|---|---|---|
| February 3–4 2027 | Thu, Feb 4, 2027 | |
| March 17–18 2027 | Thu, Mar 18, 2027 | Staff projections |
| April 28–29 2027 | Thu, Apr 29, 2027 | |
| June 9–10 2027 | Thu, Jun 10, 2027 | Staff projections |
| July 21–22 2027 | Thu, Jul 22, 2027 | |
| September 8–9 2027 | Thu, Sep 9, 2027 | Staff projections |
| October 27–28 2027 | Thu, Oct 28, 2027 | |
| December 15–16 2027 | Thu, Dec 16, 2027 | Staff projections |
What the ECB publishes on decision day
- 14:15 CET — monetary policy decision (press release with the three key interest rates).
- 14:45 CET — press conference with the President and Vice-President, starting with the monetary policy statement.
- Macroeconomic projections for inflation and growth are published in March, June, September and December.
- About four weeks later — the account of the meeting, the ECB’s equivalent of minutes.
Why the ECB matters for markets
ECB decisions move the euro (EUR/USD is the most traded currency pair — see Forex), euro-area government bond yields such as the German 10-year Bund (see Bonds), and European equity indices like the DAX. As with any central bank, the reaction depends on the gap between the decision and guidance on one side and what markets expected on the other.
Frequently asked questions
When is the next ECB meeting?
The next ECB monetary policy meeting is October 28–29, 2026, with the decision announced on Thursday, October 29 at 14:15 CET. The last 2026 meeting ends on December 17.
What time does the ECB announce its rate decision?
The monetary policy decision is published at 14:15 Central European Time on the second day of the meeting, and the President’s press conference starts at 14:45.
Which ECB rate matters most?
The deposit facility rate (currently 2.50%) is the rate through which the ECB steers its monetary policy stance. The main refinancing rate is set 15 basis points above it.
Related calendars
Dates and rates checked against the official sources on October 4, 2026. Central banks occasionally move or add meetings; always confirm on the bank's own website before trading around an event. Sources: ECB meeting calendar, key ECB interest rates. Nothing on this page is investment advice. See our Disclaimer.