IMF and World Bank Plenary Meets in Bangkok on October 16
The Annual Meetings plenary is scheduled for October 16 in Bangkok, bringing the institutions’ main gathering into Israel’s early morning hours.
The IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings plenary is scheduled for October 16, 2026, from 09:00 to 10:15 in Bangkok (UTC+7). In Israel, that is 05:00 to 06:15 (IDT, UTC+3). The IMF’s programme lists the venue as Plenary Hall and includes public livestream access.
The central meeting within a wider programme
The Annual Meetings run from October 12 through October 18. They bring together representatives involved in international economic policy, while the plenary is a distinct appointment within a much larger week of press briefings, policy discussions and other sessions. It should not be confused with the entire gathering.
Thailand last hosted the Annual Meetings in 1991, according to the IMF’s event page. The return to Bangkok places this year’s gathering in Asia, with sessions addressing issues ranging from public finances and financial stability to the effects of new technology on economies.
Israel’s institutional connection
The Bank of Israel describes its role as representing the state in international financial institutions, including the IMF. Its relationship involves supplying information, discussions and exchanges of views. That provides a clear institutional connection for Israeli readers following the meetings, without establishing a particular Israeli participant at the plenary.
The plenary also differs from the specialist briefings scheduled earlier in the week. Those sessions provide publication or regional detail; the plenary belongs to the institutions’ broader Annual Meetings programme. The available schedule does not establish any particular policy decision or outcome in advance.
Online viewers should use the official IMF schedule for access and note the four hour difference between Bangkok and Jerusalem. Physical attendance is subject to the meetings’ registration arrangements. The public livestream listing is a viewing option and should not be treated as permission to enter the conference venue.
