Rome Calls. Europe Answers.
In October 2026, Rome will welcome Rotarians from international clubs across Europe for three days of fellowship, reflection, and shared purpose.
The European Meeting of International Clubs 2026 brings together clubs united by a common language, a shared vision, and a genuine commitment to Service Above Self.
Expected to gather approximately 300 Rotarians from more than 70 clubs across the continent, this meeting is both a celebration of what our international clubs represent and an opportunity to give that identity lasting institutional form.
Rome – a city that has always stood at the crossroads of civilisations – provides the setting.
Why This Meeting Matters
A New Chapter for Rotary in Europe
The international clubs of Europe share something distinctive within the Rotary movement: a commitment to diversity, multilingualism, and cross-cultural service that reflects Rotary’s mission at its broadest.
They operate at the intersection of national communities and global ambition, serving as natural bridges between peoples and cultures.
This meeting marks the moment when that shared identity takes institutional form. On October 10, 2026, at the Faculty of Engineering of Sapienza University of Rome, the international clubs of Europe will formally adopt the Founding Manifesto of the International Rotary Clubs of Europe (IRCE) – a declaration of shared values, shared goals, and shared responsibility for our continent and our world.
The IRCE Founding Manifesto
Rome, October 10, 2026
The International Rotary Clubs of Europe (IRCE) represents a new stage in the story of Rotary on the European continent. Built on the conviction that our international clubs are uniquely positioned to serve as ambassadors of Rotary’s mission across borders and communities, the IRCE will provide a common framework for joint service projects, shared advocacy, and mutual support.
The Founding Manifesto will articulate:
- A shared vision for international clubs across Europe
- A framework for collaborative humanitarian and cultural projects
- A commitment to strengthening Rotary’s voice in European civil society
- A platform for professional, academic, and intercultural exchange among our members
Programme
Three Days of Fellowship, Vision, and Service
Friday, October 9 — Arrival & Welcome
Delegates arrive in Rome and are welcomed at an opening reception: an informal evening to renew existing friendships and begin new ones across cultures, languages, and traditions.
Saturday, October 10 — The Founding Day
The morning opens with the plenary session at the Faculty of Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, Via Eudossiana – one of Italy’s most distinguished academic institutions, a few steps from the Basilica of San Pietro in Vincoli.
The plenary programme will include:
- Addresses by Rotary leaders and invited guests
- Presentation and formal adoption of the IRCE Founding Manifesto
- Working sessions on collaborative projects, governance, and future directions
- A ceremony marking the founding of the International Rotary Clubs of Europe
The day will conclude with a gala dinner in one of Rome’s finest settings.
Sunday, October 11 — Reflection and Farewell
A morning of cultural fellowship through the monuments of the city, followed by a farewell lunch before delegates return home.
The Venue
The Faculty of Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome
The main plenary sessions will be held at the Faculty of Engineering of Sapienza University of Rome, Via Eudossiana, in the historic centre of the city.
Sapienza, founded in 1303, is one of the world’s oldest and largest universities. Its Faculty of Engineering campus stands immediately adjacent to the Basilica of San Pietro in Vincoli, home to Michelangelo’s Moses – a work that has defined the site’s character for five centuries.
The choice of setting carries its own quiet resonance. Conviction, patience, and commitment to a purpose larger than oneself: qualities that Rotarians will recognise without further explanation.
The City of Rome
The Eternal City
Rome requires little introduction. Its role as the permanent seat of FAO and IFAD – two United Nations agencies with which Rotary International maintains longstanding partnerships – gives the city a particular significance for our movement.
To meet in Rome is to meet in a city that understands, from long experience, what it means to build something intended to last.
Travel & Accommodation
Your Journey to Rome
All travel, accommodation, and event logistics are managed exclusively by Gattinoni S.p.A., one of Italy’s leading travel and events management companies.
A range of accommodation options in Rome’s historic centre, group transfers, and optional cultural excursions will be available.
Detailed booking information will be communicated upon registration.
For all travel-related enquiries: [Gattinoni contact details to be inserted]
Registration
Join Us in Rome
Registration is open to all members of Rotary international clubs in Europe and their guests. Places are limited.
Rotary Club Rome International
District 2080 – Founded 2016
The only English-speaking Rotary Club in Italy
www.rotaryromeinternational.com
Organising Club: Rotary Club Rome International
Travel Partner: Gattinoni S.p.A.