Migration Outlook 2026: 10 key migration issues to look out for

From declining irregular migration to Europe’s continued work to strengthen border security efforts, from the growing discourse of return and reintegration to filling the region’s labour demographic gaps more strategically, and to the deepening of relations with migratory route countries. ICMPD presents the 10 key migration issues in the year ahead that can shape not only European, but more broadly international migration. In this episode of The Migration Podcast, main author of the Migration Outlook 2026 and ICMPD’s Principal Advisor Martin Hofmann provides deeper insights into how the drivers of displacement from conflicts remain volatile everywhere. These include the worsening peace and security situation in more than 87 countries, and major crises that can rapidly shift migration routes; risking to destabilise key regions and increase pressures.