NATO denied accreditation to multiple Turkish media outlets seeking to cover the alliance’s 2026 summit in Ankara, according to Turkish reports shared by the affected outlets and journalists. The outlets reportedly included İlke TV, the Cumhuriyet daily, NOW TV, and Medyascope. Applicants received email notices stating their requests were not granted and that the decision was final, while also refusing to provide any explanation for the refusals.

The summit is scheduled for July 7–8, 2026. NATO’s accreditation process for the event has been handled through the alliance’s accreditation office, part of the Office of Strategic Communications.

Turkish journalists publicly criticized the decision on social media, arguing that experienced security and defense reporters were being excluded without clear criteria. One reporter said she had previously covered earlier NATO summits and meetings—including multiple summits and NATO ministerial events—but would not be able to attend in Ankara due to the denial.

Critics framed the move as part of a broader, long-disputed pattern in Turkey, where press credentials are frequently described by watchdog groups as a tool to restrict access for journalists and outlets critical of the government. In that context, supporters of the excluded outlets said NATO’s lack of transparency heightened concerns about fairness and press access at a high-profile event hosted by Turkey.

Separately, NATO’s own summit media materials indicate accreditation is handled through a designated accreditation office and that NATO reserves the right to deny or withdraw accreditation in cases involving misuse or actions not consistent with NATO’s media accreditation principles—though the reported denial notices for these Turkish outlets did not cite alleged misuse or explain why access was refused.