Events in the year 2026 in the Cook Islands.
Incumbents
Monarch: Charles III Queen's/King's Representative: Tom Marsters Prime Minister: Mark Brown
Events January 15 January – Agence France Press reports that a growing "shadow fleet" of Russian and Chinese vessels were registering in the Cook Islands under flags of convenience for as little as a few thousand dollars.
March 30 March – Cook Islands News reports that the islands territory only has 20 days of fuel stock due to global supply disruptions caused by the 2026 Iran War.
April 2 April: New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Prime Minister Mark Brown sign a defence and security declaration. Peter also confirms that New Zealand would resume about NZ$29.8 million in annual aid funding to the islands territory, patching bilateral relations, which has been strained in 2025 by the Cook Islands signing a series of partnership agreements with China. The Cook Islands Price Tribunal issues new orders raising the price of diesel on Rarotonga to $3.89 per litre and $3.44 per litre for octane petroleum. Petrol prices in the northern islands approach $5 per litre.
June 18 June – Pone Apiatu, a fisherman from Pukapuka island who was missing at sea for a week, is by the crew of a Taiwanese fishing vessel after being secsighted by the crew of a Royal New Zealand Air Force P-8A Poseidon patrol plane.
August 12 August – 2026 Cook Islands general election 28 August – A historic meeting of the leaders of the four constituent members of the Realm of New Zealand to discuss constitutional arrangements is held in Auckland. This meeting is attended by Prime Minister Brown, New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Ulu-o-Tokelau Alapati Tavite and Niue Prime Minister Dalton Tagelagi.
September 1 September - The New Zealand and United States governments agree to jointly fund a project to upgrade a port at Omoka village on Penrhyn Atoll.
See also History of the Cook Islands
References