MEMPHIS, TN Wednesday, December 10, 2025 – Speaking to over 1,000 Memphis business and community leaders at the Greater Memphis Chamber’s Annual Chairman’s Luncheon, Chamber President and CEO Ted Townsend and Memphis in May President and CEO Mack Weaver announced Ireland as the 2026 honored country, marking a new chapter in Memphis’ international economic development strategy. Ireland was last honored as the Memphis In May honored country in 2005.
The announcement comes as Memphis concludes its highly successful 2025 celebration of South Korea. As Townsend noted during his remarks, “As we close 2025, we wrap up our celebration of South Korea as our Memphis in May honored country. You may remember, the Chamber got re-involved with Memphis in May to help that great Memphis institution regain its focus on international economic development.”
The success of the South Korea celebration demonstrated the power of this strategic partnership, generating $207.8 million in new investments and 363 new jobs through companies like Hyosung HICO.
“Every year, Memphis in May brings the world to the Bluff City, and every year, we celebrate a place whose spirit matches our own,” said Weaver during the announcement. “Next year, we’ll honor a land shaped by resilience, by stories, by songs that echo across generations.”
Ireland’s selection as the 2026 honored country reflects Memphis’s expanding international trade relationships and the strategic importance of strengthening ties with European Union markets. Ireland’s role as a gateway to Europe, combined with its thriving technology and pharmaceutical sectors, aligns perfectly with Memphis’s position as America’s Distribution Center and the emerging Digital Delta.
“Our 2026 honored country is a nation known for its poets and rebels, where history runs deep and the welcome is as warm as the people,” Townsend emphasized during the announcement. “This May, Memphis is setting its sights across the Atlantic. Get ready for emerald landscapes, legendary culture, and a people who know how to celebrate.”
Returning to Ireland after 21 years provides an opportunity to showcase how both Memphis and Ireland have evolved as global economic centers. Ireland’s transformation into a European technology hub mirrors Memphis’s emergence as the Digital Delta, creating natural synergies for business partnerships and cultural exchange.
About The Greater Memphis Chamber
One of Memphis’ oldest institutions, dating back to 1838, the Greater Memphis Chamber is a privately funded nonprofit that serves as the region’s lead economic development organization and the “Voice of Memphis Business” on local, state, and national issues. The Chamber’s mission is to drive the Memphis business agenda for Greater Memphis. We do this by relentlessly pursuing prosperity for all — through economic and workforce development, pro-growth advocacy, and by providing support and resources to its investors, which include many of the region’s largest employers. For additional information, please visit www.memphischamber.com
About Memphis in May
Memphis in May is a 501(c)3 nonprofit community-based organization whose mission is to promote and celebrate Memphis’ culture, foster economic growth, and enhance international awareness through education. Founded by racially diverse Memphians in 1977, racial equity and parity are embedded in the fiber and culture of Memphis in May, the official festival of the City of Memphis. Recipient of 240 prestigious Pinnacle Awards from the International Festival and Events Association, Memphis in May International Festival was named to Travel+Leisure’s international list of Festivals Worth Traveling For, and in 2018, Memphis topped CNN Travel’s list of international destinations to visit in May because of Memphis in May events. Condé Nast Traveler named Memphis as one of the “23 Best Places to go in 2023” in part because of Memphis in May’s return to the riverfront downtown. For additional information, please visit www.memphisinmay.org