Trader consensus heavily favors China as the site for the next Trump-Putin meeting in 2026, driven by assessments of bilateral diplomatic calendars, China's established role in hosting high-level summits, and patterns of engagement between major powers amid ongoing foreign policy priorities. This commanding position aligns with expectations around scheduled international forums and third-country venues that facilitate direct negotiations. Scenarios that could realistically alter the outcome include late shifts in administration agendas, emergence of alternative neutral sites such as Gulf states or European capitals through new talks, or unforeseen events like health developments or changes in geopolitical tensions that redirect meeting logistics before year-end.