Dialog is a private, invitation-only society co-founded in 2006 by billionaire Peter Thiel that gathers influential figures from US politics, finance, and technology sectors [1, 2]. A leak of internal records and a registration list revealed the identities of 222 participants attending Dialog's 2026 retreat [1, 2]. The retreat took place August 12-16 at the Powerscourt Hotel outside Dublin, Ireland [1, 2].
Among the attendees were senior US officials, two US senators, six members of the so-called Paypal Mafia, a former Middle East intelligence chief, a sitting US ambassador, and NATO’s supreme allied commander Europe, General Alexus Grynkewich [1, 2]. Gen. Grynkewich was appointed NATO commander and head of US European Command in July 2025 [1].
Dialog’s chairman is Auren Hoffman, founder of major consumer data companies [1, 2]. Members include executives from large surveillance, data-broker, and advertising-data firms alongside government officials supervising these sectors [1]. The organization promotes off-the-record discussions, using a format similar to the Bilderberg conference [2].
Discussion sessions at the retreat covered topics such as "Money (Does?) Buy Happiness," "Bring Back Nuclear," "Navigating WWIII," "Battlefield Technologies," "Build-a-Cult," and "Build-a-Party" [1, 2]. Dialog also operates a matchmaking app for event participants [2].
Palantir Technologies, co-founded by Thiel, supplies advanced data analytics, AI, and surveillance software to governments and militaries, including controversial contracts with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Pentagon, and Israel’s Defense Ministry [2].
The leak was first revealed by Swiss hacktivist "maia arson crimew" and independently verified by Wired and Anadolu Agency in June 2026 [1, 2]. The 2026 retreat marked five days of secret meetings involving many of the US’s most powerful political, tech, and military figures [1, 2].
