Road to the 2026 and 2028 UN Water Conference
This section outlines the major events leading to the 2026 and 2028 UN Water Conference. Each milestone marks a step in turning commitments into action and building momentum for the Conference.
For a broader view of other important water-related events and initiatives, visit our Engage page.
2026
The Dakar High-Level Preparatory Meeting for the 2026 UN Water Conference
January 2026
To support the effective preparation of the Conference, the UN General Assembly welcomed Senegal’s offer to organize a High-Level Preparatory Meeting in Dakar. The Meeting took place on 26–27 January 2026 and was organized by the Government of Senegal and the United Arab Emirates, in collaboration with the United Nations and with the support of various partners.
Objectives of the High-Level Preparatory Meeting
Organized nearly one year before the Conference, this major meeting represented a key step in the implementation of the roadmap toward the 2026 UN Water Conference. It aimed to:
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Contribute to effective preparations for the Conference
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Consolidate preliminary commitments
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Review progress and delays in achieving SDG 6
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Explore ideas for accelerating the achievement of water-related goals and targets
In particular, the Meeting initiated discussions and facilitated stakeholder alignment around the six themes of the Conference’s interactive dialogues.
Regional Ecological Summit
April 2026
The Regional Ecological Summit 2026 (RES 2026) was initiated by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, during the 78th session of the UN General Assembly in September 2023.
Regional Ecological Summit 2026, to be held in Astana, Kazakhstan, 22-24 April 2026, will be a key platform for uniting the efforts of Central Asian countries in the field of climate change and environmental protection. It will cover a wide range of priority topics, including biodiversity conservation, restoration of degraded lands, sustainable management of natural resources, ecosystem development and environmental education.
Objectives
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The aim of the Summit is to develop agreed workable solutions and mechanisms that reflect a regional approach to addressing climate and environmental challenges, preventing risks and strengthening resilience. The climate and environmental agendas of the Summit will be considered as interlinked and indivisible.
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The initiative also aims to strengthen and coordinate existing regional and international programmes without duplication, such as Green Central Asia, and to create new synergies between countries and partners.
The summit will serve as a platform for dialogue and interaction between governments, international organizations, development institutions, the private sector, the scientific community, civil society and young people, as well as a unique space for presenting regional initiatives and promoting practical solutions.
The Regional Ecological Summit will be the culmination of regional cooperation between the countries of Central Asia aimed at demonstrating to the world the real needs of the region in climate finance, developing joint approaches and mechanisms to combat climate change, address environmental problems and strengthen the region's sustainability.​
Fourth High-Level International Conference on the International Decade for Action
"Water for Sustainable Development"
May 2026
The Fourth High-Level International Conference on the International Decade for Action «Water for Sustainable Development», 2018–2028, will be held from 25 to 28 May 2026 in Dushanbe within the framework of the Dushanbe Water Process.
The Dushanbe Water Process is an initiative of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan aimed at supporting the implementation of the objectives of the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development”, 2018–2028, through a series of conferences convened every two years by the Government of Tajikistan in close cooperation with the United Nations. The conferences are co-chaired by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Tajikistan and the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs.
Objectives
The main objective of the Fourth Dushanbe Conference on the Water Action Decade is to further mobilize collective efforts and support the implementation of voluntary commitments registered in the Water Action Agenda of the UN Water Conference, as well as to stimulate new partnerships and accelerate actions towards achieving the objectives of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The Conference also aims to facilitate the exchange of best practices and innovative solutions, strengthen partnerships among stakeholders, enhance the role of water in sustainable development, raise awareness, and mobilize political will to accelerate progress in achieving water-related goals of the 2030 Agenda.
In particular, the Fourth Dushanbe Conference on the Water Action Decade will focus on the following objectives:
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to serve as a key preparatory meeting for the 2026 UN Water Conference co-hosted by the Republic of Senegal and the United Arab Emirates;
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to showcase scalable solutions, strengthen cooperation and forge partnerships to address priority water-related opportunities and challenges;
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to bolster implementation of the Water Action Decade, building on the four work streams4 of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Action Plan for the Water Action Decade 2018-2028;
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to conduct an informal consultation with stakeholders for the UN 2028 Water Conference that will serve as the final comprehensive review of the Water Action Decade 2018-2028 and an initial discussion on the way forward, including post-2030.
2026 session of the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF)
July 2026
The 2026 session of the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) will be the 14th session of the HLPF and will take place in July 2026.
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The meeting will be held from Monday, 6 July, to Thursday, 16 July 2025, under the auspices of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). A three-day ministerial segment of the HLPF will convene from Monday, 13 July, to Thursday, 16 July.
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The HLPF is the main UN platform on sustainable development. It has a central role in the follow-up and review of implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its SDGs. All UN Member States as well as representatives from civil society organizations (CSOs) participate in the HLPF, which meets under the auspices of ECOSOC.
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HLPF 2026 will take place on the theme, ‘Transformative, equitable, innovative and coordinated actions for the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs for a sustainable future for all’.
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It will conduct in-depth review of SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation), as well as SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy), SDG 9 (industry, innovation and infrastructure), SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities), and SDG 17 (partnerships for the Goals).
World Water Week 2026: Water for People and Progress
August 2026
From 23-27 August, World Water Week 2026 will take place. World Water Week has been organized every year since 1991 by Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI). An independent and impartial non-profit event, co-created with leading organizations, World Water Week attracts a diverse mix of participants from many professional backgrounds and every corner of the world.
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The theme for World Water Week 2026 is Water for People and Progress. The Week will work towards a more just and equitable water secure future for all people, especially the most marginalized, against the backdrop of climate change.
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The sessions at World Water Week 2026 will discuss progress on water for people in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and look ahead to the successors to the SDGs. They will build on the work on equity at the 2023 UN Water Conference and contribute towards the work on this issue for the 2026 UN Water Conference.
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The scope of World Water Week 2026 will centre on the topics most relevant to equitable human development in a changing climate. These topics reflect the pressing need to address persistent inequalities, as well as the compounding effects of climate change on already vulnerable populations. The thematic scope also draws from the six interactive dialogue themes of the 2026 UN Water Conference: Water for people; Water for prosperity; Water for planet; Water for cooperation; Water in multilateral processes; and Investments for water.
EuroMediterranean Water Forum
September 2026
From 29 September to 2 October 2026, the Euro-Mediterranean Water Forum will serve as an international platform for dialogue among policymakers, civil society, academia, and businesses. The Forum combines high-level discussions with an exhibition that highlights technological and process innovations in the water sector. Its mission is to foster cooperation and joint action, engaging not only Mediterranean countries but also the European Commission, EU Member States, the Balkans, and the Middle East.
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The event will be co-organized with the Mediterranean Water Institute of Marseille, in partnership with the Union for the Mediterranean.
Whereas in past years the Forum focused exclusively on Mediterranean countries, the ambition of this sixth edition is to broaden both its geographical and thematic scope, engaging EU Member States and the Balkans, while also looking towards the Arabian Peninsula and Sub-Saharan Africa.
This will be a major event: a platform for dialogue among policymakers, civil society, and academia, alongside an exhibition where companies, industries, and experts will exchange best practices, process innovations, and new technologies. The goal is to address, together, the pressing challenges ahead to ensure greater water security in the Mediterranean.
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At the heart of the Forum’s agenda will be issues of great concern to the public—such as drought, water scarcity, and the prevention and management of extreme events in cities—as well as emerging topics for the near future: the water-energy nexus, new uses of water in the tech industry, financial and insurance products linked to water, and the protection of freshwater quality.
