India will host the World Circular Economy Forum 2026 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, from 15th to 18th September 2026. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is organising the event in partnership with the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra and the governments of Finland and Gujarat. This will be the first time South Asia hosts this global forum.
The event is themed “Circular Economy: Transition for People and Prosperity” and aims to bring together international stakeholders to discuss how economies can reuse, refurbish and recycle materials rather than following a linear take-make-dispose model.
What the forum will include
- Over 2,000 participants from 65 or more countries, including business leaders, entrepreneurs, researchers, policymakers and academics
- 125 or more exhibitors displaying circular economy solutions from start-ups and innovative companies
- Four plenary sessions and 16 parallel thematic sessions on 15th and 16th September covering topics such as artificial intelligence applications, job creation, energy production, financing, governance, sustainable products and youth leadership
- 80 accelerator sessions on 17th and 18th September, conducted online, in hybrid format and in person across multiple locations worldwide
- A separate meeting of the Board of the 10 Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns, of which India recently became Co-Chair
Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel will jointly inaugurate the forum on 15th September. The closing ceremony on 18th September will be attended by Finland’s Minister of Climate and the Environment.
What this means for you
If you work in environment, sustainability, business innovation or policy, this forum offers a platform to learn about circular economy practices and connect with global experts and investors. Start-ups with circular solutions can showcase their work to an international audience and potentially secure investment. Students and researchers interested in sustainability topics will find opportunities for engagement through the youth leadership sessions and accelerator programmes. India’s hosting of this event signals the country’s commitment to environmental transformation and positions it as a leader in promoting sustainable economic practices globally.