Ø
Forum
a Global Platform for Cross-sectoral Partnerships to facilitate Circular Finance
and advancing Innovation for Circularity
Ø
2,000+
Stakeholders from 65+ Countries to participate; 125+ exhibitors to showcase Circularity
Solutions at the International Expo
·
Venue
& Dates: India
will host the World
Circular Economy Forum (WCEF) 2026 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, from 15–18
September 2026.
·
First
for South Asia: The
event marks the first WCEF
to be held in South Asia.
·
Theme: “Circular
Economy: Transition for People and Prosperity.”
·
Inauguration: The forum will be jointly inaugurated on 15 September by Union
Environment Minister Bhupender
Yadav and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel.
·
Circular
Economy Concept:
Circularity focuses on reusing,
refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products and
returning them to the economy as valuable resources.
·
Organisers: The forum is jointly organised by:
o CPCB
o Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra
o Government of Finland
o MoEF&CC
o Government of Gujarat
o Gujarat Pollution Control Board
·
Global
Participation: More
than 2,000 stakeholders
from 65+ countries are expected, including businesses,
entrepreneurs, innovators, researchers, policymakers, academics and
civil-society changemakers.
·
Key
Objectives:
o Showcase India's circular-economy
initiatives
o Strengthen international cooperation
o Increase engagement with the Global South
o Mobilise circular-economy finance and private investment
o Promote policy dialogue and cross-sector
partnerships
o Advance innovation, digitalisation and technology
·
Thematic
Sessions: On 15–16 September, the
forum will feature 4
plenaries and 16 parallel sessions covering:
o AI applications
o Employment potential
o Energy production
o Finance
o Governance
o Sustainable products
o Industrial solutions
o Start-ups
o Youth leadership
·
Circular
Economy Expo: An
exhibition featuring 125+
national and international exhibitors will showcase practical
circular solutions, start-ups and investment-ready
innovations.
·
10 YFP
Meeting: The
Board of the 10-Year
Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns (10
YFP) will hold its in-person meeting in Gandhinagar on 15 September.
·
India's
Leadership: India
has recently assumed the role of Co-Chair
of the 10 YFP Board, reinforcing its role in promoting
sustainable consumption and production.
·
Global
Accelerator Sessions: On 17–18 September, global
partners will organise 80
accelerator sessions in online, hybrid and in-person formats in
Gandhinagar and other locations worldwide.
·
Closing
Ceremony: The
forum will conclude with a formal handover to the next host, reinforcing the
message that circular-economy principles can create a more sustainable, resilient and
prosperous global economy.
WCEF
2026 positions India as a major Global South hub for the circular economy,
bringing together 65+ countries to mobilise finance, investment, technology and
policy cooperation for sustainable production and consumption.
India
would host the World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF) 2026, at Gandhinagar (Gujarat)
on 15th-18th September, 2026. A First for South Asia, the forum would be jointly
inaugurated on the 15th by Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change,
Bhupender Yadav, and Chief Minister of Gujarat, Bhupendrabhai
Patel. The forum would be organised under the theme 'Circular Economy: Transition
for People and Prosperity'. Other dignitaries to grace the inaugural session would
include Minister for Forest, Environment and Climate Change (Gujarat), Arjunbhai Modhwadia; Ambassador of Finland to India, H.E. Mr.
Mikko Kivikoski; Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate (Netherlands), Ms. Marieke
Spijkerboer, along with senior officials from the Government of India and Government
of Gujarat.
Circularity
focuses on reusing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products and
looping them back into the economy as valuable resources. Under the visionary leadership
of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is leading a major transformation in environmental
governance, moving toward a modern circular economy. The event is being jointly
organized by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) of India, the Finnish Innovation
Fund Sitra, Government of Finland, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
(MoEF&CC), Government of India, Government of Gujarat
and Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB).
The
objective of WCEF 2026 is to showcase India’s initiatives for promoting circularity
and enhancing international cooperation. The event would witness participation of
over 2000 cross-sectoral stakeholders from 65+ countries, including business leaders,
entrepreneurs, innovators, researchers, policymakers, academicians, changemakers
and others. The forum will enable global collaboration and greater engagement with
the Global South; facilitate mobilising of circular finance and private-sector investment;
encourage policy dialogue and cross-sectoral partnerships; while advancing innovation,
digitalisation and technology for circularity.
On
15th–16th September 2026, the forum would feature 4 plenaries and 16 parallel thematic
sessions on application of AI, employment potential, energy production, finance,
governance, sustainable products, industrial solutions, start-up ecosystem and youth
leadership. Further at the event, an expo featuring 125+ national and international
exhibitors would showcase practical circular solutions developed by start-ups and
investment-ready innovations.
On
the sidelines of WCEF, the Board of 10 Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable
Consumption and Production Patterns (10 YFP) would hold its in person meeting, on
15th September at Gandhinagar. India has recently assumed the role of Co-Chair of
10 YFP Board, reflecting its long standing leadership in
promoting sustainable consumption and production. On 17th–18th September 2026, global
collaborators will independently organize 80 accelerator sessions online/hybrid
and in person at Gandhinagar and other locations worldwide.
The
closing ceremony would be graced by the presence of Minister for Forests, Environment
and Climate Change (Gujarat), Arjunbhai Devabhai Modhwadia.
Dignitaries expected on the occasion would include Minister of Climate and the Environment
(Finland), Ms. Sari Multala; Minister of State for Forests and Environment, Climate
Change (Gujarat), Pravinbhai Mali; Director, International
Programmes, SITRA, Mr. Kristo Lehtonen, along with senior government officials from
the Government of India and the Government of Gujarat. The ceremony will conclude
with a formal handover to the next host by the Director, International Programme
of SITRA, with a message that embracing circular economy principles, the world can
shape a global economy that is more sustainable, resilient and prosperous.