World Circular Economy Forum 2026: Gandhinagar hosts South Asia's first WCEF
Synopsis
For the first time in South Asia, Gandhinagar is hosting the World Circular Economy Forum — a 65-country, 2,000-delegate event that puts India at the global centre of circular finance and resource efficiency policy. With India now co-chairing the UN's 10 YFP Board, the forum is as much a geopolitical signal as it is an environmental summit.
Key Takeaways
The World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF) will be held for the first time in South Asia , at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar on 15–16 September 2026 .
More than 2,000 stakeholders from over 65 countries are expected to attend.
The forum will be inaugurated by Union Minister Bhupender Yadav and Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel on 15 September .
The main programme includes 4 plenary sessions, 16 thematic sessions , and an expo with 125+ exhibitors .
India has assumed the role of co-chair of the 10 YFP Board on sustainable consumption and production.
The programme continues on 17–18 September with 80 accelerator sessions globally.
The World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF) will make its South Asian debut in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, on 15–16 September 2026, drawing more than 2,000 stakeholders from over 65 countries to deliberate on resource efficiency, circular finance, innovation and international cooperation. The two-day event at Mahatma Mandir marks the first time the globally recognised forum has been hosted anywhere in South Asia.
Who Will Inaugurate and Attend
Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel are scheduled to jointly inaugurate the forum on Tuesday, 15 September. The opening session will also be attended by Gujarat's Forest, Environment and Climate Change Minister Arjun Modhwadia, Finland's Ambassador to India Mikko Kivikoski, Sitra President Atte Jääskeläinen, and Marieke Spijkerboer of the Netherlands' Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate, along with senior Central and state government officials.
Finland's Minister of Climate and Environment Sari Multala, Deputy Chief Minister and Industries Minister Harsh Sanghavi, and Minister of State for Forest and Environment Pravin Mali are among those expected to attend during the two-day programme. Union Minister of State for Environment Kirti Vardhan Singh is slated to attend the closing ceremony on 16 September.
Who Organised It and Why Gandhinagar
The forum is being jointly organised by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra, the Government of Finland, India's Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Gujarat government, and the Gujarat Pollution Control Board. Gandhinagar's selection as the host city positions India — and the broader Global South — at the centre of an international conversation typically dominated by European economies.
The event carries the theme 'Circular Economy: Transition for People and Prosperity', and is intended to showcase India's own circular-economy initiatives while deepening cooperation with Global South nations.
What the Programme Covers
The main programme on 15 and 16 September will comprise four plenary sessions and 16 thematic sessions. Topics range from mobilising circular finance and private-sector investment to policy dialogue, cross-sector partnerships, and the application of Artificial Intelligence and digital tools for circularity. Sessions will also address employment potential, energy generation, governance, sustainable products, industrial solutions, start-up ecosystems and youth leadership.
An international expo running alongside the forum will feature more than 125 national and international exhibitors, highlighting practical solutions from start-ups and innovations deemed ready for investment.
India's Broader Role in Sustainable Consumption
The forum coincides with an in-person meeting of the Board of the 10 Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns (10 YFP), also in Gandhinagar on 15 September. India has recently assumed the role of co-chair of the 10 YFP Board, which promotes sustainable consumption and production globally — lending additional diplomatic weight to the Gandhinagar edition.
The wider WCEF programme will extend to 17 and 18 September, when global partners are scheduled to organise 80 accelerator sessions in online, hybrid and in-person formats both in Gandhinagar and at locations worldwide. The programme will conclude with the formal handover of the forum to its next host, carried out by Sitra's representative.
Point of View
Not merely a logistical choice. India's ascent to co-chair of the 10 YFP Board, combined with this forum, positions New Delhi as the standard-bearer for circular-economy policy across the Global South — a bloc that European-dominated sustainability summits have long treated as a footnote. The real test, however, is whether the 16 thematic sessions and 125-exhibitor expo translate into binding investment commitments or remain a high-visibility conversation exercise. India's own circular-economy infrastructure — waste management, extended producer responsibility enforcement, recycling supply chains — is still nascent, and showcasing innovation at Gandhinagar will ring hollow if domestic implementation gaps are not addressed alongside the international diplomacy.
NationPress
14 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF) and why is it significant?
The World Circular Economy Forum is a global platform that brings together governments, businesses, researchers and innovators to advance the transition from linear 'take-make-dispose' models to circular systems that keep materials in use longer. Its 2026 Gandhinagar edition is significant as the first WCEF ever held in South Asia, signalling India's growing role in shaping global sustainability policy.
Where and when is WCEF 2026 being held?
WCEF 2026 is being held at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, on 15 and 16 September 2026. The broader programme, including 80 accelerator sessions, continues on 17 and 18 September in hybrid and online formats.
Who is organising the World Circular Economy Forum in India?
The forum is jointly organised by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra, the Government of Finland, India's Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change, the Gujarat government, and the Gujarat Pollution Control Board.
What topics will be discussed at WCEF 2026 in Gandhinagar?
Discussions will span circular finance and private-sector investment, AI and digitalisation for circularity, sustainable products, industrial solutions, start-up ecosystems, youth leadership, employment potential, and energy generation. Four plenary sessions and 16 thematic sessions are planned, alongside an expo featuring 125-plus exhibitors.
What is India's role in global sustainable consumption policy?
India has recently assumed the role of co-chair of the 10 Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns (10 YFP) Board, which promotes sustainable consumption globally. A board meeting of the 10 YFP is also taking place in Gandhinagar on 15 September, coinciding with the WCEF.
