The World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF) 2026 kicked off in Gandhinagar, Gujarat on Tuesday, 15 September 2026, marking the first time the globally recognised forum has been hosted in South Asia. The three-day event, themed 'Circular Economy: Transition for People and Prosperity', is expected to draw more than 2,000 cross-sectoral stakeholders from over 65 countries, bringing together policymakers, business leaders, researchers, innovators, and entrepreneurs under one roof.

Inaugural Session and Key Dignitaries

Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel jointly inaugurated the forum. Other dignitaries at the opening session included Gujarat's Minister for Forest, Environment and Climate Change Arjunbhai Modhwadia and Finland's Ambassador to India Mikko Kivikoski, along with senior officials from the Union government and the Gujarat government.

The event 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 Government of Gujarat, and the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB). The India-Finland partnership at the organisational level reflects a deepening bilateral cooperation on sustainability and green transition.

What the Forum Covers

On 15 and 16 September, the forum will feature four plenaries and 16 parallel thematic sessions covering topics such as artificial intelligence applications, employment potential, energy production, finance, governance, sustainable products, industrial solutions, start-up ecosystems, and youth leadership.

An accompanying expo showcasing 125-plus national and international exhibitors will highlight practical circular solutions developed by start-ups alongside investment-ready innovations. Circularity, as a principle, focuses on reusing, refurbishing, and recycling existing materials and products, looping them back into the economy as valuable resources rather than discarding them.

Global South Engagement and Finance Mobilisation

A stated objective of the forum is to enable stronger global collaboration — particularly with the Global South — and to facilitate the mobilisation of circular finance and private-sector investment. Policymakers and industry representatives are expected to use the platform to forge cross-sectoral partnerships and advance innovation and digitalisation for circularity.

Notably, on the sidelines of WCEF, the Board of the 10 Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns (10 YFP) is holding its in-person meeting on 15 September at Gandhinagar. India recently assumed the role of Co-Chair of the 10 YFP Board, underscoring its growing leadership in global sustainability governance.

Accelerator Sessions and Extended Outreach

On 17 and 18 September, global collaborators will independently organise 80 accelerator sessions — a mix of online, hybrid, and in-person formats — at Gandhinagar and other locations worldwide. This extended format signals an effort to go beyond a traditional conference model and sustain momentum after the main forum concludes.

With India's hosting of WCEF 2026, the country is positioning itself as a central voice in shaping the global circular economy agenda — a role that will be tested by how effectively the dialogue translates into binding commitments and investable projects.