World Circular Economy Forum 2026 Begins in Gandhinagar

The World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF) 2026 was inaugurated on 15 September 2026 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. It is the 10th edition of the forum and the first edition held in South Asia.

World Circular Economy Forum

The World Circular Economy Forum is an international platform on circular economy policy, business models, and innovation. The 2026 edition is being held from 15 to 18 September 2026 at the Mahatma Mandir Convention Centre in Gandhinagar.

Circular Economy: Transition for People and Prosperity

The theme of WCEF 2026 is “Circular Economy: Transition for People and Prosperity”. Circular economy is an economic model that focuses on reuse, repair, remanufacturing, recycling, and resource efficiency. It is used in policy discussions on waste reduction, sustainable production, and material recovery.

Participation and Sessions

More than 2,000 stakeholders from 66 countries are participating in the forum. The main programme on 15 and 16 September 2026 includes 4 plenaries and 16 parallel sessions, while accelerator sessions are scheduled for 17 and 18 September 2026.

Important Facts for Exams

• The World Circular Economy Forum was first launched in 2017.
• Gandhinagar is the capital city of Gujarat.
• The Mahatma Mandir Convention Centre is a major convention venue in Gandhinagar.
• Circular economy is linked with the 3R principle of reduce, reuse, and recycle.

Circularity Expo and Key Themes

A special Circularity Expo with more than 125 national and international exhibitors was also inaugurated. The forum covers circularity in urban governance, inclusive circular economy, circular supply chains, artificial intelligence applications, employment potential, finance, and sustainable products.

International Cooperation

The forum is designed to strengthen international cooperation, engage with the Global South, mobilise circular finance, and support policy dialogue. It also includes discussions on digitalisation and innovation for circular economy systems.