The 2026 United Nations Water Conference will serve as one of the most significant global gatherings focused on water, sanitation, and sustainable development in the final years of the 2030 Agenda. Scheduled to take place from 8–10 December 2026 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, the conference will bring together governments, international organizations, development partners, researchers, businesses, civil society organizations, and community stakeholders to accelerate progress toward achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6): Ensure Availability and Sustainable Management of Water and Sanitation for All.
Co-hosted by the United Arab Emirates and Senegal, the conference seeks to mobilize political leadership, financial resources, technological innovation, and international cooperation to address one of the most pressing challenges facing humanity: ensuring universal access to clean water and sanitation while safeguarding water resources for future generations.
The Urgency of Achieving SDG 6
Water is fundamental to human health, economic development, food production, environmental sustainability, energy generation, and climate resilience. Despite decades of progress, billions of people worldwide continue to experience challenges related to safe drinking water, sanitation services, hygiene facilities, and sustainable water management.
As the global community enters the final years of the Sustainable Development Goals framework, concerns remain about the pace of progress toward SDG 6. Water scarcity, pollution, climate change, population growth, ecosystem degradation, and increasing demand for freshwater resources continue to threaten development gains across many regions.
The United Nations emphasizes that achieving SDG 6 is not only a goal in itself but also a prerequisite for achieving many other Sustainable Development Goals, including those related to poverty reduction, health, education, food security, gender equality, climate action, and sustainable cities.
Purpose of the Conference
The 2026 United Nations Water Conference aims to strengthen global commitment to water-related action through enhanced cooperation and solidarity. The event will encourage governments and stakeholders to increase investments in water infrastructure, improve water governance systems, strengthen sanitation services, and promote sustainable water resource management.
The conference is expected to facilitate the exchange of knowledge, policy experiences, research findings, and innovative solutions that can accelerate progress at local, national, regional, and global levels.
By creating a platform for dialogue and collaboration, the conference seeks to support practical actions that contribute to a water-secure future while ensuring that no community is left behind.
Interactive Dialogues and Policy Discussions
A central feature of the conference will be a series of interactive dialogues designed to foster meaningful engagement among participants. These discussions will explore key issues affecting water security and sustainable development and will provide opportunities for stakeholders to share perspectives and identify actionable solutions.
The dialogues are expected to focus on themes such as:
- Sustainable water resource management
- Access to clean water and sanitation
- Climate resilience and adaptation
- Water financing and investment
- Innovation and technology
- Ecosystem protection
- Cross-border and international water cooperation
- Strengthening partnerships for SDG implementation
These discussions will help shape recommendations and collaborative actions that support accelerated implementation of SDG 6.
Opportunities for Stakeholder Participation
The conference places strong emphasis on inclusive participation and stakeholder engagement. Governments, international agencies, academic institutions, youth groups, indigenous communities, civil society organizations, private sector actors, and development practitioners will all have opportunities to contribute to the discussions.
One of the major participation opportunities currently available is the Open Call for In-Person Side Events within the United Nations-accredited conference zone. Side events will provide organizations with a platform to showcase successful initiatives, present research findings, discuss policy innovations, and build partnerships with stakeholders from around the world.
These events are expected to enrich the conference agenda by highlighting diverse perspectives and practical experiences related to water and sanitation challenges.
Strengthening Global Cooperation
The conference reflects growing recognition that water challenges cannot be addressed by individual countries alone. Shared water resources, transboundary river basins, climate impacts, and global development goals require coordinated international action.
Through collaboration among governments, international institutions, development partners, researchers, and local communities, the conference seeks to generate practical solutions that strengthen water security and resilience worldwide.
The event also aims to encourage greater financial commitments and investments that can support infrastructure development, technological innovation, and sustainable water management initiatives in both developed and developing countries.
Building a Water-Secure Future
As water-related challenges become increasingly complex, the need for coordinated action continues to grow. The 2026 United Nations Water Conference represents a critical opportunity to accelerate efforts toward universal access to safe water and sanitation while promoting sustainable management of the world’s water resources.
By bringing together global leaders and stakeholders, the conference seeks to transform commitments into measurable action and ensure that progress toward SDG 6 remains a priority during the final years of the 2030 Agenda.
Event Details
Event: 2026 United Nations Water Conference
Dates: 8–10 December 2026
Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Co-Hosts: United Arab Emirates and Senegal
Focus: Accelerating the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation for All
Stakeholders interested in participating are encouraged to follow official conference updates regarding registration, side events, interactive dialogues, and additional engagement opportunities as preparations continue.
