Global Energy Leaders Set to Convene in Riyadh for the 25th WPC Energy Congress
More than 70 ministers and some 300 senior executives are expected, alongside a packed week of ministerial meetings, technical forums and an international exhibition.
- What: The 25th WPC Energy Congress.
- Where and when: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from October 11 to 15, 2026.
- Who is attending: More than 70 ministers, some 300 CEOs and senior executives, and leaders from over 25 global energy organisations.
- Theme: “Pathways to an Energy Future for All.”
- Also on the calendar: The 17th International Energy Forum Ministerial Meeting (IEF17), the 17th Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM17), the 11th Mission Innovation Ministerial (MI-11) and the 16th Session of the Arab Ministerial Council for Electricity.
What Is Happening in Riyadh?
Riyadh is preparing to host one of the busiest weeks on the global energy calendar. According to a report from the Saudi Press Agency, the 25th WPC Energy Congress will run from October 11 to 15, 2026, and will draw policymakers, industry leaders, investors and technology executives from around the world.
The scale of expected attendance is notable. The report says more than 70 ministers will take part, along with some 300 CEOs and senior executives, and leaders from over 25 global energy organisations.
The Theme and the Big Questions
The Congress is being held under the theme “Pathways to an Energy Future for All.” The agenda is built around the issues that are shaping the sector right now:
- Security and reliability of energy supply
- Global markets and investment
- Technological innovation
- Sustainability
- Workforce development
Why Cooperation Is at the Centre?
The organisers frame the week around a simple point: closer cooperation across the global energy sector matters more than before. The meetings are meant to give industry leaders, investors and technology developers a place to advance practical solutions, build partnerships, mobilise investment and strengthen international ties.
The Ministerial Meetings Around the Congress
The Congress does not stand alone. A series of major international and regional meetings surrounds it, hosted by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Energy, with Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud named in the report as host.
IEF17. The programme opens with the 17th International Energy Forum Ministerial Meeting. Energy ministers, industry leaders and heads of international organisations are due to discuss energy security, market stability and investment, and ways to strengthen cooperation between energy-producing and energy-consuming countries.
CEM17 and MI-11. The Ministry of Energy will also host the 17th Clean Energy Ministerial and the 11th Mission Innovation Ministerial from October 11 to 13. These will bring together ministers and senior officials from major economies, business leaders, international organisations, and research and innovation institutions. The focus is on speeding up the development and deployment of energy technologies and moving innovation from the lab to real-world use at scale.
Arab Ministerial Council for Electricity. Riyadh will also host the council’s 16th session, along with specialised Arab meetings, high-level workshops and events on regional cooperation, investment and advanced technologies.
Beyond the Ministers: The Wider Programme
The week is not only for officials and executives. The programme also includes:
- Activities for youth and young professionals
- Sessions on women in energy
- Innovation and entrepreneurship tracks
- Sessions on AI and digitalisation, emerging technologies and talent development
- Technical forums, workshops and innovation challenges
- An accompanying international exhibition
The technical forums and exhibition are designed to give specialists, young professionals and entrepreneurs a direct line to industry leaders, experts and innovators, with a closer look at the technologies and solutions shaping the sector.
Our Analysis: What to Take From This
The following is editorial analysis, not reported fact.
1. The agenda mirrors the industry’s real tension. Supply security, investment, sustainability and technology all appear on the same list. That reflects how energy decisions today rarely involve just one of these at a time.
2. Producers and consumers at one table. The IEF17 discussion on cooperation between energy-producing and consuming countries is a signal that market stability is being treated as a shared concern.
3. Workforce and AI are now mainstream topics. Sessions on talent development, digitalisation and AI sit alongside traditional supply and market themes, which suggests the industry sees people and technology as core issues, not side topics.
4. Scale matters. With this many ministers and executives in one city in one week, announcements on partnerships and investment are likely to follow. Whether they do is something to watch, not something the report promises.
What to Watch Next?
- Outcomes from IEF17 on energy security, market stability and investment
- Any technology deployment commitments coming out of CEM17 and MI-11
- Partnership and investment announcements made on the sidelines
- What the technical forums and exhibition reveal about emerging energy technologies
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the 25th WPC Energy Congress?
- It runs from October 11 to 15, 2026.
Where is it being held?
- In Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Who is expected to attend?
- More than 70 ministers, some 300 CEOs and senior executives, and leaders from over 25 global energy organisations.
What is the theme?
- “Pathways to an Energy Future for All.”
What topics will be discussed?
- Security and reliability of supply, global markets and investment, technological innovation, sustainability and workforce development.
What other meetings are taking place in Riyadh?
- The 17th International Energy Forum Ministerial Meeting (IEF17), the 17th Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM17), the 11th Mission Innovation Ministerial (MI-11) and the 16th Session of the Arab Ministerial Council for Electricity.
Is there a programme for young people and women in energy?
- Yes. The programme includes dedicated activities for youth and young professionals, women in energy, and innovation and entrepreneurship.
Is there an exhibition?
- Yes. An international exhibition accompanies the Congress, alongside technical forums, workshops and innovation challenges.
Riyadh is set to be the meeting point for the global energy industry from October 11 to 15. With ministers, executives, investors and young innovators in the same city, the week is designed to turn conversation on supply security, investment and new technology into practical partnerships.
