Rome, 1-2 October 2026
The World Water Council took part in the 44th UN-Water Meeting, hosted by IFAD in Rome, where UN-Water Members and Partners coordinate the UN’s approach to water and sanitation. In its intervention, the World Water Council presented the 11th World Water Forum as a platform to help translate the UN’s water agenda into action on the ground.
A critical sequence of milestones
The World Water Forum, to be held in Riyadh in 2027, sits within a decisive sequence: the 2026 and 2028 UN Water Conferences and the SDG 2030 water agenda. To keep the urgency of water challenges visible, the Council and Forum representatives are already taking part in more than 50 international events.
Connecting UN priorities with regional realities
Riyadh 2027 will connect UN-level priorities on SDG 6, climate adaptation and resilience with regional realities and practical implementation pathways. Governments, institutions, experts, civil society, operators, youth and the private sector will be able to discuss, refine and translate these priorities together.
From dialogue to delivery
The Forum’s outputs will include regional and local political messages, capacity transfers, public-private partnerships, and a practical focus on decentralized development cooperation and basin cooperation. A network of more than 700 organizations and an exhibition area will showcase local and technical solutions.
Looking ahead
By bringing together political actors, technical experts, financial institutions and civil society, the Council and the Forum aim to strengthen the link between high-level commitments and operational pathways, for access to water for all.
The World Water Council thanks UN-Water and IFAD for hosting and looks forward to working with all partners on the road to Riyadh 2027.