What it is
The World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF) is an annual conference on the circular economy run by Sitra, the Finnish Innovation Fund, with partners in the host country. It has been held since 2017 and has travelled to Rwanda, Japan, Belgium, Finland, the Netherlands, Canada and Brazil; the 2025 forum was held in Ibirapuera Park in São Paulo. It brings together business, government, academia and civil society, and it focuses on how companies can gain a competitive advantage from circular models and how these contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The tenth edition, WCEF2026, took place in Gandhinagar, capital of the Indian state of Gujarat, from 15 to 18 September 2026, at the Mahatma Mandir Convention Centre. It was organised by Sitra with India’s Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), which also handled registration. For the first time the forum put the productive sector at the centre of the programme.
How the programme works
There are three layers. The main forum, with plenaries, parallel sessions and an expo, is in person. Around it, partners run accelerator sessions, in 2026 on 17 and 18 September, which anyone can join with a separate registration, some online and some in person. Side events take place throughout the year, and “studios” offer local participation in the main event. The organiser collects speaker suggestions by email and passes them to session leads.
Who goes and how to take part
In-person attendance is by invitation only, with invitation lists built together with partners; the FAQ says capacity is limited. Online participation is open to everyone and free.
What came out of the last edition
According to the organiser’s summary report, WCEF2026 had 3,614 participants from 63 countries, more than 19,800 online views, 161 speakers, 135 exhibitors and 75 accelerator sessions. Finland announced a EUR 120 million commitment to a planned Finland-IFC blended finance programme. The EU Circular Economy Resource Centre’s Circular Awards went to Kijani Testing of Kenya, Indústria Fox of Brazil and the State of Rio de Janeiro for its industrial symbiosis programme. The Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives published guidance for local and national governments on financing zero waste.
Why it matters for cities
The forum is not built around cities, but several of its outputs are useful to them: the award to a state government’s industrial symbiosis programme, guidance on financing zero waste aimed at local governments, and reports launched at the forum on topics such as circular public procurement, ecolabels and the reuse of treated sewage.
Going, or following from home
We could not find the 2027 forum announced. In the meantime, the 2026 session recordings remain free to watch on the forum website, and side events continue during the year.