2026 UN Water Conference Opens Call for Side Event Applications

Organizations have until July 31 to apply for in-person side events at the Abu Dhabi conference, which will bring together global stakeholders to accelerate progress on SDG 6

The 2026 United Nations Water Conference has opened its call for applications for in-person side events to be held within the UN-accredited zone of the conference venue, offering accredited organizations an opportunity to host parallel programming alongside the official conference agenda.

The 2026 UN Water Conference and SDG 6

The 2026 UN Water Conference represents one of the most significant international gatherings on water policy scheduled during the final stretch of the UN Water Action Decade, which concludes in 2028. Co-hosted by Senegal and the United Arab Emirates, the conference will take place from December 8–10, 2026, at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) in Abu Dhabi.

The conference’s central aim is to accelerate implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6), the UN’s global target for ensuring clean water and sanitation access for all. As with previous major UN water conferences, the event is expected to bring together a broad cross-section of governments, UN entities, intergovernmental organizations, and civil society stakeholders to assess current progress toward SDG 6, examine persistent challenges and emerging opportunities, and identify innovative approaches capable of supporting faster implementation.

Side events have become a standard and increasingly important feature of major UN conferences of this kind, providing space for more focused, specialized discussions that complement the official conference programme. These events allow individual countries, organizations, and thematic networks to showcase specific initiatives, share technical knowledge, and build partnerships in ways that a single unified conference agenda cannot fully accommodate.

Purpose and Scope of the Side Events

According to the call for applications, a selected number of high-level side events may be organized in parallel to the official conference programme by UN Member States, UN entities, intergovernmental organizations, and accredited stakeholders. These events are intended to provide additional opportunities for duly registered conference participants to collaborate, share knowledge, and work collectively toward accelerating implementation of SDG 6 and the broader 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

By hosting these events within the UN-accredited zone of the conference venue, organizers aim to ensure that side events remain closely integrated with the official conference proceedings, allowing participants to move between the main programme and side events with relative ease.

Application Process and Deadline

Organizations interested in hosting a side event must submit applications through the official application form by the deadline of July 31, 2026. Prospective applicants are strongly advised to read the accompanying Application Guidelines carefully before submitting their applications, as these guidelines outline the specific requirements and criteria used in the selection process.

Eligibility and Selection Priorities

A key eligibility requirement is that only organizations formally accredited to the 2026 UN Water Conference may be listed as lead or co-organizers of a proposed side event. This accreditation requirement ensures that side event organizers are already recognized participants within the conference’s official stakeholder framework.

In terms of selection priorities, the call indicates that preference will be given to side events organized by UN Member States, as well as to those developed in partnership by multiple networks or organizations working together. This latter priority suggests that collaborative, multi-stakeholder side event proposals may be viewed more favorably than those submitted by a single organization acting alone, reflecting the conference’s broader emphasis on partnership-building as a mechanism for accelerating SDG 6 implementation.

Where to Find More Information

Further details, including the full application guidelines and the official application form, are available through the conference’s official channels. Organizations planning to apply are encouraged to review all available materials well ahead of the July 31 deadline to ensure their submissions meet the required criteria.

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