Germany and Mexico Publish State of Play Report Ahead of 2026 UN Water Conference

September 2026 — Germany and Mexico, co-chairs of the 2026 UN Water Conference Interactive Dialogue on “Water in Multilateral Processes,” have published a first “State of Play Report” examining the future of global water governance, ahead of the Conference set to take place in December 2026 in the United Arab Emirates.

Background

Global water governance has long been criticized as fragmented, with responsibility for water-related issues scattered across numerous UN agencies, conventions and processes rather than consolidated under a single comprehensive intergovernmental framework. This fragmentation has made it more difficult to coordinate international action on water security, even as pressures from climate change, population growth and competing demands intensify worldwide.

The 2026 UN Water Conference builds on the landmark 2023 UN Water Conference, which marked a significant moment in elevating water on the global agenda after decades without a dedicated UN water summit. The 2026 Conference is scheduled to take place from 8–10 December 2026 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), co-hosted by Senegal and the UAE, and aims to accelerate implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6), enhance global water governance, and further elevate water-related issues on the international agenda.

Interactive Dialogue E: Water in Multilateral Processes

Interactive Dialogue E (ID E), titled “Water in Multilateral Processes,” is one of six Interactive Dialogues planned for the 2026 UN Water Conference. Co-chaired by Germany and Mexico, ID E focuses specifically on strengthening global water governance. Building on the outcomes of the 2023 UN Water Conference, the Dialogue will explore pathways toward a more comprehensive intergovernmental process on water under the United Nations, while also seeking ways to reduce fragmentation across the multilateral system and better integrate water considerations into global processes more broadly.

The State of Play Report

The first “State of Play Report” brings together discussions held so far in preparation for the Interactive Dialogue, highlighting emerging areas of convergence among stakeholders as well as key questions that remain unresolved. Rather than presenting final conclusions, the report is designed to support further discussion on how water governance should evolve in the years ahead, serving as a foundation for continued dialogue between now and the Conference in December.

Conclusion

As preparations continue for the 2026 UN Water Conference, the State of Play Report offers an early signal of where consensus is forming — and where significant debate remains — on one of the most consequential questions facing global water policy: how to build a more coherent, less fragmented system of international water governance. With the Conference just months away, the coming weeks of dialogue among Germany, Mexico and other stakeholders will help determine whether the process can move from identifying shared priorities toward concrete recommendations for strengthening water’s place within the multilateral system.

• Download the report here.
• Find more information on the 2026 UN Water Conference here.