This year, the 20th Water and Energy Exchange (WEX) Global will be focusing on four key topics: sustainable water stewardship; AI and digital transformation in the water cycle; collaboration and sustainable development, and innovation and the circular economy.
January 27, 2026. Seville (Spain) will be hosting the 20th WEX Global from February 9 to 11. The event, entitled “Water, Energy and Climate Change: from Vision to Action – Realising a World of Water Abundance,” is set to bring together over 80 leading experts from more than 40 countries to discuss some of the most pressing water, energy, and climate challenges, with a special focus on partnerships, innovation, financing, and impact.
The meeting, recognized as one of the most important international events in the water and energy sector calendar, has four key topics on the agenda this year: sustainable water management; artificial intelligence and digital transformation in the water cycle; collaboration and sustainable development, and innovation and the circular economy, according to Xylem Vue, the Main Sponsor of WEX Global.
OVER 25 SESSIONS TACKLING KEY ISSUES IN WATER STEWARDSHIP AND CLIMATE
These topics will be discussed in over 25 sessions throughout the event. The first block focuses on the watersheds of the future; water abundance as a global goal; the future of agricultural water use, and water management and financing mechanisms in emerging markets.
The second topic focuses on the opportunities and risks of AI in digital utility transformation; water intelligence; urban water futures, and integrating digital across the water sector.
The third topic deals with financing in the future to drive sustainable progress; building catalytic communities for climate action; and transformative PPP models in the water sector.
Finally, the fourth area analyzes the conversion of wastewater to energy and green infrastructure; water reuse, desalination, and non-traditional sources; biorefineries as the future of circular water-resource economies; and emerging contaminants and regulatory landscapes.
In addition, round tables and a busy schedule of networking events will be held throughout the forum to generate opportunities for attendees to connect.
WEX Global Awards
On Tuesday, February 10, the gala dinner will serve as the backdrop for the WEX Global Awards (Innovation Forum Awards), which recognize best practices in circular economy strategies. The categories this year are innovation in water and the circular economy; innovation in decarbonization and climate resilience; innovation in digital transformation of the water sector; and innovation in watershed restoration, climate resilience, and water positive innovation.
The Innovation Forum, held in the run-up to the awards ceremony, provides six innovative companies with the opportunity to present their projects to a panel of expert judges and the wider audience.
Xylem Vue, headline sponsor
WEX Global will once again be supported by the Xylem Vue platform, as its headline sponsor, given the key role of digital transformation in this year’s agenda.
