HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Energy of Saudi Arabia, pictured at the 24th World Petroleum Congress in Calgary, Canada (2023).

In less than a month, the 25th WPC Energy Congress will begin, bringing energy ministers, industry CEOs, policymakers and global energy leaders together in Riyadh. Held between 11–15 October 2026, the five-day programme will focus on the future of the global energy system, under the theme “Pathways to an Energy Future for All.”

The 25th WPC Energy Congress will take place at the Riyadh Front Exhibition and Conference Center (RFECC), with more than 30 plenary, strategic and ministerial sessions covering energy security, global oil and gas markets, digital transformation and AI, financing and investment, critical minerals, carbon management, natural gas, safety and the evolving energy mix.

Hosted in Saudi Arabia for the first time in the Congress’s 90-year history, the 25th WPC Energy Congress is expected to welcome more than 25,000 delegates, including 100 energy ministers and 500 CEOs, alongside 800 speakers and representatives from 1,000 companies across more than 50,000 sqm of exhibition space.

On the evening of 11 October the WPC Energy Congress Ministerial Gala Dinner will mark the start of a week of high-level energy engagements, bringing together ministers, senior policymakers and global energy leaders. The official inauguration of the 25th WPC Energy Congress will take place on 12 October, with remarks from HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Energy of Saudi Arabia, and Pedro Miras, President of WPC Energy.

Programme Highlights

Global Energy Security and Markets
Opening ministerial dialogues will bring together leaders from major producing and consuming economies to examine the future of energy and global oil and gas markets. Key discussions will be moderated by Dr Daniel Yergin, Vice Chairman of S&P Global, and Dr Helima Croft of RBC Capital Markets.

AI and the Future of Energy
Leaders from Saudi Aramco, Siemens Energy, SLB, Hitachi Energy, Microsoft and Samsung E&A will explore how AI and digital technologies are reshaping energy operations, productivity and performance.

Investment, Critical Minerals and Sustainability
Sessions will address financing, critical mineral supply chains, CCUS, carbon markets, renewables and the technologies shaping a more secure and sustainable energy future.

Global Industry Leaders
Among the many global industry leaders taking part are Meg O’Neill, CEO of BP; Darren Woods, Chairman and CEO of ExxonMobil; Wael Sawan, CEO of Shell; Patrick Pouyanne, Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies; and Lorenzo Simonelli, Chairman and CEO of Baker Hughes.

Saudi Arabia’s Economic Transformation
A dedicated ministerial dialogue on Vision 2030: Economic Transformation & Global Competitiveness will explore the Kingdom’s transformation and its growing role in the global energy economy.

Technical Programme
The Technical Programme will bring together global experts across 30 forums for paper and poster presentations. Structured around five thematic blocks, it will examine primary energy supply, energy infrastructure, energy fuels and molecules, energy technologies and energy leadership, with a focus on market trends, technology advances, process optimisation, innovation and emissions reduction.

Energy Week in Riyadh
Riyadh Energy Week will run from 11–15 October 2026, bringing together the IEF17 Ministerial, CEM17/MI-11, OAPEC-led sessions and a series of industry and networking events, with the 25th WPC Energy Congress officially inaugurating on 12 October and anchoring the week’s programme.

The wider programme will include the Synergy Programme, spanning Circular Carbon Economy, Women in Energy, Young Professionals, Social Responsibility, and AI & Digitalisation, alongside the Energy Hackathon, Knowledge Sprints, Energy Games and WPC Energy Member Country Presentations.

The Congress will conclude on 15 October with its Closing and Handover Ceremony.

For the latest programme updates, please refer to the Congress website at www.wpcenergy2026.org.

About the 25th WPC Energy Congress

The 25th WPC Energy Congress is the flagship event of WPC Energy and will bring together governments, international energy companies, industry leaders, investors and experts from across the global energy value chain to explore practical pathways towards an energy future for all. Established in 1933, WPC Energy provides a neutral and inclusive platform for energy dialogue, fostering partnership, collaboration and knowledge exchange across the global energy sector. Through its network spanning more than 60 member countries and international events, WPC Energy advances practical solutions for a secure, just and sustainable energy future. For more information, visit www.wpcenergy.org.