Preparations for the 2026 UN Water Conference are advancing, with governments and partners using the preparatory process to identify initiatives, strengthen political momentum, and connect the Conference to broader sustainable development priorities.

Participants at a side event during the 2026 session of the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) were briefed on these preparations and were reminded that the Conference will convene in five months, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, from 8-10 December 2026. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Senegal are serving as co-hosts of the Conference.

Across the discussion, speakers emphasized the importance of implementation, coherence across the six interactive dialogues, financing, inclusive participation, and continuity from the 2026 Conference through to the 2027 SDG Summit and the 2028 UN Water Conference.

Opening the briefing, Shaima Hussain Gargash, UAE, framed the side event as a moment to take stock of preparations and to shift from planning to delivery.

Amina J. Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General, thanked the UAE and Senegal for maintaining momentum toward the Conference. She underscored water’s centrality to the SDGs, including health, economies, digital development, peace, and resilience, and called for a Conference focused on implementation “from the first session to the last.” She said strategic initiatives should help sustain momentum toward the 2027 SDG Summit.

Abdulla Balalaa, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability, UAE, said the 2026 HLPF’s review of SDG 6 offered a timely opportunity to sharpen preparations. Stressing that access to water is a fundamental human right, he said the Conference’s success would be measured by the commitments, partnerships, and tangible outcomes it generates, not by the meeting itself. He urged co-chairs of the six interactive dialogues and partners to raise ambition and sustain momentum beyond 2026.

Mohamed Diatta, Sherpa for the 2026 UN Water Conference, Senegal, thanked the co-chairs, partners, civil society, and other stakeholders for advancing the preparatory process since the Dakar meeting in January. He identified three priorities for the months ahead: sustaining high-level political leadership, ensuring coherence across the six interactive dialogues, and translating commitments into implementation. He said the dialogues should contribute to a single narrative and coherent roadmap for action.

Alvaro Lario, President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development and Chair of UN-Water, said progress on access to water services remains too slow despite gains for billions of people. He urged participants to turn momentum into transformation and consider a more structured intergovernmental process for water.

The co-chairs of each of the six interactive dialogues then provided updates on their preparations, including flagship initiatives that are expected to be announced during the Conference.

The co-chairs for the Water for the Planet dialogue, Japan and Egypt, reported on consultations with stakeholders and governments. Japan said emerging priorities include improving access to finance and strengthening early warning systems, noting the dialogue’s links with climate change, biodiversity, desertification, resilience, and disaster risk reduction. Egypt highlighted capacity-building initiatives. Egypt noted that flagship initiatives should inform the Conference’s implementation architecture and said co-chairs will develop criteria for selecting them. Egypt said Cairo Water Week in October is an opportunity to advance preparations.

The co-chairs of the Water for People dialogue, Ghana and Switzerland, said the dialogue aims to accelerate access to water, sanitation, and hygiene through a human rights-based approach, with particular attention to those at risk of being left behind. Ghana highlighted a proposed global acceleration platform for national water compacts as a mechanism to monitor progress and support implementation. Switzerland added that the platform would be a cross-cutting flagship initiative.

The co-chairs of the Water in Multilateral Processes dialogue, Germany and Mexico, said there is broad consensus that water should be more regularly anchored in international processes and highlighted proposals for: convening UN Water Conferences every three to four years; stronger mechanisms for stakeholder contributions; improved links between the water conferences and the Rio Conventions; and more coherent funding and follow-up arrangements. Mexico noted the launch of an online call for written submissions and said flagship initiatives should connect the dialogues and show that the international system can adapt and deliver.

The co-chairs of the Investments for Water dialogue, South Africa and France, described investments for water as a cross-cutting theme relevant to all other dialogues. Relevant topics include scaling up water investments, addressing de-risking, reducing fragmentation around the valuation and pricing of water, and aligning national plans with water planning.

The co-chairs of the Water for Cooperation dialogue, Finland and Zambia, said the dialogue is advancing two flagship initiatives, including one focused on empowering river basin organizations. This dialogue will discuss transboundary and international water cooperation, scientific cooperation, and inclusive governance. Zambia said the dialogue should help strengthen institutions, improve coordination, and support practical collaboration among countries and stakeholders.

The co-chairs of the Water for Prosperity dialogue, China and Spain, said water is foundational for prosperity and reported the launch of a Water for Prosperity initiative. China said the dialogue will address water valuation, the water-energy-food nexus, integrated and sustainable water resources management, wastewater management, water-use efficiency, and economic and social development. Spain added that priorities include water valuation to support decision-making, smart water resources management, and stronger links between water, economics, and investment.

Henk Ovink, Global Commission on the Economics of Water, opened a discussion with partners by emphasizing that partners will be essential to achieving the agenda for the 2026 Conference. He invited institutions to describe how they will build on current momentum.

The European Union described water as “our lifeblood.” She highlighted plans for a high-level workshop in September to refine messages and called for concrete steps toward more permanent integration of water in the UN system.

The World Bank highlighted the Water Forward initiative, which involves a coalition of multilateral development banks aimed at closing the water investment gap. It will include activities to better-prepare projects and develop financial instruments, including bonds, to mobilize investment and support lasting systems for water security.

UNESCO highlighted youth priorities, including water education, capacity building, and meaningful youth engagement.

The Water Policy Group reported on a survey of global water leaders, who viewed SDG 6 as useful for incentivizing national action and saw value in improved coordination across UN processes. He said a UN Water Conference should produce practical guidance for decision-makers.

Tajikistan noted that the fourth Dushanbe Water Conference, which convened in May, aligned its programme with the six interactive dialogues. He proposed a Dushanbe Water Framework to support continuity among the 2026 Conference, the 2027 SDG Summit, and the 2028 UN Water Conference in Tajikistan.

In closing, Diatta underscored the need for coherence across the 2023, 2026, and 2028 UN Water Conferences, stronger links with other conventions and agendas, and continued focus on implementation. [SDG Knowledge Hub sources] [2026 UN Water Conference]