The stage is set at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, as the prestigious World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF) 2026 begins today.

Held for the first time in South Asia, the two-day global gathering will bring together more than 2,000 stakeholders from over 65 countries under the theme “Circular Economy: Transition for People and Prosperity.”

The forum will be jointly inaugurated by Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.

Turning Waste into Worth

At its heart, WCEF 2026 is about rethinking how the world uses resources. Instead of following the traditional model of taking resources, making products and eventually throwing them away, a circular economy seeks to reuse, refurbish and recycle materials, keeping them in circulation and giving them renewed economic value.

The approach can reduce waste, conserve resources and create new opportunities for businesses and communities.

Where Ideas Meet Innovation

The forum will feature four plenary sessions and 16 thematic sessions, exploring some of the biggest questions shaping the future of sustainable development. Discussions will cover areas including artificial intelligence, green energy, sustainable finance, governance and the start-up ecosystem.

Adding an innovation-focused dimension to the event, an international expo featuring more than 125 exhibitors will showcase practical technologies, products and solutions designed around circular business models.

The gathering will bring together an unusually diverse group of participants, including business leaders, entrepreneurs, researchers, policymakers, academicians, innovators and changemakers.

India’s Growing Circular Economy Role

WCEF 2026 also comes at a significant moment for India’s sustainability journey. The forum is jointly organised by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Central Pollution Control Board, Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra and the Government of Gujarat.

On the sidelines, the Board of the 10 Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns (10 YFP) will hold its in-person meeting in Gandhinagar on September 15. India has recently taken on the role of Co-Chair of the 10 YFP Board, reflecting its growing role in advancing sustainable consumption and production.

The WCEF programme will continue beyond the main forum, with 80 accelerator sessions scheduled globally on September 17 and 18.

As Gandhinagar becomes a meeting point for ideas from around the world, the message is clear: the future of prosperity may depend not on using more, but on using smarter—and wasting less.