The 25th WPC Energy Congress will bring together energy ministers, industry executives, policymakers and global energy leaders in Riyadh from October 11–15, 2026, under the theme “Pathways to an Energy Future for All.”

Hosted at the Riyadh Front Exhibition and Conference Centre, the five-day event will feature more than 30 plenary, strategic and ministerial sessions covering global energy security, oil and gas markets, artificial intelligence, investment, critical minerals, carbon management, natural gas, safety and the changing energy mix.

The Congress is being held in Saudi Arabia for the first time in its 90-year history and is expected to attract more than 25,000 delegates, including around 100 energy ministers, 500 CEOs and 800 speakers. Representatives from about 1,000 companies will take part across more than 50,000 square metres of exhibition space.

The programme will open with a ministerial gala dinner on October 11, followed by the official inauguration on October 12. Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz and WPC Energy President Pedro Miras are scheduled to deliver remarks.

Global energy security and markets will be central to the agenda, with ministers from major producing and consuming economies discussing the outlook for energy, oil and gas markets. Other sessions will examine the growing role of artificial intelligence and digital technologies in improving energy operations, productivity and performance, with participation from companies including Saudi Aramco, Siemens Energy, SLB, Hitachi Energy, Microsoft and Samsung E&A.

Investment, critical mineral supply chains, carbon capture and storage, carbon markets and renewable energy will also feature prominently. Among the senior executives attending are BP CEO Meg O’Neill, ExxonMobil Chairman and CEO Darren Woods, Shell CEO Wael Sawan, TotalEnergies Chairman and CEO Patrick Pouyanne, and Baker Hughes Chairman and CEO Lorenzo Simonelli.

A dedicated ministerial dialogue will examine Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 economic transformation and the Kingdom’s expanding role in the global energy economy.

The technical programme will feature experts across 30 forums focused on energy supply, infrastructure, fuels, technologies and leadership, with discussions on innovation, market trends, efficiency and emissions reduction.

The Congress will form part of Riyadh Energy Week, which will also include IEF17, CEM17/MI-11, OAPEC-led sessions and industry events. The wider programme will feature initiatives on women in energy, young professionals, social responsibility, AI and digitalisation, before concluding with a closing and handover ceremony on October 15. -OGN/TradeArabia News Service