Spotlight: Women in Water at IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition 2026

Submitted by Cross 8

Glasgow, 5–8 October 2026

This October, the Women in Water Programme will take centre stage at the IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition in Glasgow, bringing together women, allies, leaders, emerging professionals and water-sector colleagues from around the world.

Aligned with the Congress theme “Water Action – the path to resilience and prosperity”, the programme has been designed to be much more than a series of events. Its ambition is to create a genuinely inclusive, supported and globally connected experience before, during and beyond Glasgow, amplifying women’s voices, encouraging meaningful participation and building connections that last long after Congress closes.

This is a programme built around connection and action

From Monday 5 October, Women in Water activities will take place across the Congress exhibition, with the dedicated Women in Water Connection Hub at Stand 015 providing a welcoming home for the programme.

The Hub will be a place to meet new people, reconnect with colleagues, exchange ideas, find out what is happening across the programme or to simply take some time out from a busy Congress schedule.

Importantly, the programme has been designed with different ways of connecting in mind. Alongside presentations and panel discussions, attendees will find networking sessions, speed mentoring, the Women in Water Buddy System, career conversations and opportunities for informal connection.

The ambition is simple: whether you arrive in Glasgow with a team of people, or you are travelling alone, there should be a way for you to get involved and get connected.

Hold conversations that matter

Across the four days, an exciting international line up will explore some of the biggest challenges and opportunities facing women and the wider water sector.

Topics span inclusive leadership, water security, climate resilience, digital transformation, technology, WASH inequalities, mentoring, allyship, career progression, unconscious bias and creating the next generation of water leaders.

Highlights include sessions exploring Transforming Wastewater into Water Security; Inclusive Leadership & Collective Performance; Drought is Not Gender Neutral; Designing Inclusive Water Systems; Women and the WASH Gap in High-Income Countries; Real Data Real Insight; Beyond Technical Resilience; Women in Technology; Global Stories, Local Partnerships; Women Leading the Digital Water Revolution; and Clearing the Path for Women in Water Leadership.

The programme stretches beyond the dedicated Connection Hub too, with organisations and country pavilions across the exhibition supporting and hosting Women in Water conversations — making inclusion a visible part of the wider Congress experience.

Creating opportunities to connect

One of the strongest themes running through the programme is connection.

Dedicated networking sessions will create space for conversations around engineering, neurodiversity, recruitment and women's networks, while speed mentoring will provide opportunities for focused conversations, advice and knowledge sharing.

The Buddy System has also been created to make Congress more welcoming, particularly for first-time and international attendees, people attending alone, neurodiverse participants and anyone who would value a friendly connection as they navigate such a large international event.

These activities recognise that meaningful professional relationships do not always begin in formal conference sessions. Sometimes they begin with an introduction, a ten-minute conversation or simply having someone to say hello to.

Everyone has a role to play

Women in Water is not intended to be a conversation involving women alone.

Male allyship and collective action are an important part of the programme, recognising that creating a more inclusive water sector requires participation from across organisations, disciplines, countries and career stages.

The programme ultimately asks how the global water community can create environments in which more people are able to participate, contribute, progress and lead.

Free opportunities to get involved

A significant part of the Women in Water Programme will take place within the main exhibition hall, which is free to enter, opening opportunities for people beyond full Congress delegates to participate in many of the conversations and activities.

Some sessions and wider Congress activities may require a full Congress ticket, so attendees are encouraged to check individual session access arrangements when planning their visit.

If you are in Glasgow, look out for the Women in Water Connection Hub at Stand 015 and come and say hello.

Beyond Glasgow

Perhaps the most important question is what happens after October 8th.

The vision for Women in Water has always extended beyond four days in Glasgow. The programme aims to help build a sustained international community, creating relationships and opportunities that continue beyond Congress and connecting people who want to contribute to a more inclusive global water sector.

The conversation is already growing online, and everyone interested in the programme is invited to join us on LinkedIn to follow the journey, meet the community, discover programme highlights and help keep the connections going beyond Glasgow.

💧 Follow Women in Water on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/iwa-glasgow-2026-women-in-water/

We look forward to welcoming you to Glasgow and to seeing where the connections made there can take us next.

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