Bid to host Congress 2026

Request for Proposals  

Introduction

The International Hydropower Association is looking for a partnership and requesting proposals to prepare and deliver the 2026 World Hydropower Congress.  

This provides an overview of the selection process for the choice of the host city and venue of the World Hydropower Congress. Candidates are invited to submit an initial proposal no later than 16 December 2024.

Proposals are to be submitted either via our online form or shared via email (.doc or .pdf) events@hydropower.org

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Enquiries can be submitted via email prior to the closing date to: events@hydropower.org

About IHA

The International Hydropower Association (IHA) is the global voice of sustainable hydropower. It is a non-profit membership association, operating in more than 120 countries. IHA's members include the world's leading hydropower developers, operators, manufacturers, and consultants. Its members are committed to the statement “Going forward, the only acceptable hydropower is sustainable hydropower”.”

Since 1995 IHA has been working with industry, governments, multilateral institutions, civil society, finance and academia to deliver on this mission through advocacy, research and policy initiatives and championing sustainable good practices.

Led by its President, former Prime Minister of Australia Malcolm Turnbull, IHA is focused on advancing sustainable hydropower as the backbone to the energy transition. Without sustainable hydropower, net-zero goals will not be met.   

About the World Hydropower Congress

The World Hydropower Congress (WHC) is the award-winning flagship event of the IHA and the leading global event for decision-makers within and outside the hydropower industry.  

The Congress takes place over three days with a target of 800-1,000 attendees, encompassing decision-makers, innovators, and experts in the hydropower sector from companies, governments, non-governmental organisations, finance agencies, civil society, and academia from around the world.  

The programme typically includes:  

• a core set of plenary sessions and parallel sessions
• workshops

• high-level bilateral meetings

• a drinks reception and a gala dinner including an awards ceremony  

• a large, multipurpose area for coffee breaks and lunch catering, for sponsors and partners to showcase and for networking

• pre-Congress or post-Congress training and tours to areas and projects of cultural and hydropower interest.

In addition to knowledge sharing, networking, business and partnership opportunities, The WHC provides the stage for high-level policy statements, recommendations and commitments that will influence the global growth of sustainable hydropower. After the Congress, key deliverables are taken to COP climate summits and beyond.

Past Congresses were set at the following dates and locations:  

• 29-31 May 2007, Antalya (Gov of Turkey)

• 23-26 June 2009, Reykjavik (Gov of Iceland)

• 14-17 June 2011, Iguassu (Gov of Brazil)

• 21-24 May 2013, Kuching (Gov of Sarawak, Malaysia)

• 19-21 May 2015, Beijing (Gov of the People’s Republic of China)

• 9 -11 May 2017, Addis Ababa (African Union/UNECA/Gov of Ethiopia)

• 14 - 16 May 2019, Paris (Gov of French Republic)

• 7-24 September 2021, Costa Rica (virtual format, Gov of Costa Rica)

• 31 October-2 November 2023, Bali (Gov of Indonesia)  

Previous speakers have included HE Joko Widodo, President of Indonesia; HE Carlos Alvarado Quesado the President of Costa Rica; COP27 President Alok Sharma; former Prime Ministers Tony Blair, Helen Clark, Malcolm Turnbull; Dr Fatih Birol, International Energy Agency Executive Director; Francesco la Camera, Director General of IRENA; 100s of Ministers, CEOs, and heads of international organisations.  

Requirements

To ensure that the Congress runs smoothly, the proposed venue, if identified, should provide:

• Conference hall should accommodate 1,000 participants (theatre style) and have space for a stage and interpretation booths

• Additional 3-4 breakout rooms for 200-300 people for parallel sessions (theatre style) and workshops (cabaret layout)

• 10+ smaller rooms for additional meetings (from 10 to 40 participants) in boardroom layout

• An exhibition/showcase/catering space should be at least 2,500m²

• Venue should have business centre and/or a separate administrative office for IHA staff
• Venue should have a cloakroom and a registration area in an appropriate location in the venue, easily accessible and capable of handling peak number of registrants

• Venue within or outside the main venue for a gala dinner and awards ceremony. If gala dinner room is onsite, it should not be one of the meeting rooms proposed for the parallel or plenary sessions

• Venue must be nearby hotels with enough available rooms to accommodate 1,000 guests including a range of hotels for different budgets

• There should be safe and reliable public transport between hotels, venue and airport

• Venue should follow sustainability practices

• Venue should offer disabled access to all areas
• Venue should have a dedicated entrance for VIPs and VIP lounge if required

Selection Process

• The call for proposals for the 2026 Congress Hosting Proposals will be open from October 2024. The closing date for submission of a proposal will be 16 December 2024.

• The final decision on the host country and Congress venue is made by the IHA Board following the recommendation of the IHA Central Office.

• Following submission of the Congress hosting proposals, the IHA Central Office will contact the proponents to seek clarification where necessary and to advise on proposed modifications. Finalised detailed proposals will be submitted to the IHA Central Office by 30 January 2025. IHA Central Office will carry out interviews and site visits for shortlisted proposals during March and April. The IHA Board will make a final decision in May and the successful host will be announced in June 2025.

• The Proposal should highlight arguments supporting the proposed choice of venue and possible dates of the Congress and include information supporting how the requirements are being met. The Proposal should also include documentation relating to any other sponsorship pledges.

• Congress hosting proposals could be made on behalf of an IHA Member who pledges to support the Congress as a main sponsor or an additional sponsor providing some financial support and/or in-kind liaison support to IHA during the preparations.  

• Nothing in this request is to be construed as creating any binding contract between the organisation and proponent.  

• IHA reserves the right to vary or extend any time or date specified in this request for all or any proponents.

• IHA reserves the right to change any information or to issue an addendum to this request.

• It is deemed permissible for the host to invite IHA for a site visit to host country. IHA is not obliged to respond positively to this request.

• Gifts or cash to any IHA representative is inadmissible.

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Terms and conditions