2026 UN Water Conference | Official Virtual Side Event
Road to Bari: Connecting Water Challenges, Knowledge and Solutions
8 December 2026 | Online (Time and registration details to be confirmed)
Organised by the International Association for Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research (IAHR)
About this side event
Cities, river basins and national authorities are at the forefront of addressing increasingly complex water challenges. Responding effectively requires access to the best available science, collective international expertise and practical solutions, as well as stronger connections between those identifying the challenges and those able to contribute to addressing them.
Held as an official virtual side event of the 2026 UN Water Conference, this discussion will explore how IAHR's Road to Bari global process brings together water authorities, the scientific and research community, and solution providers to connect priority water challenges with relevant knowledge, innovation and implementation experience.
The event aims to strengthen dialogue and cooperation across these communities, build on existing international initiatives and identify opportunities for collective action in support of Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6).
What will the event address?
The discussion will focus on how international cooperation can help translate water priorities into knowledge exchange, practical solutions and opportunities for implementation.
Water priorities identified by cities, basins and nations: Understanding the most pressing technical, policy and implementation challenges faced by water authorities, and how these priorities can inform international cooperation and innovation.
Connecting scientific knowledge with real-world needs: Exploring how researchers, scientific institutions and technical experts can contribute evidence, knowledge and innovation to help authorities address their priority challenges.
Mobilising the international solutions community: Identifying how solution providers, innovators and practitioners can contribute technologies, collective expertise and implementation experience to support practical responses.
Strengthening cooperation and advancing action: Building on existing international networks and initiatives to encourage collaboration between authorities, science and the solutions community, with a focus on actionable outcomes and continued engagement.
Bulding on international cooperation
The side event builds on the Road to Bari process and its engagement with cities, river basin organisations, public authorities, researchers and solution providers.
It seeks to reinforce connections with existing international processes and networks, including the International Network of Basin Organisations (INBO), ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, the dialogue initiated through the Future of Water in Cities: Needs and Challenges workshop held in Madrid in May 2026, and the INBO World Basin Summit held in Rio de Janeiro in June 2026.
By bringing these perspectives into the 2026 UN Water Conference, the event aims to contribute to international dialogue on accelerating SDG 6 implementation through knowledge exchange, innovation, cooperation and practical action.
owcase global leadership and capabilities in water engineering and innovation.
Programme and speakers
The programme is currently being finalised.
The event is expected to bring together representatives from cities and river basin authorities, international water networks, public institutions, the scientific community and solution providers.
Further information about the programme, speakers and session format will be published here as it becomes available.
Event information
Date: Tuesday, 8 December 2026
Format: Virtual side event
Time: To be confirmed
Participation: Open to interested stakeholders
Registration: Details to be announced
About Road to Bari
Road to Bari is IAHR's ongoing global process connecting water challenges identified by cities, river basins and public authorities with scientific knowledge, innovation and practical solutions from the international water community.
The process brings together authorities, science and research, and the solutions community to identify shared priorities, exchange experience and strengthen pathways towards implementation.
It will converge at the 42nd IAHR World Congress, taking place in Bari, Italy, from 28 June to 2 July 2027, while seeking to sustain cooperation and engagement beyond the Congress.
Discover Road to Bari and opportunities to contribute here.
Contact and further information
Road to Bari: RoadtoBari27@iahr.org
2026 UN Water Conference: Website
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