conference · Upcoming
World Petroleum Congress (WPC) 2026: Riyadh
The 'Olympics of the petroleum industry', held every three years. WPC 2026 hosted by Saudi Arabia, anchored by Saudi Aramco, expected to be the largest WPC in history.
Date
Location
Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
EarthScan
Tarry Singh
The World Petroleum Congress is the triennial "Olympics of the petroleum industry": every three years, a different host country. WPC 2026 lands in Riyadh, 11-15 October at the Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Center. Saudi Aramco hosts.
Scale + significance
- First WPC in Saudi Arabia: this is a national-pride event
- Five days, expected ~10,000 delegates + ~50,000 exhibition visitors
- All major NOCs + IOCs + supermajors present at the ministerial / CEO level
- The industry-narrative-setting venue of the year: what's said at WPC 2026 frames the global oil & gas conversation through 2027
What's on the programme
WPC's technical programme is broader than SPE/EAGE; it spans:
- Upstream geoscience + engineering
- Downstream refining + petrochemicals
- Strategic / policy / economic analysis
- Energy transition
- Talent + workforce
- Sustainability + ESG
- Digital + AI
The 2026 edition will lean heavily into:
- Saudi Aramco's digitalisation programme: globally one of the largest operator-side AI investments
- Saudi Vision 2030 energy strategy presentation
- GCC carbon storage ambitions
EarthScan plans
Tarry will attend. WPC 2026 is the right venue for senior-level operator conversations, exactly where mid-tier-vendor relationships with NOCs get scoped.
