Event

ChangeNOW 2026

LOCATION

Grand Palais, Paris, France

DATE

30 March - 1 April 2026

ChangeNOW 2026 will take place from 30 March to 1 April 2026 at the Grand Palais in Paris, bringing together policymakers, entrepreneurs, investors, cities and civil society organisations working on solutions to environmental and social challenges.

The event features a programme of keynote sessions, workshops, solution showcases and networking opportunities focused on areas such as sustainable cities, circular economy, biodiversity and energy transition. Across the three days, participants will share experiences, explore emerging approaches and discuss how innovative solutions can be deployed and scaled to address systemic sustainability challenges.

Climate KIC at ChangeNOW

Climate KIC will participate in ChangeNOW 2026 as a partner of the Cities Programme, developed in collaboration with Saint-Gobain. The programme brings together European city leaders, industry representatives and innovation partners to explore how public-private collaboration can accelerate urban climate action.

Through a full day of activities on 31 March, the Cities Programme ‘Cities for Change’ creates a platform for cities to exchange experiences, discuss implementation challenges and connect with businesses that can support the deployment of climate solutions. The programme aims to strengthen cooperation between cities and the private sector to help advance low-carbon, resilient and inclusive urban development across Europe.

In addition to its role in the Cities Programme, Climate KIC will contribute to the broader conference discussions on climate resilience and systems transformation.

Key activities

30 March

The Adaptation Imperative

10:00–12:30 | Legacy Stage

Climate KIC CEO Kirsten Dunlop will join global leaders, scientists and innovators to discuss how societies can respond to the growing need for climate adaptation. The session will explore how communities, institutions and businesses can prepare for a world beyond the 1.5°C threshold while strengthening resilience and protecting vulnerable populations.

31 March: Cities Programme 'Cities for Change'

The ChangeNOW Cities Programme, organised in partnership with Saint-Gobain and Climate KIC, brings together Europe’s most ambitious cities and committed private stakeholders for a full day dedicated to urban transformation.

The programme focuses on strengthening city-industry collaboration as a key enabler for delivering climate action in practice. Through networking opportunities, discussions and collaborative sessions, participants will explore how partnerships between public authorities and businesses can help cities scale solutions, unlock investment and move from climate ambition to implementation.

The programme will open with a high-level breakfast bringing together Mission City representatives, senior city officials and programme partners. The session will feature remarks from Kirsten Dunlop, CEO of Climate KIC, alongside Santiago Lefebvre (CEO of ChangeNOW), Benoît Bazin (CEO of Saint-Gobain) and Dr. Diana Ürge-Vorsatz (IPCC Vice-Chair).

The breakfast will set the tone for discussions on how cities and industry can collaborate to deliver large-scale climate transformation.

Urban Transformation through City–Industry Alliances

14:30–15:45 | Agora Stage

As part of the Cities Programme, Kirsten Dunlop will speak alongside city leaders and industry representatives in a session examining how collaboration between cities and private sector partners can accelerate urban decarbonisation.

The discussion will highlight how city-industry alliances can help create markets for low-carbon solutions, mobilise investment and deliver large-scale transformation in Europe’s cities.

Meet us at ChangeNOW

Climate KIC will host a booth in the exhibition area, where visitors can meet our team and connect with startups from our ecosystem developing innovative solutions for cities and the climate transition.

If you are attending ChangeNOW and would like to learn more about Climate KIC’s work on place-based transformation, city–industry collaboration and climate innovation, we invite you to stop by and connect with our team.

Attend ChangeNOW 2026

ChangeNOW brings together 500+ global leaders of change and hundreds of impact-driven solutions across thematic zones including cities, circular economy, biodiversity and sustainable energy.

Get your ticket on changenow.world