United Nations World Data Forum 2026

The 6th United Nations World Data Forum (UNWDF) will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from 9 to 12 November 2026, bringing together representatives from governments, international organisations, academia, the private sector, civil society, and the wider data community. Established to strengthen the role of data in sustainable development, the Forum serves as a global platform for discussing innovations in data, fostering partnerships, and advancing the use of high-quality data to support evidence-based policymaking and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The 2026 edition is structured around four thematic areas: innovation for more inclusive data ecosystems, maximising the value of data for decision-making, building trust through ethics, privacy, cybersecurity, and data protection, and strengthening partnerships and investment in resilient data ecosystems. Discussions will address topics including emerging data technologies, FAIR data principles, data and statistical literacy, ethical data governance, and international cooperation on data infrastructure and capacity development.

The UN World Data Forum has been held since 2017 and has produced a series of outcome documents, including the Cape Town Global Action Plan, the Hangzhou Declaration, and the Medellín Framework for Action on Data for Sustainable Development, which have helped shape international efforts to strengthen statistical systems and data governance in support of sustainable development.