Goa is used to visitors, but the crowd landing in January next year will be very different from the usual tourists, who flock to the coastal state renowned for its many beaches and chill vibes. As India Energy Week 2026 approaches, Goa is readying itself for a four day gathering that will pull in everyone from lawmakers, CEOs of international oil majors to young engineers hoping to understand where the industry is heading.
The event, scheduled from January 27 to 30, has turned into a rare meeting point where India’s grand energy ambitions and global anxieties sit side by side. IEW 2026 will be the 4th edition of the global energy meet, held under the patronage of India’s Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
This year’s edition comes at a time when India’s role in the global energy system is expanding sharply. The country’s fuel demand is rising, its renewable targets are growing even faster, and its policymakers are trying to tie both together without losing economic momentum. That forms the backdrop of the event.
It is a context that Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri captures in a message included in the event’s official brochure.
“India Energy Week has rapidly ascended to become the world’s second-largest energy conference in just three years,” Puri said. “This event comes at a critical time, as geopolitical shifts are reshaping the global energy order. It is imperative that we engage in collaborative dialogue to ensure an inclusive energy transition, acknowledging the continued role of hydrocarbons while accelerating the development of clean energy solutions.”
Much of the action at India Energy Week takes place on the exhibition floor. Hundreds of companies are expected to spread out across multiple halls and open spaces during the course of the four days. Some are major Indian public sector firms, some are global companies, and others are young technology companies using the event as a chance to get noticed.
The exhibition zones tell their own story about where the sector sees movement. There are dedicated areas for hydrogen, biofuels, LNG, renewables, petrochemicals, nuclear technologies, digital solutions, AI driven plant monitoring, city gas distribution systems and sustainable aviation fuel.
Global footprint through country pavilions
One of the noticeable patterns in the IEW has been the growing enthusiasm of foreign governments to send official delegations. This year, country pavilions from the United States, United Kingdom, Norway, Germany, Japan, Netherlands, Canada, Brazil, China, Italy, Greece and Estonia are expected.
These pavilions often function as mini embassies inside the venue, hosting meetings, announcing joint studies or simply introducing their companies to Indian buyers.
For visitors, the pavilions offer a quick look at how different different countries are approaching energy transition, and which technologies they want to partner on.
IEW is also known for its conference sessions, which run alongside the exhibition. They are split into two broad tracks: strategic discussions and technical deep dives.
The technical categories this year are wide ranging and reflect the industry’s attempt to fill knowledge gaps. Sessions cover hydrogen production routes, hydrogen storage and transport, carbon capture and storage, biofuels and sustainable aviation fuel, LNG processing and gas value chain technologies, digital and AI applications for plant operations, future mobility, clean cooking solutions, refinery upgrades, petrochemical innovations, energy storage systems, small modular reactors, grid integration for renewables, robotics and automation, and safety engineering. These are practical conversations where engineers share experience from refinery floors, gas terminals and renewable plants.
On the other hand, the strategic sessions look at energy security, transition financing, geopolitical shifts, supply chain risks and the future of global oil and gas demand.
Why IEW 2026 matters for India and the world?
India’s energy plans are ambitious. The country wants to lift natural gas usage, expand renewables, scale up green hydrogen, accelerate biofuel adoption and build the infrastructure to support it. But it also needs to maintain reliable supplies of oil and gas while doing this.
India Energy Week is one of the few places where these overlapping goals are discussed publicly. International companies look at the event as a window into India’s policy direction, while Indian companies use it to scout for technology, joint ventures and investment leads.
