The Eighth GEF Assembly will convene in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from May 30 to June 6, 2026. The Assembly Opening Ceremony on June 3.

Held every four years, the Assembly is the GEF's highest governing body, bringing together ministers, heads of international organizations, business leaders, civil society, Indigenous Peoples, women, and youth from 186 member countries.

The 2026 Assembly will focus on accelerating progress toward global environmental goals and shaping priorities for GEF-9, the next funding cycle.

Organized with Uzbekistan's Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change, the Assembly will showcase how GEF-9 investments can drive transformational change in biodiversity conservation, land restoration, chemicals and waste management, and climate resilience. The program will feature successful GEF-financed projects and innovations demonstrating scalable environmental solutions.

Nine high-level roundtables will bring together political and technical leaders to develop actionable recommendations on systems transformation, resource mobilization and blended finance, implementation effectiveness, support for SIDS and LDCs, the role of civil society and Indigenous Peoples, and regional partnerships for land and water management. Outcomes will inform the final ministerial plenary.

Registration details, logistics, the agenda, and related events can be found on the GEF site.