Shaping the future of humanitarianism
In its 2025 edition, DIHAD welcomed more than 20,745 attendees, featured 1,078 participating entities and partners from more than 160 countries, and hosted more than 200 renowned humanitarian speakers across 64 sessions and 197 workshops.
The 2026 conference, which will be held at the World Trade Center in Dubai, comes amid the great "humanitarian reset" and will ask what this means for the sector and those working within it.
On Day One, May 5, the focus will be on “Understanding the Transition”. The conference will commence with a panel on “Humanitarianism in a Polycrisis Era: Disruptions and Drivers of Change”, examining how overlapping crises are reshaping priorities, values, and practice in unprecedented ways.
There will be a keynote on “The Intersection of Humanitarian Shifts and Technology” that will underscore the transformative potential of digital innovation in accelerating response and enhancing coordination.
The day will close with a fireside chat, “Broken Mirrors: Can Trust Be Reassembled in Humanitarian Action?” offering a reflective dialogue on rebuilding confidence, transparency, and values-driven action in humanitarian work.
On Day Two, the conference will consider: “Is the System Built to Lead Change or Resist It?” and will reflect on the capacity of existing structures to drive transformation and whether a paradigm shift is needed. The planned keynote, “Strengthening the Backbone: Capacity Building as Humanitarian DNA,” will underscore that investing in people and institutions is essential to enable effective leadership and sustained transformation.
Closing Day Two, the panel session on “Corporate Social Investments: From Philanthropy to Strategic Humanitarian Engagement”, will illustrate how the private sector can actively lead and support humanitarian response efforts beyond traditional charity.
The third and final day of DIHAD 2026 will be dedicated to “Delivering Impact”. The panel “From Global Agendas to Local Realities: Turning Vision into Impact” will explore how international commitments can be translated into tangible outcomes that genuinely benefit affected communities. “The Phoenix Effect: Rising Stronger from Humanitarian Disruption” fireside chat will analyze how crises can serve as catalysts for innovation, systemic learning, and the creation of measurable impact.
DIHAD 2026 will bring together colleagues and partners from government authorities, international and non-governmental organisations, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, foundations and charities, academic and research institutions, the private sector, and the media.
DIHAD 2026 will not only deepen understanding of the challenges we face but also seeks to inspire solutions, promote innovation, and strengthen cooperation across the humanitarian ecosystem and aims to shape a future where humanitarian action is more anticipatory, inclusive, and impactful.
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