The 25th International Exhibition and Conference ‘White City Ashgabat – 2026’ (WCA 2026) will take place in Ashgabat on 24–25 May. This anniversary forum marks the 25th anniversary of the project and is dedicated to the development of the urban environment and infrastructure. This was reported by the publication ‘Turkmenistan: Golden age’.

The event will take place following the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), which will be held from 17–22 May in Baku under the auspices of UN-Habitat. A round table involving the organisation is planned in Ashgabat to discuss the application of international approaches at city level.

The main focus will be on sustainable infrastructure, energy efficiency, ‘smart city’ technologies, digital management systems, as well as issues of climate resilience and the use of artificial intelligence in urban planning.

The forum is seen as a platform for implementing international solutions in practical projects, including in Ashgabat and the Central Asian region.

Over the years, the event has become one of the region’s key platforms. In 2025, it was attended by over 550 delegates from more than 30 countries. The number of participants is expected to grow in 2026.

The forum is also used to foster investment cooperation. In 2025, contracts worth $54 million were signed with ‘Zoomlion Environmental Industry’ and $682 million with ‘Daewoo Engineering & Construction’. Over 100 meetings were held in B2B and B2G formats.

Discussions will focus on development projects for Ashgabat and the city of Arkadag, including digitalisation, sustainable infrastructure and modern urban planning solutions.

The forum’s programme will cover topics such as smart technologies, construction, transport and municipal infrastructure. Participants will be able to engage directly with government bodies and investors.

The organisers expect the forum to strengthen Ashgabat’s position as a regional hub for investment and professional cooperation.