The 25th WPC Energy Congress—taking place in Riyadh from 11–15 October 2026—will feature a Special Programme of events and initiatives designed to complement the Executive Programme and Technical Programme.
The Special Programme is the creative heartbeat of the WPC Energy Congress, inspiring fresh thinking and driving innovation through immersive experiences that go beyond the traditional conference format.
The VR Zone
Located in the main Exhibition Area, the VR Zone is an immersive experience that transforms complex energy systems into interactive educational journeys. It is designed to simplify technical concepts while demonstrating the sophistication of modern exploration and production technologies.
Key experiences in the VR Zone include a Virtual Seismic Vessel tour, where participants can visualise how seismic waves propagate through water and reflect off subsurface geological layers. For terrestrial operations, the Onshore Oil Rig Operation simulation offers a fully interactive onshore rig environment with hands-on simulations. And a Pore-Space Flythrough will offer a gamified experience that places users inside a magnified core sample to navigate its pore network and see how porosity and connectivity influence fluid flow at a microscopic level.
The CCUS Knowledge Sprint
The Knowledge Sprint is a two-day masterclass dedicated to CCUS fundamentals, taking place in TP-Hall 2. Led by Professor Mohammad Abu Zahra, chief regional officer for the Middle East and Africa at the Global CCS Institute, the sessions will equip a cross-disciplinary audience with the strategic perspective required to navigate industrial decarbonisation.
The first day focuses on climate change fundamentals, the urgency of emissions reduction and the role of carbon management in the energy transition. Day two will explore the complete CCUS value chain (capture, transport, utilisation, and storage), global deployment trends and regional opportunities within the Middle East.
Attendees are encouraged to bring laptops or tablets to enhance engagement during these intensive, evidence-based sessions.
The SABIC Best Paper Award
Sponsored by SABIC, this award celebrates outstanding research and recognises technical excellence, innovation and relevance to current and future energy challenges. The Congress hopes the recognition bestowed by the awards will encourage the development of high-impact initiatives that can be scaled globally to address energy transition needs. The top three technical papers in each of the five thematic blocks will be honoured, resulting in a total of 15 awards.
The five thematic blocks are: Primary Energy Supply, Energy Infrastructure, Energy Fuels and Molecules, Energy Technologies and Energy Leadership.
The awards ceremony will take place during the Closing Ceremony on Thursday 15 October, at 14:00 in the Congress Hall.
The World Café
Scheduled for Wednesday 14 October, from 15:30-17:30 in the VIP lunchroom, the World Café focuses on carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies. As a complement to emissions-reduction strategies, this interactive forum examines engineered pathways such as direct air capture (DAC), bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) and biochar.
The programme is structured around four thematic tables to facilitate deep knowledge exchange. Table 1 evaluates engineered CDR pathways, focusing on performance, cost structures and environmental impacts. Table 2 addresses the infrastructure and institutional enablers required for large-scale implementation. Table 3 examines policy instruments and carbon markets needed to support high-integrity CDR. Finally, Table 4 analyses regional and societal dimensions, exploring how geography and resource constraints influence adoption. The session is led by a distinguished cohort of experts from KAPSARC, including Dr. Naser Odeh, Dr. Mari Luomi and Dr. Raphael Apeaning.
The Special Programme will also feature a set of interactive experiences designed to simplify complex energy systems, known as Energy Games. These games will enable participants to explore key challenges and opportunities through engaging and immersive formats. An Energy Hackathon will see teams design practical solutions to energy challenges in a live environment, and a Debate Series will enable young people, professionals and experts to discuss key energy topics from multiple perspectives.
By combining advanced digital experiences, specialised technical education, interactive dialogue and recognition of research excellence, the Special Programme reflects the broader mission of the congress: fostering innovation and cooperation to support a more sustainable, secure and inclusive global energy future.