The Future Minerals Forum 2026 is a three-day international conference dedicated to exploring the future of minerals, critical mineral supply chains, and their importance to the global energy transition. Scheduled to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from 13–15 January 2026, it will gather governments, mining companies, investors, technology innovators, and academic leaders. The event aims to address how the world can ensure a responsible, resilient, and sustainable supply of minerals to support global development(Riyadh to Host 5th Future Minerals Forum in Jan 2026, 2025.).
Moreso, the 2026 edition, centered on themes like creating a global commitment to minerals for the energy transition, will include a ministerial roundtable, high-level leadership dialogues, and technical sessions covering the full value chain—from exploration to processing and downstream industries. It will place strong emphasis on critical mineral corridors across Africa, Central Asia, Latin America, and the wider “super-region” that connects Africa with West and Central Asia. Discussions will also address infrastructure financing models and strategies for regional development(New Title, 2025.)
Furthermore, key components of the program include high-level policy dialogues, technology and innovation exhibitions, and dedicated spaces where junior miners can engage with investors and strategic partners. The forum also supports initiatives such as centers of excellence focused on technology, sustainability, talent, and policy, as well as tools like the Future Minerals Barometer, which monitors supply chain resilience and responsible sourcing (Future Minerals Forum 2026, 2025.).
Financing and de-risking strategies will be a core focus, with sessions designed to link junior explorers and miners to project funding, off-take partners, and strategic investors. Discussions will cover blended finance models, support from multilateral development banks, and sovereign involvement to stimulate investment in long-lead, capital-intensive projects. Investor-oriented programming will also highlight tools that enhance market transparency and traceability, helping to build confidence in responsibly sourced minerals ( Elias Al Helou, 2025.).
Moreover, sustainability and responsible sourcing run throughout the agenda, with sessions addressing environmental stewardship, community engagement, mine-closure planning, biodiversity protection, and lifecycle emissions tracking. The program will also highlight recycling and secondary sourcing as ways to ease pressure on primary resources, alongside pilot traceability initiatives aimed at strengthening supply-chain transparency and ESG compliance. In addition, skills and talent development sessions will focus on vocational training, educational partnerships, and technology-transfer efforts to build local technical capacity(Future Minerals Forum 2026, 2025.-b).
Finally, the forum will introduce and advance analytical tools and collaborative platforms—such as the Future Minerals Barometer and traceability pilot programs—aimed at mapping critical mineral flows, assessing supply-chain resilience, and informing evidence-based policy decisions. It positions itself as a strategic nexus where policy, finance, technology, and industry converge to create transparent, resilient, and sustainable mineral supply chains that underpin the global shift to clean energy and inclusive economic growth.
Reference:
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Future Minerals Forum 2026. (2025.-a). Retrieved December 10, 2025, from http://www.futuremineralsforum.com/
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Future Minerals Forum 2026: A historic opportunity to launch a new cycle of development through the minerals sector » Mining Insight. (2025.-b). Mining Insight. Retrieved December 10, 2025, from https://en.mininginsight.mn/index.php?newsid=480
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Future Minerals Forum 2026 set for January 13-15, elevating Saudi Arabia’s role in global mining. (2025.). Economy Middle East. Retrieved December 10, 2025, from https://economymiddleeast.com/news/future-minerals-forum-2026-set-for-january-13-15-elevating-saudi-arabias-role-in-global-mining/
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New Title. (n.d.). Retrieved December 10, 2025, from https://global-reia.org/
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Riyadh to Host 5th Future Minerals Forum in Jan 2026. (2025.). Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources. Retrieved December 10, 2025, from https://www.mim.gov.sa/en/media-center/news/riyadh-to-host-future-minerals-forum-2026
