#GISforGood is not just a hashtag, it is a global community of practitioners using location intelligence to strengthen preparedness, accelerate response, and drive long-term resilience across humanitarian assistance and sustainable development. In 2026, that community is convening across major international summits, sector-specific meetings, regional workshops, and local meetups.
Esri will have a presence across these gatherings, contributing expertise, sharing implementation patterns, and connecting with partners who are using GIS to turn data into decisions and measurable impact. Whether you are looking to build capability, exchange lessons learned, or expand collaboration, these events offer practical insight and momentum for mission-driven work.
And it’s going to be a busy year! We thought we’d share a quick overview of what we know so far so that you can mark your calendars. Look out for updates to this article as they emerge. Hope to see many of you at these events.
2026 Event Calendar
- Date: February 10–11, 2026
- Location: Washington, DC
- There’s still time to register for this GIS event packed with keynotes, sessions, training, and plenty of hands-on ideas you can take back to your team. We’ll share a customized GIS for Good agenda soon!
GIS for Good Meetup – Geneva (Registration live soon!)
- Date: March 9, 2026
- Location: Geneva, Switzerland
- This event is timed to coincide with the in-person week of HNPW (see below). Enjoy a casual, practitioner-friendly meetup for people using GIS in humanitarian and development work, with real examples and easy networking. Watch this space for the registration link!
Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Weeks (HNPW)
- Date: March 2–6, 2026 (virtual) and March 10–12, 2026 (in person)
- Location: Online and Geneva, Switzerland
- Participate in one of the biggest humanitarian meetups of the year, packed with sessions and side events where people compare notes, share what is working, and build partnerships.
- Organized by United Nations OCHA
National Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters (VOAD) Conference
- Date: May 4–7, 2026
- Location: Reno, Nevada
- Attend a practical conference for the disaster community focused on coordination, lessons learned, and building stronger response and recovery partnerships.
- Organized by National VOAD
Drones, AI & GIS for DRM: Caribbean & Central America Region
- Date: May 5–7, 2026
- Location: Montego Bay, Jamaica
- In collaboration with our partners WeRobotics and Jamaica Flying Labs, this event combines policy discussions and hands-on sessions where people dig into how drones, AI, and GIS support disaster risk management in real operations.
- Date: May 20–22, 2026
- Location: Nairobi, Kenya
- This event is a cross-sector conference on tech for development, where NGOs, governments, funders, and researchers swap ideas on what is actually making a difference.
- Organized by ICT4D Conference
- Date: July 7–10, 2026
- Location: Geneva, Switzerland
- Participate in the largest UN-hosted summit showcasing practical AI projects for the SDGs, plus plenty of conversation about responsible, real-world adoption.
- Organized by AI for Good
- Date: July 13–17, 2026
- Location: San Diego, California
- Esri’s biggest event of the year features keynotes, tons of sessions, product updates, training opportunities, and a huge community vibe.
- Organized by Esri
RCMRD International Conference
- Date: August (TBC)
- Location: Nairobi, Kenya
- Attend eastern Africa’s preeminent geospatial and Earth observation conference, where people share projects and lessons learned across sustainability and development work.
- Organized by RCMRD – Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development
GIS for Good Meetup – DC (Registration coming soon)
- Date: TBD
- Location: Washington, DC
- This community meetup connects nonprofits, humanitarian and development organizations, and GIS practitioners to share applied workflows and build partnerships.
- Organized by Esri
- Date: October 2026
- Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands
- This nonprofit and humanitarian tech meetup focuses on digital transformation, collaboration, and what organizations need to be more resilient.
- Organized by NetHope
GIS for Good Meetup – NYC
- Date: TBD
- Location: New York, NY
- This community meetup connects nonprofits, humanitarian and development organizations, and GIS practitioners to share applied workflows and build partnerships.
- Organized by Esri
Drones, AI & GIS for DRM: Southern Africa Region
- Date: November/December (TBC)
- Location: South Africa
- In collaboration with our partners WeRobotics and South Africa Flying Labs, this event combines policy discussions and hands-on sessions where people dig into how drones, AI, and GIS support disaster risk management in real operations.
