Top cleantech events you should attend in 2026

As clean energy conference attendance continues to climb — and climate and energy policy and technology keep evolving — it’s more important than ever to make the most of your conference marketing budget. There’s no substitute for face-to-face connection; events are where relationships form, ideas take off, and new technologies make their debut. We want 2026 to bring impactful opportunities for your cleantech business, so we’ve compiled a comprehensive events calendar spanning solar, transportation, green finance, sustainability, agtech, and more. 

From now until event day — we’ve got you covered. Click here to download the calendar, and read about some of our must-attend events below.

Flagship events across cleantech

The following conferences are staples for nearly everyone in the cleantech industry — from early startups to long-established leaders — and spanning sectors such as energy storage, solar, and sustainable finance.. These events convene stakeholders from across the value chain, bringing investors, policymakers, and technology leaders together in one place.

POWERGEN

January 20–22

San Antonio, TX

From advanced hydrogen systems to next-generation grid technologies, POWERGEN International showcases the innovations redefining how we produce and manage power. The 2025 conference drew over 8,000 energy leaders, including utilities, hardware manufacturers, and service providers. With an “all-of-the-above” approach gaining momentum across the industry, this year’s event will likely spotlight progress in renewables, clean fuels, nuclear, and decarbonization technologies — offering a true snapshot of the evolving power landscape.  If you’re seeking to understand where the power market is headed beyond the renewables-only lens, POWERGEN offers that perspective.

Tip: Use POWERGEN as a platform to sharpen your renewable energy communications strategy. Craft clear, concise messaging that positions your company as a thought leader, and tailor your talking points to resonate with the right power sector stakeholders.

‍

CLEANPOWER

June 1–4

Houston, TX

For teams who prefer to stay focused on the core renewables space, CLEANPOWER offers a concentrated look at where wind, solar, storage, and transmission are headed. This renewable energy conference brings together cleantech industry leaders to explore the technology, investment, and policy trends shaping the energy transition. With 200+ keynote speakers, 500+ exhibitors, and session topics spanning high-level trends to technology deep dives, CLEANPOWER offers a comprehensive view of where the renewables sector is headed — both nationally and abroad — and how to strategize around it. 

DISTRIBUTECH

February 2–5

San Diego, CA

If CLEANPOWER is about generating energy, DISTRIBUTECH International (“DTECH”) is about distributing it. As clean energy generation scales across solar, wind, and storage, the challenge now lies in how that power moves — reliably, efficiently, and intelligently — through the grid. DTECH is the ultimate meeting point for anyone working at the intersection of clean energy, data, and infrastructure, and brings together utilities, technology providers, and innovators shaping that next phase of electrification. 

This year, to match DTECH’s tech-y new nickname, expect a strong focus on AI, data, and digital transformation — with over 20,000 attendees and headline voices from companies like PG&E, Siemens, and Hitachi leading the charge. Pun intended.

Trellis Impact 26 (VERGE, Bloom, GreenFin, and Circularity)

June 23–26

San Francisco, CA

Trellis Impact 26 unites four major sustainability events — VERGE, Bloom, GreenFin, and Circularity — into a single, expansive conference. It's a premier venue for cleantech companies to engage directly with customers across various sectors, including technology, nature-based solutions, sustainable finance, and circular economy initiatives. 

This is a popular event for corporate sustainability executives and financial decision makers who are often actively seeking innovative solutions to accelerate decarbonization, advance ESG strategies, and integrate circular economy principles into their operations. For cleantech and climate tech companies with a commercial audience, Trellis Impact offers a concentrated opportunity to showcase products, build partnerships, and gain visibility among decision-makers who drive procurement and investment in energy and B2B sustainability solutions.

RE+

November 16–19

Las Vegas, NV 

RE+ is the premier renewable energy event of the year, offering an unparalleled opportunity to connect with leaders across the entire clean energy spectrum — from solar and storage to wind, hydrogen, electrification, and more. Jointly organized by RE+ Events, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), and the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA), this conference has a finger on the racing pulse of the industry. 

As the energy transition becomes even more global in 2026, RE+ offers a prime opportunity to engage with both national and international stakeholders. The massive exhibition hall brings together businesses from across the country — and around the world — to showcase their latest innovations and form lasting partnerships.

It’s also exciting to see how RE+ continues to expand its regional presence. Geotargeting your outreach and investment efforts can be a great strategy, and the regional RE+ events are the perfect way to do it. Consider attending RE+ Hawai’i, RE+ Northeast, RE+ Texas (colocated with RE+ Microgrids), RE+ Southeast, RE+ Mid-Atlantic, or RE+ Midwest to connect locally and stay ahead of regional market trends.

Tip: Save with early bird rates (usually released in June or July) and put those savings toward your marketing initiatives.

‍

U.S. Climate Weeks

Various cities and dates throughout 2026

“Event” may be too small a word for this group. Climate weeks are typically decentralized, city-wide gatherings that feature a roster of panels, workshops, exhibitions, networking events, and community programming hosted by hundreds of diverse organizations. Translation: These are ideal for remote or sprawling teams who want to maximize exposure.

The original, Climate Week NYC, features 900+ public and private events ranging from policy roundtables and executive summits to art installations, bike tours, and community climate justice programming. Los Angeles and San Francisco Climate Weeks have become mainstays as well, each with its own regional flavor and industry focus.

And now, we’re seeing a growing wave of new Climate Weeks emerge across the U.S., reflecting local priorities such as climate technological innovation, climate resilience and biodiversity protection, climate finance, and policy.

Download the full calendar to explore 2026 dates. And stay tuned: we’ll be sharing guidance on which Climate Week is the best fit for your company’s goals soon. Sign up for our newsletter so you don’t miss it.

Top choice for early-stage companies

NREL Industry Growth Forum (IGF)

NREL’s Industry Growth Forum (IGF) takes investor-startup networking a step further with curated investor-startup matching, pre-scheduled 1:1 meetings, targeted programming, and a proven track record of funding and partnerships. 

Backed by the nation’s leading renewable energy laboratory, IGF attracts investors who are actively seeking innovative cleantech and energy startups. With a proven track record of facilitating funding rounds, pilot projects, and strategic partnerships, IGF gives startups the platform and connections they need to accelerate growth. NREL reports that startups selected to pitch at IGF collectively raised $3.7B within two years post-pitch.

At the 2025 IGF Competition, winners ranged from Sunchem, developing nanofiltration solutions, to Palanquin Power, innovating in data center power infrastructure, and CarbonBridge, focused on carbon conversion technologies.

Tip: Invest significant time into your application! This year’s application requires a brief elevator pitch, a full pitch deck, and an optional video presentation. Applications with well-articulated messaging and a clear, compelling company narrative have a higher likelihood of acceptance.‍

Need help refining your messaging? Let’s talk.

Top choice for electric vehicle (EV) companies

Advanced Clean Transportation Expo

May 4–6

Las Vegas, NV

Think of ACT Expo as the world’s nerdiest car show, in the best way possible. From electric and hybrid trucks to hydrogen-powered transit fleets, the conference highlights real-world deployments and emerging technologies shaping the next generation of commercial mobility. With over 12,000 attendees and four packed days of programming spanning advanced vehicle technologies, clean fuels and infrastructure, fleet management, policy, and procurement, you’ll get months-worth of market intelligence distilled into actionable strategies from top fleets, OEMs, and technology leaders.

For EV and charging companies looking to build their pipelines, this electric vehicle conference stands out: fleet leaders show up ready to learn, evaluate, and buy.

Top choice for sustainable fuel companies

Clean Fuels Conference

January 19–22

Orlando, FL

The Clean Fuels Conference convenes the key players in biobased molecules like biodiesel, renewable diesel, and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Over four days, producers, feedstock suppliers, fleet managers, OEMs, and regulators gather to explore supply chain innovations, policy trajectories, and market dynamics across land, sea, and air. With sessions on new feedstock markets, marine opportunities, certification frameworks, and global trade flows, this clean energy event is ideal for companies seeking to scale low-carbon energy solutions.

Attendees can hear from experts across carbon management, agriculture, fuel production, and transportation, including representatives from the Michigan and Iowa Soybean Associations and CSX Transportation.

Top choice for agtech companies

World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit USA

March 17–18

San Francisco, CA

The World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit convenes global leaders in agriculture, technology, and sustainability. Over two days, agribusiness executives, investors, startups, and policymakers collaborate to explore innovations that make food systems more efficient, resilient, and climate-smart. The summit provides a 360-degree view of the technologies reshaping how we grow and distribute food.

Expect to see innovations across the sector, including sensors and robotics, advanced analytics and AI-driven crop optimization, regenerative farming technologies, biotechnology, and climate risk and predictive weather tools.

Some notable 2025 speakers include Bayer Crop Science, Driscoll’s, AWS, Google Cloud, and S2G Investments.

2026 Cleantech Events Calendar

Whew, it’s hard to pick just a few to showcase. For the complete list of 60+ DG+-curated events throughout 2026, download the 2026 Cleantech Events Calendar here.

And let us know which you decide to attend — we’d love to see you there!