CERAWeek 2026: Overview and Highlights

CERAWeek 2026 (Houston, March 23-27) drew 10,000+ participants from 89 countries to a conference whose theme of "Convergence and Competition" turned literal when the Iran war and Strait of Hormuz closure rewrote energy markets in real time, displacing "transition" with "security" as the operative frame.

Mar 25, 2026 · 3 min read

Event Details

Name: CERAWeek by S&P Global 2026 (44th annual edition)

Dates: March 23-27, 2026

Location: Hilton Americas-Houston, Houston, Texas

Theme: “Convergence and Competition: Energy, Technology and Geopolitics”

Organized by: S&P Global

Conference Chair: Daniel Yergin (Vice Chairman, S&P Global)

Theme and Framing

Daniel Yergin: “Change is inescapable. The global energy landscape, and to a large extent the entire global economy, is being fundamentally reshaped by the dual forces of convergence and competition.”

Yergin: “The race for AI is fusing the energy and technology industries like never before, bringing into sharp relief the need to align energy expansion with sustainable economic growth.”

Yergin: “Yet, the potential for collaboration and innovation is increasingly matched by the risk for collision and conflict in a world marked by geopolitical rivalry, tariffs and fragmented supply chains.”

The conference was described as the “Davos of energy” and the “Super Bowl of energy.”

Dominant Context: Iran War and Strait of Hormuz

CERAWeek 2026 opened under the shadow of an active military conflict involving Iran.

Iran imposed an economic blockade by closing the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly 20% of global crude shipments pass.

Daniel Yergin stated: “We’re looking at the biggest disruption in world oil in history. Nothing like this is on this scale has occurred before.”

Crude prices surged around 40% in recent weeks, at one point approaching $120/barrel.

The conflict dominated discussions throughout the week, creating what Fortune described as “an uneasy mix of celebration and anxiety.”

Several Gulf energy leaders, including Aramco CEO Amin Nasser, withdrew from CERAWeek due to the Iran war and Hormuz disruptions.

Innovation Agora

Located at the George R. Brown Convention Center (across the skywalk from the Hilton Americas Hotel)

Ran simultaneously with the CERAWeek Executive Conference

Structured around three hub zones: New Energies, Carbon & Climate, and AI

Featured startup stations, Agora Studios dialogues, and technology exhibits

First introduced in 2017

Key Macro Shifts Observed

“Energy security” has replaced “energy transition” as the dominant framing. One executive noted: “Four or five years ago, it was a climate-driven conversation. It’s now more of a security-driven conversation.”

The corporate climate case has largely been supplanted by the case for diversification and security.

Global clean energy investment surpassed $2.2 trillion in 2025, driven not by climate pledges alone but by energy security, economic competition, and industrial policy.

Oil and gas exploration is returning to center stage after years of underinvestment.

AI and data center power demand are reshaping the energy industry’s growth outlook.

CERAWeek 2026: Overview and Highlights

Mar 25, 2026 · 3 min read

Event Details

Name: CERAWeek by S&P Global 2026 (44th annual edition)
Dates: March 23-27, 2026
Location: Hilton Americas-Houston, Houston, Texas
Theme: “Convergence and Competition: Energy, Technology and Geopolitics”
Organized by: S&P Global
Conference Chair: Daniel Yergin (Vice Chairman, S&P Global)

Sources: CERAWeek official site, S&P Global press release

Attendance

Over 10,000 participants from 2,350+ companies across 89 countries
1,620+ C-Suite executives
84 ministers and top government officials
365+ media representatives

Sources: Greentown Labs, Inspenet

Theme and Framing

Daniel Yergin: “Change is inescapable. The global energy landscape, and to a large extent the entire global economy, is being fundamentally reshaped by the dual forces of convergence and competition.”
Yergin: “The race for AI is fusing the energy and technology industries like never before, bringing into sharp relief the need to align energy expansion with sustainable economic growth.”
Yergin: “Yet, the potential for collaboration and innovation is increasingly matched by the risk for collision and conflict in a world marked by geopolitical rivalry, tariffs and fragmented supply chains.”
The conference was described as the “Davos of energy” and the “Super Bowl of energy.”

Sources: InnovationMap, Fortune, Marketplace

Dominant Context: Iran War and Strait of Hormuz

CERAWeek 2026 opened under the shadow of an active military conflict involving Iran.
Iran imposed an economic blockade by closing the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly 20% of global crude shipments pass.
Daniel Yergin stated: “We’re looking at the biggest disruption in world oil in history. Nothing like this is on this scale has occurred before.”
Crude prices surged around 40% in recent weeks, at one point approaching $120/barrel.
The conflict dominated discussions throughout the week, creating what Fortune described as “an uneasy mix of celebration and anxiety.”
Several Gulf energy leaders, including Aramco CEO Amin Nasser, withdrew from CERAWeek due to the Iran war and Hormuz disruptions.

Sources: OGJ, Marketplace, Shale24, House of Saud, Fortune

16 Conference Themes (Program Tracks)

The conference was structured around 16 dynamic themes, including:

AI
Hydrogen
Nuclear
Minerals and Mining
Managing Emissions
Low-carbon fuels
Cybersecurity
Mobility and automation

Sources: CERAWeek official site

Innovation Agora

Located at the George R. Brown Convention Center (across the skywalk from the Hilton Americas Hotel)
Ran simultaneously with the CERAWeek Executive Conference
Structured around three hub zones: New Energies, Carbon & Climate, and AI
Featured startup stations, Agora Studios dialogues, and technology exhibits
First introduced in 2017

Sources: CERAWeek Innovation Agora, CERAWeek Agora Hubs

Opening Session

Opened by Martina Cheung (President and CEO, S&P Global), Daniel Yergin, and U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright on March 23.
Wright participated in a plenary session focused on energy policy with Daniel Yergin.

Sources: VedaComm, World Oil

Key Macro Shifts Observed

“Energy security” has replaced “energy transition” as the dominant framing. One executive noted: “Four or five years ago, it was a climate-driven conversation. It’s now more of a security-driven conversation.”
The corporate climate case has largely been supplanted by the case for diversification and security.
Global clean energy investment surpassed $2.2 trillion in 2025, driven not by climate pledges alone but by energy security, economic competition, and industrial policy.
Oil and gas exploration is returning to center stage after years of underinvestment.
AI and data center power demand are reshaping the energy industry’s growth outlook.

Sources: S&P Global, AGA

Special Event: Celebrating 10 Years of US LNG

On March 24, a dedicated reception celebrated 10 years since the first US LNG export cargo (February 2016 from Cheniere’s Sabine Pass).
Featured Secretary Chris Wright and Jack Fusco (CEO, Cheniere Energy).

Sources: Oil & Gas Storage News, EIA