Against the backdrop of accelerating electrification, the 2026 CIGRE Paris Session will bring together nearly 15,000 participants from more than 100 countries at the Palais des Congrès, Porte Maillot.

Engineers, researchers, manufacturers, operators, regulators, and decision-makers will convene to discuss 1,600 technical papers, share field experience, and exchange strategic perspectives to shape the future of electricity.

This biennial event is the leading international gathering for power system expertise, with a program designed to connect technical depth with practical realities.

CIGRE at the Heart of the Energy Transition

The rapid growth of electricity uses, the expansion of data centers, the integration of renewable energy, increasing grid resilience requirements, and the emergence of artificial intelligence are placing power systems more than ever at the center of industrial, energy, and societal challenges.

The Paris Session aims to bridge industrial, academic, and institutional perspectives around a key question: how can the energy transition be achieved without compromising security of supply?

For Konstantin O. Papailiou, the CIGRE president: “The energy transition is not a choice — it is a necessity. This truth is echoed in every country I visit, across every conversation with our members and partners. The future belongs to electricity. And CIGRE, with its unmatched technical expertise and global reach, will play a leading role in shaping that future.”

One Grid: A Necessary Collaboration Across the Electricity Value Chain

Power systems are no longer defined by clear boundaries between generation, transmission and distribution. Driven by electrification, decentralized generation, and digitalization, the grid is becoming fully interconnected and dynamic. Every action now impacts the entire system. The industry needs common language, shared evidence and practical collaboration across borders and disciplines.

With 25,000 members across 140 countries, CIGRE’s strength lies in the diversity of its stakeholders: network operators, utilities, equipment manufacturers, research centers, universities, regulators, public decision-makers, professional associations, and consulting firms. This diversity makes the Paris Session a unique platform where operational expertise, innovation, and long-term vision converge.

AI, Data Centers, Electricity Markets, Blackouts, and Grid-forming: Highlights of the 2026 Edition

This year’s program is expected to focus on some of the most consequential issues facing the sector. Among the leading topics: the impact of artificial intelligence and data centers on power systems, responses to recent large-scale blackouts, and grid-forming technologies that may prove critical to integrating high levels of renewable energy while preserving stability.

Those are not abstract debates. AI is already influencing grid planning, asset management and system optimization, while the rapid buildout of data centers is creating new localized demand pressures in many markets. At the same time, recent blackouts have reinforced a blunt lesson: reliability remains the foundation of public trust in the electricity system.

Grid-forming technology is drawing increasing attention because it may help power systems maintain stability in grids with fewer synchronous machines and more inverter-based resources. For many engineers and operators, that makes it one of the most important technical conversations in the energy transition.

An Opportunity to Engage with CIGRE Experts and Distinguished Guests

Tim Meyerjürgens, CEO of TenneT Germany will be the keynote speaker of the Opening Ceremony on Sunday August 23. He will focus on the role of energy infrastructure as the foundation for Europe's resilience, competitiveness and industrial strength.

With 1,600 technical papers, along with panels, workshops, technical meetings, poster sessions and a technical exhibition, the program encourages both formal presentation and informal exchange.

In addition, the week will offer numerous networking opportunities, including the opening cocktail reception, side events organized by exhibitors and CIGRE National Committees, as well as the CIGRE Next Generation Network and Women in Energy forums. These sessions will enable young professionals and women in the industry to connect with peers, gain new perspectives on the sector, discuss leadership and career development, and strengthen their impact within the energy industry.

The 2026 edition will also feature several high-profile voices from across the industry, including Claudine Bouchard, CEO of Hydro-Québec; Tim Meyerjüergens, CEO TenneT Germany; Samir Chandra SAXENA, Chairman and Managing Director, Grid India; Monde Bala, CEO NTCSA (National Transmission Company South Africa); Ahmed Ali Al-Ibrahim, CEO - GCC Interconnection Authority or Dr. Hiroshi OKAMOTO, VP TEPCO (Tokyo Electric Power Company) among others.

Their presence underscores the event’s ambition: to bridge operational realities, policy priorities and technical innovation within a unique global forum.