World Hydrogen Expo 2026 (WHE 2026) officially opened on Wednesday, November 4, at KINTEX Exhibition Center II in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. The three-day event, running until November 6, aims to strengthen global cooperation in the hydrogen industry while connecting policy discussions and technological advancements with investment and commercialisation opportunities.
The event is hosted by the World Hydrogen Expo Organizing Committee, co-chaired by Daejin Jeong, Chairman of the Korea Automobile & Mobility Association, and Jae-hong Kim, Chairman of Korea H2 Alliance. The exhibition is open to visitors from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with closing hours on Friday, November 6, scheduled for 4:00 PM.
A key highlight of WHE 2026 is its co-location with the 5th Hydrogen Day, a statutory commemorative day. Following the consolidation of the international conference and exhibition last year to expand the event into a platform for global hydrogen industry exchange, this year’s edition focuses on strengthening collaboration among governments, industry, and the international community while linking hydrogen technology development and policy discussions to tangible investments and commercialisation.
Under the slogan “Hydrogen Moves to Market: Making Bankable Projects Work,” the event is expected to bring together 268 companies from 22 countries, with approximately 30,000 attendees, including domestic and international government representatives, officials from international organisations, hydrogen enterprises, and academic and research experts.
The international conference features several tracks, including Leadership Insight, Hydrogen Deep Dive, Country Day, and Future to TECH. Prominent figures from the global hydrogen sector are participating as speakers to share national hydrogen policies, discuss market trends, and explore opportunities for international cooperation. These include Ivana Jemelkova, CEO of the Hydrogen Council; Uwe Remme, Head of Division at the International Energy Agency (IEA); Laurent Antoni, Executive Director of the International Partnership for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in the Economy (IPHE); and Tetsufumi Ikeda, Chair of ISO/TC 197.
Alongside the international conference, the event includes several programmes, including the H2 Business Partnership Fair, taking place from November 4 to 5, and the H2 Innovation Award ceremony, held on November 4.
The exhibition features 197 companies from 12 countries, showcasing technologies across the entire hydrogen value chain, encompassing production, storage, transportation, and application. Prominent domestic exhibitors include Hyundai Motor Group, Kolon Industries, Hylium Industries, Lightbridge, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, and Bumhan Fuel Cell, alongside global companies such as TMEIC, Henkel Korea, and Ebara. Research institutions, including the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM) and the Korea Testing & Research Institute (KTR), are also participating.
The opening ceremony on November 4 was attended by approximately 300 dignitaries representing overseas governments, international organisations, domestic and international industry sectors, and related institutions. Among the attendees were Ho-hyeon Lee, 2nd Vice Minister of the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment; Representative Jong-bae Lee, Co-Head of the National Assembly Hydrogen Economy Forum; and the Organizing Committee Co-Chairs, Daejin Jeong and Jae-hong Kim.
In his welcoming remarks, Co-Organizing Committee Chair Daejin Jeong stated, “Under the slogan ‘Hydrogen Moves to Market: Making Bankable Projects Work,’ this exhibition presents an opportunity to encounter the innovative technologies of leading hydrogen corporations like Hyundai Motor Group, as well as specialized mid-sized companies and SMEs possessing strong capabilities across every phase of the value chain in production, storage, transportation, and application. We will spare no effort in supporting this event as a premier stage for global exchange and business generation by sharing the latest trends in the hydrogen industry and exploring future commercialization opportunities together.”
Co-Organizing Committee Chair Jae-hong Kim remarked, “The global hydrogen industry stands at a vital turning point where it must attract practical investments and expand cross-border trade, primarily in areas with proven carbon reduction efficacy and economic feasibility. In alignment with these shifts in the global industrial environment, this expo is expected to serve as a meaningful occasion to discover new business opportunities while exploring collaborative strategies for technological innovation to generate large-scale demand for clean hydrogen, establish global supply chains, and revitalize trade.”
The opening ceremony also featured commendations presented to individuals who have contributed to the advancement of the hydrogen industry. This was followed by a ‘Message Performance,’ during which representatives from the government, the National Assembly, and industry collectively expressed their commitment to collaboration on hydrogen’s role in the energy transition and decarbonisation. The ceremony concluded with a VIP tour of the main exhibition halls.
World Hydrogen Expo 2026 continues until November 6, bringing together international stakeholders to explore technological innovation, investment opportunities, and collaboration across the global hydrogen value chain.
Further details about the conference and exhibition programmes are available on the official WHE 2026 website.
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