The Circular Economy Hotspot is a global platform for accelerating the transition to circularity.

Each year, one country or city becomes the meeting point of those shaping the future of the circular economy,  across business, policy and innovation. It is an international stage where local action meets global impact where companies, policymakers, financial institutions, innovators and communities come together to move from ambition to implementation.

The Hotspot showcases and scales real circular solutions, from business models to policy approaches, while fostering cross-border collaboration, knowledge exchange and new partnerships. Each year's event strengthens international collaboration, connecting local ecosystems with global networks.

In 2026, the Business Council for Sustainable Development in Hungary (BCSDH) and the Hungarian Circular Economy Platform will host the European Circular Economy Hotspot in Budapest.

This event will focus on the business dimension of circularity. It will bring together senior decision makers, global thought leaders and market actors to explore how the circular economy will become measurable, scalable and investable.

The programme includes a panel discussion on the link between feasibility and financing and breakout sessions on:

• The whole picture: can the circular transition work as a climate tool?
• Refuse & reduce first? the hard truth about using less vs. recycling more
• From concept to loop: intentional design for a regenerative future 
• Digital enables circularity – from data to decision
• Closing the organic loop – food and biomass circularity
• Build less and smart: circularity in tomorrow’s built environment 

This event will take place in person only on 5 to 7 October in Budapest. The main conference day is 6 October, with the opening reception in the evening of 5 October and site visits on 7 October. It will be in English and Hungarian,  with simultaneous interpretation available on-site.

Buy your ticket here.