The World Fire Congress 2026 concluded in London last week with the reaffirmation and signing of its Statement of Founding Principles, alongside the formal handover to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which will host the next Congress in 2028.
Hosted by the UK’s National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) at the QEII Centre in Westminster on 8–9 September, the second World Fire Congress brought together fire and emergency service leaders, government representatives, researchers and industry stakeholders from more than 60 countries.
Global Fire and Emergency Challenges Take Centre Stage
Discussions at the Congress focused on the shared challenges facing fire and emergency services worldwide.
Key areas included:
- Prevention and fire protection
- Disaster preparedness and response
- Climate-driven disasters
- Structural fires
- Emerging technologies
- Lessons from major incidents
- Firefighter health, safety and wellbeing
The discussions reflected the changing risk environment facing emergency services, with climate-related disasters and increasingly complex incidents placing new demands on fire and rescue organisations.
Building International Cooperation
The 2026 Congress followed the inaugural World Fire Congress, held in Washington, DC, in 2024, which established the international forum and its founding principles.
This year’s gathering sought to strengthen cooperation between Congresses while creating opportunities for continued knowledge-sharing. The development of Communities of Practice is intended to support ongoing collaboration and allow fire and emergency service professionals to share expertise, experiences and practical approaches between events.
The reaffirmation and signing of the Statement of Founding Principles further reinforced the Congress’s commitment to international cooperation and shared learning.
UAE to Host World Fire Congress in 2028
Attention now turns to the United Arab Emirates, which will host the World Fire Congress in 2028 following the formal handover in London.
The upcoming Congress is expected to provide an important platform for the Middle East’s fire and life safety community to showcase regional experience and expertise while engaging with international approaches to emerging fire risks.
Hosting the event in the UAE will also provide an opportunity to strengthen connections between regional emergency services and counterparts from around the world.
Responding to a Changing Risk Landscape
Fire and emergency services globally are operating in an increasingly complex environment. Climate-driven disasters, changing urban landscapes, new technologies and evolving threats are requiring emergency organisations to continuously adapt their prevention, preparedness and response strategies.
International forums such as the World Fire Congress provide an opportunity for professionals to compare experiences, identify common challenges and explore approaches that can strengthen emergency response and firefighter safety.
The biennial Congress is supported by a steering committee comprising international fire service organisations from Europe, North America, Latin America, Australia and New Zealand, alongside representatives from other participating nations.
With the next Congress scheduled for 2028 in the UAE, the international fire and emergency services community now has a new opportunity to build on the cooperation and knowledge-sharing established through the first two editions of the World Fire Congress.
