The doors of the European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) 2026 in Brussels have closed, yet the conversations will continue long after the event itself.
For three days, policy, research, industry, and citizens were in the same place. They talked, listened, challenged each other, and compared where Europe’s energy transition stands today and where it needs to go next.
This year was particularly special. EUSEW marked 20 years of bringing Europe’s energy community together. Two decades of ideas, innovation and collaboration, reflected in a week that looked as much to the future as it did to the past.
Thank you again for taking part in one of the most successful editions of EUSEW, with more than 2 400 participants onsite and 2 000 joining online. Here is a look back at what happened during the week.
Looking back at 20 years of EUSEW
For two decades, EUSEW has brought together the people, ideas and solutions driving Europe’s energy transition. What started in 2007 as a forum for discussing sustainable energy has grown into Europe’s largest annual event dedicated to renewable energy, helping to shape policy debates, present current and future innovation, and most importantly, create connections that continue long after the event itself.
This year, the 20th anniversary offered a moment to celebrate how far Europe has come and look ahead at the challenges and opportunities still to come. To mark the occasion, EUSEW revisited some of the defining moments that have shaped its story. Watch the 20 Years of EUSEW video and the journey of the conference over the past two decades.
One of the defining moments of this anniversary edition was the fireside conversation ‘Powering Change: 20 Years of European Clean Energy Transition’, which brought together voices that have shaped Europe’s energy policy across generations.
Former European Commissioners for Energy Andris Piebalgs, Günther Oettinger, Miguel Arias Cañete and Kadri Simson joined current European Commissioner for Energy and Housing, Dan Jørgensen, to reflect on how Europe’s energy priorities have evolved.
Their discussion underlined a powerful idea: Europe’s energy transition is a continuous journey shaped by collaboration across decades.
Celebrating excellence: EUSEW Awards 2026
The EUSEW Awards once again honoured the people and projects that are the force behind Europe’s clean energy transformation.
From local initiatives to new technologies and strong leadership, the winners and finalists showed that progress is happening across Europe and in many different ways.
A walk through the Energy Fair
Some of the most meaningful parts of EUSEW are also the least visible. They do not appear in session titles or official summaries. Nevertheless, they do shape how the week feels and is remembered. A conversation that starts between sessions. A question that changes the direction of a discussion. A connection that continues long after Brussels.
The Energy Fair was once again one of the busiest parts of EUSEW. People moved from stand to stand, spoke with project teams, created new bonds and discovered new ideas.
At the Smart Energy Cluster stand, 19 EU-funded projects showed solutions in smart grids, building decarbonisation and citizen-led energy initiatives. Interactive tools and matchmaking activities helped visitors continue the conversation beyond the stand, showing that collaboration does not stop when the doors close.
At the WeForming and partner space, discussions focused on how flexibility in buildings and energy systems is becoming important for Europe’s competitiveness.
At the EuroTech and partner stands projects on hydropower flexibility and circular industrial heating showed how academic research is being turned into practical solutions.
Meanwhile, policy-oriented spaces such as SET-indEU, ETIPSNET and BRIDGE looked at the wider picture: building a clean, secure and competitive Energy Union. These discussions brought together people from industry, research and public authorities, and showed the value of keeping the dialogue going.
Walking through the Energy Fair made one thing clear: Europe’s energy transition is being built through many different projects, people and ideas, working side by side.
Curious about who took part in the Energy Fair? Their profiles are still available on the EUSEW interactive platform.
REVISIT THE ENERGY FAIR STANDS
European Youth Energy Day: a generation stepping forward
Young people were once again at the centre of EUSEW through the European Youth Energy Day and the Young Energy Ambassadors programme.
For the first time, different cohorts came together during the same edition of EUSEW, creating a space where various experiences met directly. Ambassadors from the outgoing cohort shared what they had learned over the past years, and newly appointed members brought new energy into the conversation.
These young professionals had the unique opportunities to meet the European Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan Jørgensen and the European Director-General for Energy, Celine Gauer to exchange perspectives on Europe’s energy future.
This European Youth Energy Day was a platform for meaningful dialogue, new connections, and the launch of future clean energy-related initiatives.
The Policy Conference and the ideas shaping Europe’s next steps
The EUSEW Policy Conference brought together discussions on Europe’s energy transition, from policy to practice. If you missed or want to watch a session again, the EUSEW interactive platform is still available.
With more than 50 sessions to choose from, there was something for everyone at the Policy Conference and plenty to go back to and explore.
Watch the wrap-up video
EUSEW 2026 was a week full of energy in every sense! Relive the highlights in the official wrap-up video and revisit the moments that defined this 20th anniversary edition.
Memories through the lens of EUSEW
Hundreds of photos were taken throughout EUSEW 2026, capturing moments from the Awards Ceremony, the Policy Conference, the Energy Fair and European Youth Energy Day.
If you attended, we invite you to explore the photo albums and look for yourself, your colleagues and the moments that defined your week.
Please make sure to download them now. The Facebook account hosting the albums will be closed soon and the images will no longer be available afterwards.
See you next year!
And while this year’s edition has ended, our work continues. We look forward to welcoming you back again! The next edition of EUSEW is already under preparation.
In the meantime, stay connected on LinkedIn for updates and insights from across the European sustainable energy community.
- Publication date
- 30 June 2026
- Author
- European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency