2026 OECD Conference of Mining Regions and Cities

The 2026 OECD Conference of Mining Regions and Cities will take place on 28-30 October 2026 in Antofagasta, Chile.

Marking the conference’s return to Antofagasta eight years after the publication of the OECD report Mining Regions and Cities in the Region of Antofagasta, Chile, the event will focus on the role of mining regions and cities in linking national mineral strategies with local well-being and regional development.

The conference will bring together representatives from national and subnational governments, Indigenous organisations, industry, academia and international organisations.

The surging demand for critical minerals is accelerating investment and prompting governments to adopt strategies to secure reliable mineral supply. OECD countries and beyond are streamlining permitting processes and facilitating investments to stay competitive amid global trade disruptions. The success of these national mineral strategies ultimately depends on the local conditions to ensure projects are viable and efficient on the long-term, including social acceptance and availably of workforce, services, and infrastructure. At the same time, this new mining cycle comes with greater awareness of the lessons learned from past mining operations, as well as improved monitoring and planning tools to help ensure that mining delivers sustainable local development.

In this context, the 2026 OECD Conference of Mining Regions and Cities will highlight leading subnational actions to maximise the benefits of critical mineral strategies, alongside private-sector efforts to support host community development, including adherence to international responsible mining standards. It will be a platform to hear how local governments, communities, Indigenous Peoples, academia and the private sector are helping link mining projects with local well-being priorities, while ensuring competitive operations.

As global demand for minerals continues to rise, governments are increasingly focused on accelerating mining projects while securing reliable and responsible supply. Given the strong territorial dimension of mining, strengthening subnational conditions to better link mining activity with local development and regional competitiveness is essential.

The conference will focus on two main pillars:

Pillar 1. Subnational actions to implement critical minerals strategies and link them with Indigenous Peoples and local well-being (28 October): 

• Actions by local governments to improve both sector competitiveness and socio-economic well-being.
• National-local coordination to advance regional development priorities.
• Include Indigenous Peoples and local communities in the development and monitoring of mining strategies.
• Actions to ensure that local workers benefit from new opportunities in mining

Pillar 2. The role of the private sector and responsible mining standards in local development (29 October):

• Public–private partnerships to implement strategic regional development projects
• Private sector participation in development strategies
• Aligning public policy metrics with standards and indicators to monitor mining activities
• The impact of responsible mining standards on local development and public policies