Why are thousands of gender equality advocates converging on Melbourne?

This April, Melbourne (Naarm) will become a global meeting point for feminist movements. Around 6,500 advocates from more than 170 countries are expected to gather for Women Deliver 2026, one of the largest gender equality conferences in the world. 

But this is more than a meeting. It comes at a time of real urgency.  

Around the world, hard–won gains on gender equality are under pressure as anti-rights movements grow and inequalities deepen. This is an urgent challenge IWDA is engaging with through our campaign on countering the anti-rights movement.

A global space for connection  

Held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from 27–30 April 2026, the conference will bring together advocates, policymakers, researchers, funders and movement leaders from across the world. 

It will create space for urgent and important conversations about the challenges facing women, girls and gender diverse people, leading to the collective solutions needed to address them. 

Across many contexts, gender equality, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and LGBTIQ+ rights are facing growing pressure, alongside shrinking civic space, shifting political priorities , and rising inequality driven by conflict, climate change and economic uncertainty.   

In this global moment, coming together matters more than ever. 

IWDA’s role: partner, contributor, connector 

For IWDA, Women Deliver 2026 is an opportunity to engage as a partner, contributor and connector. 

Across the week, IWDA will contribute to conversations on feminist partnerships, Pacific leadership and systems change. 

At our booth, we will also share 40 years of feminist impact shaped through partnership, persistence and collective action. We will also highlight the iCount coalition and the importance of transforming how development data is designed, collected and used. 

Where to find IWDA at Women Deliver 2026