Catalyst Now Week
CATALYSING CHANGE
Catalyst Now Week (CNW) is the world's largest virtual gathering, where social innovators come together to share breakthrough ideas, learn from one another, and build the collaborations that drive real systems change.
ABOUT CATALYST NOW WEEK
Catalyst Now Week (CNW) is born from the heart of Catalyst Now, its members, creating a platform where social innovators, business leaders, government representatives, and funders connect beyond traditional spaces to share their impact, connect with a global audience, collaborate on cross-sectoral and regional solutions, and issue a call to action toward systems change.
In 2020, as COVID-19 disrupted food security, healthcare, education, and more worldwide, our members didn’t wait for conference season. In the spirit of the moment, they co-created a 5-day virtual gathering called Catalysing Change Week, not just to get through the current crisis, but to co-build solutions for the ones still ahead.
That first week became a regular gathering, growing every year in participants, languages, and sessions, tackling different themes from a cross-sector lens and across regions. This year, 2026, the event takes on a new name, Catalyst Now Week, a clearer, more unified identity, but the same spirit that started it all: a week to connect, share experience, learn collectively, and align on collaborative solutions.
What began as a response to one crisis became the gathering our movement co-creates every year to shape the future of social innovation.
6
Editions
830
Sessions
30k+
Participants
127+
Countries Represented
9+
Languages
CATALYST NOW WEEK 2026
The Power of Collaboration
What’s happening in our network that we would like to show the rest of the world?
Our Chapter and Collaborations are where the partnerships and impact flourish. In the 2026 edition, the power of collaboration will be the meeting point for every conversation, where the ideas that only came together because someone was willing to work across a border, a sector, or a language are in the spotlight.
From youth leadership in Ghana to due diligence platforms in Ukraine, from Cat Tech’s AI frameworks to the Global Migration Collaboration, our Chapters and Collaborations will show what becomes possible when people who don’t usually share a room start comparing notes, pooling resources, and building things together.
Where: Virtual and global. Choose the time that best suits your time zone.
When: October 12-16
Explore the Future of Social Change
Social Innovation
Breakthrough ideas that create lasting impact
Cross-sector Collaboration
Building bridges between sectors for greater change
High-Impact Solutions
Scaling approaches that transform systems
Week Structure
Friday
16 October
Sovereignty, Culture and Wellbeing
Regional sessions: North America and MENA
FAQs
Who can attend CNW?
Everyone is welcome to participate in CNW sessions and events. Do spread the word and invite anyone you think might be interested in learning and engaging in our movement’s sessions
Who can host sessions at CNW?
Only Catalyst Now members may propose and host sessions and events of interest. (The Call for Sessions closed on August 31, 2026)
How to organize a session?
We encourage everyone to contact other Catalyst Now members to co-create and submit sessions on behalf of the collaboration, chapter, or initiative. Members are invited to plan in-person activities, hybrid events, and sessions at a local level in their country and region in collaboration with other Catalyst Now members. (The Call for Sessions closed on August 31, 2026)
