The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Annual Meeting will take place from September 28 to October 2, 2026, in Paris, France, hosted by the French standardization association (AFNOR). Themed "Building Trust in a Changing World" , this year's meeting aims to bring together global standards leaders and change‑makers to transform shared challenges into credible outcomes underpinned by International Standards.
In a world marked by disruption, division, and uncertainty, trust has become the bedrock of lasting global progress. It enables cooperation, fuels innovation, and underpins resilient, interconnected societies. International Standards are at the heart of this trust framework – providing a shared and reliable foundation to protect consumers, health, safety and the environment, support fair trade and exports, enhance industrial competitiveness, encourage innovation, and build confidence in markets and government regulation.
Three Thematic Tracks
The meeting is structured around three main tracks, each exploring how to build trust in a changing world from a distinct perspective:
🌍 People & Planet – Trust in Outcomes
Focusing on impact, broad participation, and real value. The sessions examine how standards can deliver tangible results in sustainability, social responsibility, and environmental protection, ensuring that diverse voices are heard and that genuine, measurable value is achieved.
🤖 Emerging Tech & AI – Trust in Systems
Focusing on safety, reliability, accountability, and confidence. Against the backdrop of rapid advances in artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies, the programme explores how standards can ensure the security, reliability, and accountability of technological systems, thereby fostering public confidence in them.
📈 Trade & Development – Trust in Markets
Focusing on resilience, transparency, the circular economy, and product integrity. The discussions address how standards can enhance the resilience and transparency of markets and supply chains, advance the circular economy, and safeguard product integrity – thus reinforcing trust in markets.
Participation Options
In‑person attendance: The in‑person programme is open to standards professionals. ISO community members – including ISO member representatives, regional standards body representatives, technical committee members, ISO partner organization members, and AFNOR guests – have already received registration codes by email and can register for in‑person participation via the official website.
Virtual participation: The opening session and selected parts of the programme will be streamed publicly, offering a window into global standardization developments for all who are interested.
The full agenda will be published in early July.
IARIS Perspective
The International Alliance for Regional Innovation and Standardization (IARIS) regards the ISO Annual Meeting as the highest‑level annual gathering in the global standardization landscape. This year's theme of "trust" reflects the increasingly strategic role of International Standards in tackling global challenges – from AI governance to climate change, and from supply chain resilience to the circular economy, International Standards are emerging as fundamental instruments for building global trust.
IARIS encourages all standardization bodies, enterprises, and research institutions in the Asia‑Pacific region to closely monitor the meeting and actively seek opportunities for in‑person or virtual participation. By engaging in key discussions on Emerging Tech & AI, the circular economy, and trade and development, the region can inject its innovative practices into global standards discourse and ensure that regional perspectives are heard. IARIS will continue to track the meeting and provide timely updates.
