The Ukraine Mine Action Conference 2026 (UMAC 2026) will take place in Brussels from 16 to 18 November. This will be the fourth edition of the conference, which this year will be jointly hosted by Ukraine and the European Union in partnership with Belgium.
UMAC 2026 will bring together representatives of governments, international organisations, academia and the private sector, as well as mine action operators, to support and strengthen international cooperation in mine action in Ukraine and around the world.
For Ukraine, UMAC 2026 is more than a platform for discussing mine action. The conference is also an opportunity for international partners to make commitments to support humanitarian demining. A year ago, at UMAC 2025 in Tokyo, partners pledged more than $80 million for mine action projects in Ukraine.
“Over the past few years, Ukraine has made enormous progress in developing its mine action sector. Four years ago, we were asking for financial assistance and expertise because we had never faced land contamination on such a scale. Today, we have a functioning humanitarian demining market and a government programme that covers 100% of the cost of clearing agricultural land. Under this programme, mine action operators are returning tens of thousands of hectares of arable land to farmers. We have learned from our partners’ experience and improved upon it, while also developing innovative solutions used both directly in the field and in operational planning. We have evolved from a recipient of assistance into a full-fledged partner with expertise and solutions to offer and share,” said Ihor Bezkaravainyi, Deputy Minister of Economy and Environment of Ukraine.
The theme of this year's conference is “Clearing the Way Together”. Discussions will focus on three key areas:
Shared Security
Global security begins with safe communities, restored territories and the ability of people to live, work and rebuild without risking their lives because of explosive hazards. Humanitarian demining provides the foundation for recovery, long-term resilience and sustainable development in countries affected by war and explosive ordnance contamination.
Shared Experience
Ukraine is testing new approaches to mine action in real time and helping shape the future of the sector globally by learning from and improving upon the experience of other countries affected by explosive ordnance contamination.
From drones, demining machines and AI-driven prioritisation to data systems, operational coordination and innovative approaches to financing, accountability and decision-making, Ukraine and its partners are making humanitarian mine action faster, safer and more effective.
Shared Responsibility
Sustainable mine action requires inclusiveness, trust and long-term partnerships. It depends on close coordination among all stakeholders, effective prioritisation, national ownership and the empowerment of local actors to build resilient, nationally led mine action systems that deliver lasting results.
The conference will also feature an exhibition of Ukrainian companies manufacturing demining machinery and equipment. Exhibits will include light and heavy demining machines, remote explosive ordnance detection systems, metal detectors and other technologies.
More information about UMAC 2026, including the conference agenda, is available on the official website
