Arnold Schwarzenegger, Kamala Harris, Tim Walz and Dan Jørgensen to join anniversary edition on June 16 in Vienna – 2026 motto: WE ARE UNSTOPPABLE
Vienna will once again become an international meeting point for climate and environmental action on June 16. But this year’s anniversary edition of the AUSTRIAN WORLD SUMMIT marks far more than the tenth anniversary of a conference.
What began in 2017 as an initiative by Arnold Schwarzenegger and Monika Langthaler, with the support of Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen, has developed over the past ten years into an international network for climate and environmental action, innovation and concrete solutions. Today, this ecosystem includes not only the Summit itself, but also the AWS Solutions Hub in Lower Austria, campaigns such as Pump for the Planet, international education and community projects, and a steadily growing network of partners and supporters around the world.
Under the motto “WE ARE UNSTOPPABLE”, the AUSTRIAN WORLD SUMMIT is therefore not only looking back on ten years of climate action, but above all looking ahead: to the people, ideas and solutions that are already proving today that progress is possible.
A special highlight of this year’s anniversary edition is the participation of Kamala Harris, the 49th Vice President of the United States. Harris made history as the first woman, the first Black American and the first person of South Asian descent to hold this office. At the AUSTRIAN WORLD SUMMIT, she will visit Austria for the first time and appear on a European stage for the first time since the U.S. election.
Together with Arnold Schwarzenegger, she will take part in a fireside chat on leadership, democracy, climate action, social cohesion and the challenges of a changing world.
Other special guests at this year’s anniversary edition include Tim Walz, Governor of Minnesota, Dan Jørgensen, EU Commissioner for Energy and Housing, entrepreneur and activist Heather Mills, food creator Maya Leinenbach (“Fitgreenmind”), Paralympic medalists Johannes and Veronika Aigner, as well as numerous other international figures from politics, business, science, culture and civil society. Hollywood star Richard Gere will also be part of the program via video and will share his thoughts on responsibility and the connection between humanity and nature.
Together, these guests represent the diversity of voices the AUSTRIAN WORLD SUMMIT has brought together for ten years: political decision-makers, entrepreneurs, innovators, scientists, artists, activists and young changemakers. Step by step, the Summit has grown into an international climate action ecosystem that now reaches far beyond Vienna.
The anniversary magazine “10 Years of Climate Action – Arnold’s Climate Legacy” documents this development in depth. It tells the story of ten years of the AUSTRIAN WORLD SUMMIT, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s commitment to climate and environmental action, and the people who have shaped this movement.
The AUSTRIAN WORLD SUMMIT 2026 also shows how climate communication is changing. With the AWS Creator Circle, a curated meeting point for international content creators and digital voices will be established for the first time at a conference in Austria. The goal is to make climate and environmental issues accessible to millions of people through social media. Another new feature is the digital Conference Guide, which provides visitors with all important information directly on their smartphones.
With the Pump for the Planet campaign, new merchandise products and the AWS Solutions Hub in Asparn an der Zaya, the initiative now extends far beyond the actual event day. Ten years after the first AUSTRIAN WORLD SUMMIT, a conference has become an international movement. That is the message of this anniversary year: WE ARE UNSTOPPABLE.
Quotes
Arnold Schwarzenegger, Founder of the AUSTRIAN WORLD SUMMIT:
“When we started the AUSTRIAN WORLD SUMMIT, we wanted to show that problems are not just there to be discussed, but to be solved. Ten years later, we see what is possible when people come together and take action. A conference has become a global movement. Our message today is the same as it was back then: stop making excuses and start doing something. That is exactly why our motto this year is: WE ARE UNSTOPPABLE.”
Monika Langthaler, Director of the Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative:
“Over the past ten years, the AUSTRIAN WORLD SUMMIT has developed from an international conference into an entire ecosystem for climate and environmental action. Through campaigns, the AWS Solutions Hub, education projects and a growing Climate Action Family, we show that change is possible. For us, this anniversary is not about looking back, but about looking ahead – to the solutions that already work and to the people driving them forward every day.”
Upcoming Media Dates
10th AUSTRIAN WORLD SUMMIT
Date: Tuesday, June 16, 2026
Location: Hofburg Vienna
Motto: WE ARE UNSTOPPABLE
Featuring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Kamala Harris, Tim Walz, Dan Jørgensen and many other international guests.
Accreditation is urgently required.
AWS Solutions Hub Day
Date: Wednesday, June 17, 2026
Location: AWS Solutions Hub, Asparn an der Zaya
Insights into concrete projects of the Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative – from energy communities and storage solutions to biodiversity and regional innovation.
Please register by email.