About the Summit

The Upper Mississippi River Watershed stands at a crossroads. Agricultural runoff, public health risks, and recurrent flooding are converging into one of the most pressing environmental and economic challenges of our time. Addressing these issues requires a new model of collaboration between agriculture, conservation, public health, and private sector leaders. Watershed26 is a summit designed to drive change and chart our shared path forward.

Summit Details

Watershed26 is hosted by the Great Outdoors Foundation and its partners. It will be held at the Iowa Events Center on Tuesday, June 30 and Wednesday, July 1, 2026.

Location

Iowa Events Center
730 3rd Street
Des Moines, IA 50309

Travel & Accommodations

It is recommended that out-of-town guests fly into the Des Moines International Airport (DSM), located approximately 15 minutes away from the Iowa Events Center. A complimentary shuttle to the Hilton Des Moines Downtown is available at your convenience by calling (515) 241-1456.

The Great Outdoors Foundation has secured a discounted conference rate for single and double occupancy rooms at the Hilton Des Moines Downtown. This block is available on a first-come, first-served basis, and the discounted rate is available through June 1, 2026. Room rates for reservations booked after June 1 are at the hotel’s discretion and subject to availability.

Hilton Des Moines Downtown
435 Park Street
Des Moines, IA 50309

Make your reservation online for the discounted group rate under the Great Outdoors Foundation.

Agenda

Engage with dynamic, cross-sector attendees in large group and breakout sessions following content tracks for Emerging Voices, Finance Solutions, Dynamic Partnerships, Science & Data, and Stacked Benefits. View the complete conference agenda here.

Time	Tuesday, June 30	Wednesday, July 1
8:00 a.m.	Registration & Exhibits	Exhibits
9:00 a.m.	Opening Session & Keynote	Main Session & Keynote
10:15 a.m.	Break	Break
10:30 a.m.	Breakout Session	Breakout Session
11:30 a.m.	Lunch	Awards Lunch
1:00 p.m.	Panel	Breakout Session
2:00 p.m.	Breakout Sessions & Site Visits
2:15 p.m.		Closing Session & Keynote
3:00 p.m.	Breakout Sessions & Site Visits
4:00 p.m.	Break	Conference Ends
4:30 p.m.	Cocktail Hour & Reception

Convergence: The Conservation Ag Accelerator

Convergence is a premier platform designed to accelerate the next generation of conservation agriculture solutions, bringing together innovators, farmers, investors, and industry leaders at Athene Watershed26 to scale what works for soil and water.

At its core, Convergence is built around a central challenge: How might we address soil and water health while supporting the conservation agriculture sector?

The pitch competition showcases high-potential companies and organizations developing products, services, and technologies that improve conservation outcomes on agricultural land, ranging from soil health and water quality protection to nutrient reduction, carbon sequestration, and climate resilience.