Program Schedule

HFF 2026's opening session will set the stage for the forum by exploring the opportunities and obstacles in the Himalayan region. Important visionaries from around the world will bring in insights from their experiences to highlight the major topics of discussion. 

This panel explores Nepal’s carbon trading landscape under the Carbon Trading Regulation 2025. It examines lessons from past carbon projects, emerging opportunities for private sector engagement, regulatory and operational challenges, and innovative approaches to scale high-integrity carbon projects that deliver climate, environmental, and community benefits.

The past few years have seen floods, landslides, and glacial lake outburst floods in the Himalayan region increase in frequency and intensity due to climate change. As Himalayan countries face growing climate risks, this panel examines pathways for adaptation and mitigation, with a focus on strengthening resilience, preparedness, and long-term risk reduction in fragile mountain ecosystems. 

This session features a presentation on the deep challenges facing Himalayan societies in the Information Age. It will examine how rapid technological change is reshaping governance, economies, and social structures in the region, and reflect on what it means for Himalayan countries to navigate and adapt to the demands of an increasingly technology-driven world. 

Migration, both internal and external, has long been a defining feature of Himalayan societies. This panel examines the underlying drivers of migration, looking beyond economic factors to include socio-cultural and climate-related reasons. As migration continues to intensify, the discussion will explore its implications and how societies can better understand and navigate mobility in the years ahead. 

Local brands from the Himalayan region have grown in both quality and scale, with an increasing number entering international markets. This panel examines the key challenges Himalayan brands face in going global, and explores how effective branding, marketing, and positioning can help unlock their potential and build strong, competitive identities in global markets. 

The Himalayan region is home to immense linguistic diversity, yet many languages remain under-documented and increasingly endangered. This panel explores how digital technologies, including mobile tools, digital archives, and emerging AI-based applications, are being used to preserve and revitalize Himalayan languages. It also examines questions of sustainability, ethics, and resources, and reflects on how language preservation efforts can be sustained and scaled in the future. 

As the global order continues to shift, the Himalayan region faces evolving geopolitical, economic, and security challenges. This closing panel examines what changes in the world order mean for Himalayan nations, how they can navigate emerging regional and global dynamics, and the possibilities for cooperation to address shared challenges and advance collective interests across the Himalayas.