The 16th edition of Social Business Day, organised by the Yunus Centre and Grameen Group, will take place on June 27-28, 2026, at the Samajik Convention Centre in Zirabo, Savar, followed by the Academia Dialogue and the 3ZERO Club Convention on June 29 at the Yunus Centre.

The event will convene entrepreneurs, global leaders, academics, policymakers, innovators and youth from around the world.

This year’s theme is “Social Business: The Language of Peace in a Fractured World.”

The two-day conference will feature five plenary sessions and seven breakout sessions, including keynote addresses, innovation showcases, country forums and networking opportunities centred on critical global challenges such as poverty, healthcare, financial inclusion, climate action, education, food security and youth empowerment.

This year’s Social Business Day is expected to bring together approximately 1,500 participants from Bangladesh and around the world, including nearly 200 international guests and delegates.

Nobel Peace Laureate Muhammad Yunus will deliver the keynote address at the opening session and offer closing remarks at the conclusion of the event.

Executive Director of the Yunus Centre Lamiya Morshed said Social Business Day serves as a platform for sharing experiences, exchanging ideas and exploring innovative solutions to address social and economic challenges.

She said this year’s theme, “Social Business: The Language of Peace in a Fractured World,” will guide discussions on how social business can foster inclusion, reduce inequalities and contribute to building a more sustainable and humane future.

Confirmed speakers include Erik Solheim, President of the Europe-Asia Center and former Minister of Environment and International Development of Norway; Kim Reksten Grønneberg, Director of Communications and Marketing at the Nobel Peace Center; Dr Ismail Serageldin, Founding Director of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina and former Vice President of the World Bank (1992-2000); Elisa Yavchitz, Member of the Council of Paris, France; Houriya B. Ahmed, Executive Director of Policy Hub, Qatar Foundation; Masahiro Hashimoto, Mayor of Sakai Town, Japan; Kate Robertson, Co-founder of One Young World; Dr Pornchai Mongkhonvanit, President of Siam University, Thailand; Professor Dato' Ir Dr Mohd Saleh Jaafar, Vice Chancellor and President of Albukhary International University, Malaysia; and Professor Giuseppe Torluccio, Professor of Banking and Finance at the University of Bologna. 

Additional speakers include Ashik Chowdhury, Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA); Md Fazlul Kader, Managing Director of Palli Karma Sahayak Foundation (PKSF); Carol Gribnau, Director of the Dutch Postcode Lottery Foundation (DOEN Foundation); Lydia Siebers, Managing Director of the Dutch Postcode Lottery; Philippe Guichandut, General Secretary of the Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation; Dr Edzel Almanza Ramos, President and CEO of CARD-MRI; Dr Dolores M. Torres, Senior Management Adviser at CARD Bank, Inc.; Corazon A. Henares, Board Chairperson of Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation (NWTF); Suzzette D. Gaston, Executive Director and President of Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation (NWTF); Lacy Hubbard, President and CEO of Elekta Foundation; Kate Moynihan, Executive Director and CEO of Seva Foundation; Joseph Hazel, Group Chief Executive Officer of Apex Health; and Dr Emadul Islam, Senior Research Fellow at the Ocean Policy Research Institute (OPRI), The Sasakawa Peace Foundation. Also speaking will be Fr Francesco Occhetta, Jesuit priest, writer and expert on social and political affairs from the Vatican/Italy.

50 Years of Grameen and 20 Years of Nobel Peace Prize

In 2026, Grameen will mark two historic and deeply connected milestones: 50 years of Grameen Bank and 20 years since the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Professor Muhammad Yunus and Grameen Bank, recognising the idea that poverty is not created by the poor but by the systems that surround them.

This gives Social Business Day added weight as a moment to celebrate its achievements and reflect honestly on the chances missed along the way, the Yunus Centre said.

The focus stays on building a world of three zeros. The event will look back at the progress made on this journey so far and explore how to shape the next phase using the lessons of the past. At its core, it is an exercise in sharing knowledge and experience.

Fifty years of Grameen have produced a rich body of global experience, and many of the pioneers behind it will gather in Dhaka to share their knowledge.

Rather than a single commemorative event, the anniversary will be marked as a year-long global festival. It will begin in Bangladesh, where the idea of microcredit first took shape in Jobra village, formally opening during Social Business Day 2026 in Dhaka.

From there, the celebration will continue throughout the year, spreading across countries, cities, communities and villages worldwide.