Since emerging from Brisbane Festival in 1998, the International River Symposium (IRS) has united those who live and work at the intersection of science, strategy, and sustainability. Whether you’re into data, policy, on-ground action, or cross-sector collaboration, the IRS is your platform to connect, share, and drive meaningful change.

Returning to the river city of Brisbane in 2025, the 26th IRS will unite river managers, policy developers, scientists, consultants, students, NGOs, and Indigenous and community organisations, as well as business and industry representatives, to exchange knowledge, fast-track solutions, and collaborate towards practical action to improve the sustainable management and resilience of rivers all over the world.

Featuring a curated interactive program comprising a one-day capacity-building Master Class, two-day conference, and culminating in a Gala Dinner where the prestigious Thiess International River Prize will be awarded, the transformed IRS facilitates partnerships between key global river stakeholders, celebrates the environmental, economic and social value of rivers across the globe, and provides an international forum for examining best practice in river and watershed management.