Dear Friend,

Some moments remind you how far you’ve come. Others make clear just how much further you can go.

The 2X Global Summit 2026 was both.

Two weeks ago, we brought 260 people from 43 countries together in Montréal for our biggest Summit yet. The scale of the gathering was significant, but what stood out even more was the energy in the rooms across all three days: a clear signal that the appetite for gender lens investing remains strong — and that this global community is ready to keep moving forward.

We’ve said it before but it’s worth saying again - there was something especially meaningful about returning to Canada. The 2X Challenge, which gave rise to 2X Global, was first launched at the 2018 G7 Summit in Canada. Eight years later, we brought the Summit back to where that story began, hosted with Global Affairs Canada and FinDev Canada. It was a powerful full-circle moment — an opportunity to reflect on how far our movement has come, while reaffirming the importance of the work still ahead. The world’s leading development and multilateral finance institutions also used the occasion to publicly reaffirm their committment to the 2X Challenge and to investing in women’s economic empowerment.

But this Summit was never only about looking back.

During our time in Montreal, we forged ahead. New partnerships were signed and existing ones strengthened, creating new pathways for action across the Caribbean, Africa and Asia Pacific. Canada also announced an additional CAD110 million in financing for gender lens investing across Latin America, Africa and the Indo-Pacific — tangible commitments that put ambition into practice.

Perhaps that is what made this year’s Summit feel different. In 2025, we left Manila talking about momentum — about the importance of staying the course and finding evidence-based optimism in a challenging environment. This year, in Montréal, we saw that momentum translated into commitments, collaboration and action.

We came back to where it all began. And we left with our eyes firmly on what comes next. 

If you weren’t with us in Montréal, we invite you to experience some of the energy for yourself. You can catch up on some of the highlights from the Summit on our website and view the recaps on our YouTube channel.

Day 1 recap

Day 2 recap

Day 3 recap

And ... continue the conversation! Read and download publications, toolkits and research from our members and partners shared at the Summit at our curated 2X Global Summit Resource Hub.

In community,

2X Global Team