IDMA and WFDB Reunite for 41st World Diamond Congress in Singapore

The International Diamond Manufacturers Association (IDMA) and the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) will once again partner for the 41st World Diamond Congress, scheduled for July 12–15, 2026 in Singapore. The Diamond Exchange of Singapore (DES) is serving as host organisation and promotional material names the Sands Expo and Convention Centre as the physical venue; the congress site is using the tagline "A Diamond Davos in Singapore" and declares "REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN! REGISTER NOW."

The reunion follows a split between the two organisations two years ago, a rupture IDMA did not publicly explain at the time. Organisers say the joint meeting will reconvene leaders after that hiatus and tackle pressing trade questions at a moment when supply chains, consumer demand and regulatory scrutiny have shifted significantly.

Leadership for the congress includes IDMA president Ronnie VanderLinden, who acknowledged the changed terrain: "In the past, organizing a World Diamond Congress was a relatively straightforward job." VanderLinden added, "However, as we all know, our industry is in flux, if not in turmoil. [However], our hosts are working relentlessly to make the congress a success." IDMA secretary general Matthew Schamroth is working closely with WFDB counterpart Rony Unterman, and IDMA communications director Ya’akov Almor is described as "supporting all parties with the extensive and complex preparations." Fabio Cascapera, President of the Diamond Exchange of Singapore and Chair of the WDC 2026 Organising Committee, said the return "reflects both Singapore’s strategic position and the industry’s resilience" and noted that "while the sector has undergone significant transformation over the past 37 years, consumer appetite for diamonds remains steadfast across cultures and generations."

Programme themes promoted by the World Diamond Congress include market trends, consumer marketing, trade regulations, ethical sourcing, financing and emerging technologies. Southernjewelrynews describes the 41st WDC as bringing "a distinguished international audience, including government representatives, leading figures from across the diamond and jewellery value chain, heads of global jewellery organisations, manufacturers, and industry visionaries from the ASEAN region - one of the world’s fastest-growing trade blocs," with organisers positioning the event as a venue for focused, high-level dialogue.

The Congress has a long pedigree: the WDC was first convened in Antwerp in 1947 and has since been hosted in major diamond centres including Antwerp, Dubai, Mumbai, New York, Shanghai and Tel Aviv. DES last hosted the 24th World Diamond Congress in 1988, an edition that "welcomed more than 600 delegates," and organisers note the 2026 return comes "38 years on" and during Singapore’s 60th year of independence.

With registration open and the Sands Expo and Convention Centre named as the event site, organisers say the 41st World Diamond Congress aims to be where "ideas are tested, consensus is built, and decisions that move the industry forward are shaped." The reunion of IDMA and WFDB puts those decisions back on a joint stage after two years apart, as industry leaders prepare to confront the trade’s most urgent questions.