CERAWeek (Cambridge Energy Research Associates Week) is S&P Global's annual flagship energy conference held each March in Houston, Texas. It is widely regarded as the world's premier gathering of energy industry leaders — attracting 5,000–7,000 attendees including CEOs of major oil companies, energy ministers, heads of national oil companies, investors, and analysts. CERAWeek was founded by energy economist Daniel Yergin in 1983 as part of CERA (acquired by S&P Global in 2004). It covers the full energy spectrum: oil, gas, LNG, refining, renewables, EVs, hydrogen, and energy policy. Key outputs include the 'Executive Conversation' CEO interviews with Daniel Yergin and major market-moving speeches from OPEC+ ministers and IOC chiefs.

What are the key energy themes expected at CERAWeek 2028?

CERAWeek 2028 is expected to address: (1) US LNG export expansion — by 2028, US LNG export capacity will have grown to ~20+ bcf/day from major new terminals (Sabine Pass T6, Corpus Christi T3, Plaquemines Phase 1&2, Golden Pass); market impact on European and Asian gas prices will be a central topic; (2) Oil demand peak debate — with IEA's 2025 peak prediction needing validation by 2028 actual data, CERAWeek will assess whether global oil demand has genuinely plateaued; (3) Permian Basin productivity — Permian growth and productivity trends will dominate US upstream discussion; (4) Carbon capture — CCS project pipeline in the US (driven by IRA 45Q tax credits) will feature prominently; (5) Energy security — post-2022 security concerns remain central to US energy policy discussions.

Why is Houston the centre of the global energy industry?

Houston is the undisputed capital of the US (and significantly the global) energy industry for several reasons: (1) Proximity to the Gulf of Mexico — the US's major offshore oil and gas province; (2) Refining hub — the Houston-Beaumont-Port Arthur corridor has ~5 mb/d of refining capacity (roughly half of US refining capacity); (3) Headquarters cluster — ExxonMobil (The Woodlands), ConocoPhillips, Phillips 66, Halliburton, Schlumberger/SLB, Baker Hughes, and hundreds of oilfield services companies are headquartered in Houston metro; (4) Pipeline hub — Houston is the origin of major products and crude pipelines serving the US Eastern seaboard; (5) Port of Houston — the fourth-largest US port by tonnage; handles LNG exports, crude and product imports/exports; (6) Energy finance and legal infrastructure — banks, law firms, and investors with energy specialisations.

CERAWeek 2028

Name: CERAWeek 2028
Start: 2028-03-06T08:00:00
End: 2028-03-10T18:00:00
Location: Hilton Americas-Houston

Published 1 October 2026 · Updated 22 October 2026

Dates6–10 March 2028

LocationHilton Americas-Houston, Houston, Texas

OrganiserS&P Global

FrequencyAnnual (each March)

AudienceEnergy CEOs, ministers, NOC heads, investors, analysts (~5,000–7,000)

CERAWeek by S&P Global is widely considered the world's most important annual energy industry gathering — a week-long summit where major industry announcements are made, deals are initiated, and the energy agenda for the year is effectively set. The 2028 edition takes place as the energy transition reaches a critical inflection point: US LNG exports have reshaped global gas markets, the oil demand peak debate is resolving into data, and the IRA's impact on US clean energy investment is becoming quantifiable.

For past CERAWeek context, see our CERAWeek 2027 preview. For US energy production context, see our shale oil outlook 2027. For global refining covered at CERAWeek, see our global refining outlook 2027.

Key energy themes at CERAWeek 2028

US LNG dominance: By 2028, the US will be the world's largest LNG exporter at ~20+ bcf/day capacity; Plaquemines LNG, Golden Pass LNG, and CP LNG expansions will have transformed global LNG supply-demand balance
Oil demand peak — the verdict: CERAWeek 2028 will feature intense debate on whether the 2025–2027 period represented the global oil demand peak or merely a plateau, with post-COVID aviation recovery and Indian/African demand growth as the key swing factors
Permian productivity: West Texas Permian Basin production trajectory — capital discipline era, DUC inventory, lateral length records; Permian still growing but rate of growth debated
IRA at year four: Assessment of Inflation Reduction Act impacts — clean energy investment inflows (~$500bn+), manufacturing reshoring, hydrogen hub development, and CCS project pipeline
AI and energy: Surging data centre electricity demand (driven by AI) is creating a significant new electricity load in the US — the first major demand growth surprise in a decade; natural gas power plants are being fast-tracked

Houston as the global energy capital

CERAWeek's Houston location reflects the city's central role in global energy:

US Gulf Coast refining cluster: ~5 mb/d capacity — world's largest concentrated refining hub
Permian Basin pipeline hub: Midland–Houston Wink-to-Webster corridors carry ~7+ mb/d of crude to Gulf Coast
LNG export terminals: Sabine Pass, Corpus Christi, Freeport, Port Arthur within ~200 miles of Houston
Major corporate headquarters: ExxonMobil (The Woodlands), ConocoPhillips, Phillips 66, Marathon Oil, Halliburton, SLB, Baker Hughes

For upstream context, see our US gas price history guide. For crude benchmarks discussed at CERAWeek, see our WTI crude glossary entry.

Daniel Yergin and the energy narrative
CERAWeek's intellectual identity is shaped by S&P Global Vice Chairman Daniel Yergin — Pulitzer Prize-winning author of "The Prize" (1991) and "The New Map" (2021). Yergin's annual CERAWeek opening remarks are closely watched for framing the energy year's narrative. His "The New Map" concept — describing the geopolitical restructuring of energy after the Russia-Ukraine war — became the defining framework for 2022–2025 energy thinking. At CERAWeek 2028, Yergin is expected to address the "energy transition pragmatism" theme: the tension between climate ambition and energy security realism that has become the defining tension of the late 2020s energy debate.

Frequently asked questions

What is CERAWeek? CERAWeek by S&P Global is the world's premier annual energy conference — held each March in Houston. It attracts 5,000–7,000 participants including major IOC and NOC CEOs, energy ministers, and investors. Founded by Daniel Yergin in 1983, it covers oil, gas, LNG, renewables, EVs, and energy policy. Key outputs: CEO interviews, ministerial speeches, and market-moving industry announcements.: CERAWeek by S&P Global is the world's premier annual energy conference — held each March in Houston. It attracts 5,000–7,000 participants including major IOC and NOC CEOs, energy ministers, and investors. Founded by Daniel Yergin in 1983, it covers oil, gas, LNG, renewables, EVs, and energy policy. Key outputs: CEO interviews, ministerial speeches, and market-moving industry announcements.
What are the key energy themes expected at CERAWeek 2028? Key 2028 themes: US LNG dominance (~20+ bcf/day export capacity by 2028); oil demand peak verdict (did 2025–2027 mark the peak?); Permian productivity trajectory; IRA impact assessment (year four); AI-driven data centre electricity demand surge. Houston's role as US energy capital underpins the event's significance.: Key 2028 themes: US LNG dominance (~20+ bcf/day export capacity by 2028); oil demand peak verdict (did 2025–2027 mark the peak?); Permian productivity trajectory; IRA impact assessment (year four); AI-driven data centre electricity demand surge. Houston's role as US energy capital underpins the event's significance.
Why is Houston the centre of the global energy industry? Houston hosts ~5 mb/d of Gulf Coast refining (half of US capacity), Permian Basin crude pipeline terminus, major LNG export terminals (Sabine Pass, Corpus Christi, Freeport within 200 miles), and headquarters of ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips, Phillips 66, Halliburton, SLB, Baker Hughes. It is the US and significantly global energy industry's commercial and operational capital.: Houston hosts ~5 mb/d of Gulf Coast refining (half of US capacity), Permian Basin crude pipeline terminus, major LNG export terminals (Sabine Pass, Corpus Christi, Freeport within 200 miles), and headquarters of ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips, Phillips 66, Halliburton, SLB, Baker Hughes. It is the US and significantly global energy industry's commercial and operational capital.