ASHRAE to celebrate World Refrigeration Day 2026

ATLANTA, GEORGIA, United States, 18 June 2026: ASHRAE said it will join organisations, governments and industry partners around the globe in recognising World Refrigeration Day (WRD 2026) on June 26.

Making the announcement through a June 18 Press Release, ASHRAE said this year’s theme, “Cool Intelligence”, will showcase the innovation, expertise and advanced technologies that are transforming refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump systems to operate more efficiently, sustainably and intelligently.

ASHRAE described World Refrigeration Day as an international awareness campaign that raises the profile of the refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump industry and highlights the role cooling technologies play in supporting health, food security, economic development and quality of life worldwide.

ASHRAE said the 2026 theme recognises that “intelligence in cooling” extends beyond technology alone. ASHRAE added that intelligent cooling solutions are helping address some of today’s energy, environmental and resilience challenges.

Bill McQuade, 2025-26 President, ASHRAE, said: “Intelligence in cooling goes beyond algorithms and automation; it is about applying knowledge, innovation and technology to create healthier, more sustainable environments. This year’s World Refrigeration Day theme highlights how AI, digitalization and human expertise are working together to create smarter, more sustainable cooling solutions. ASHRAE is proud to support the professionals and technologies that are advancing the future of refrigeration around the world.”

ASHRAE said that to mark World Refrigeration Day, it is encouraging industry professionals to explore refrigeration guidance and technical resources, including the 2026 ASHRAE Handbook, Refrigeration (I-P) and the 2026 ASHRAE Handbook, Refrigeration (SI), which are now available for preorder.

ASHRAE added that it continues to support global refrigeration education and capacity-building efforts through the ASHRAE-UNEP Portal, which provides access to technical resources, training materials and guidance designed to help industry professionals advance sustainable cooling practices worldwide.

ASHRAE said that as part of its ongoing commitment to industry advancement, it will spotlight emerging refrigeration technologies during the 2026 Annual Conference, to be held from 27 June to 1 July in Austin, Texas. ASHRAE said featured sessions will include:

• Commercial Refrigeration: Paving the Way for Future-Proof, Low-GWP Refrigerants and System Redesigns to Meet Emerging Standards
• Application of Thermal Storage for Refrigerated Warehousing
• Integrated Experimental Study of Refrigeration System Optimization: An Industry–University Collaboration on Refrigerant and Airflow Design
• Cooling without Compressors: Emerging Caloric and Electrochemical Approaches