81st UN General Assembly High-Level Week Timeline in New York: World Leaders Gather from September 18–28, 2026
18 – 28 September 2026
General Assembly
High-level Week 2026
“The Charter of the United Nations begins with three simple words: “We the peoples.” Not we the powerful. Not we the victorious. We the peoples – all of us – bound by a single conviction: that we are safer, stronger and more human when we stand together.”
– António Guterres, 26 June 2026
Overview
The 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly will once again convene world leaders to revitalize global cooperation, give a critical push to the Sustainable Development Goals and drive collective action for peace, dignity and equality on a healthy planet. Two key platforms will spotlight action and solutions: the flagship SDG Media Zone produced by the UN Department of Global Communications with dynamic interviews and panel discussions on SDG solutions held from 21–25 September; and the Goals Lounge, convened by the UN Deputy Secretary-General and hosted by the UN Office for Partnerships from 14-25 September, featuring unscripted dialogues, deep dives into vital issues and interactive experiences. Events are live streamed on UN WebTV.
Events
- SDG Moment
- General Debate
- Climate Action and Just Transition
- 40th Anniversary of the Declaration on the Right to Development
- High-level Meeting on Sea Level Rise
- Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response
- 25th Anniversary of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action
- International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons
18 September
10 a.m. – 1 p.m. | General Assembly Hall
SDG Moment
The annual SDG Moment – convened by Secretary-General as mandated under General Assembly Resolution 74/4 — highlights inspiring action on the Sustainable Development Goals. It showcases stories of transformation from communities, countries, and regions driving change across the various goals. The event will bring together a constellation of transformative global and national efforts and discuss how progress can be accelerated, even in the face of growing global challenges.
22 – 28 September
General Assembly Hall
General Debate
At the General Debate — the annual meeting of Heads of State and Government at the beginning of the General Assembly session — world leaders make statements outlining their positions and priorities in the context of complex and interconnected global challenges. His Excellency Khalilur Rahman of Bangladesh will preside over the UN General Assembly’s 81st session, under the theme of “Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all.”
23 September
3 p.m. – 6 p.m. | Trusteeship Council Chamber
High-level Event on Climate Action and the Just Transition
This Climate Summit, convened by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, will bring together leaders from major economies, developed and developing countries, vulnerable nations, and major energy producers and consumers to strengthen cooperation at a pivotal moment. Ten years after the Paris Agreement, the climate crisis has entered a new phase in which overshoot is now inevitable, while the energy transition accelerates. Leaders will take stock of progress and set out how they will work together to accelerate the transition, strengthen energy security, advance climate justice, and protect people from an accelerating climate crisis.
23 September
10 a.m. – 1 p.m.; 3 p.m. – 6 p.m. | Conference Room 4
High-level Meeting to Commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the Declaration on the Right to Development
Adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1986, the Declaration on the Right to Development broke new ground in the universal struggle for greater human dignity, freedom, equality and justice. It called for every member of society to be empowered to participate fully and freely in vital decisions and demanded equal opportunities and the equitable distribution of economic resources. For the past four decades, the Declaration has provided a framework for advancing inclusive, sustainable, and participatory development at all levels, while shaping related laws and policies.
24 September
10 a.m. – 1 p.m.; 3 p.m. – 6 p.m. | Conference Room 4
High-level Plenary Meeting to Address the Existential Threats Posed by Sea Level Rise
The High-Level Meeting on Sea Level Rise will convene global leaders, experts, and other stakeholders to address the urgent and escalating threat of rising sea levels. This meeting will focus on building common understanding, mobilizing political leadership, and promoting multisectoral and multi-stakeholder collaboration and international cooperation towards the objective of “addressing the threats posed by sea-level rise”. Participants will work towards developing comprehensive solutions and actionable commitments to combat sea level rise, ensuring a resilient and sustainable future including for small island developing states and low-lying coastal areas.
25 September
10 a.m. – 6 p.m. | Conference Room 1
High-level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response
The President of the United Nations General Assembly will convene a one-day meeting aimed at mobilizing political will at the national, regional and international levels for pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. Guided by the theme, “Fostering a multilateral and intergenerational approach to prevent, prepare for and respond to pandemics and public health emergencies, through the principles of equity and solidarity,” the meeting will culminate in the approval of a concise, action-oriented political declaration agreed upon by consensus through intergovernmental negotiations.
28 September
10 a.m. – 1 p.m.; 3 p.m. – 6 p.m. | Trusteeship Council Chamber
High-level Meeting to Mark the 25th Anniversary of the Adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action
The Durban Declaration and Programme of Action is a global blueprint for racial justice and equality. Adopted at the 2001 World Conference Against Racism in South Africa, it laid the foundation for much of today’s international work against racial discrimination. Marking the 25th anniversary, this meeting serves as an opportunity to accelerate collective efforts to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance under the theme: “Mobilizing global public support for the full and effective implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action.”
29 September
10 a.m. – 1 p.m.; 3 p.m. – 6 p.m. | Trusteeship Council Chamber
High-level Plenary Meeting to Commemorate and Promote the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons
Achieving global nuclear disarmament is the highest disarmament priority of the United Nations. It was the subject of the General Assembly’s first resolution in 1946, which established the Atomic Energy Commission (dissolved in 1952), with a mandate to make specific proposals for the control of nuclear energy and the elimination of atomic weapons and all other major weapons adaptable to mass destruction. This annual High-level plenary meeting commemorates and promotes the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons.
Berinyuy Cajetan is the founder and publisher of Human Rights and Legal Research Centre (HRLRC) since 2017. He has intensive experience in strategic communications for Civil Society Organizations, campaign and advocacy, and social issues. He has an intensive experiencing in human rights monitoring, documentation and reporting.
