UNGA 2026: What's on the agenda?

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) convenes annually in New York, drawing world leaders for a week of speeches, private meetings, and diplomacy. The 2026 edition, set to begin on September 22, is being watched closely amid ongoing conflicts, political tensions, and funding cuts that are testing the international system. US President Donald Trump is expected to be a focal point of the week, with his administration's stance on Iran and the UN likely to influence the agenda.

Daniel Forti, head of UN affairs at the International Crisis Group, predicts Trump's UN speech will "burnish his credentials as a peacemaker while defending US military operations abroad," potentially targeting the UN while addressing domestic concerns ahead of the November midterm elections. The turbulent global landscape, including the ongoing US-Iran war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, adds to the urgency of finding diplomatic solutions.

While UNGA is not traditionally a summit for major diplomatic breakthroughs, Forti notes there's often an opportunity for world leaders to engage during the packed conference. Last year's meeting between Trump and leaders of eight Arab and Islamic states, which contributed to the Gaza ceasefire, serves as an example. France, as the current Security Council president, aims to rekindle discussions on the two-state solution for Palestine.

Other key issues include the Palestinian territories' elections, Ukraine's war, and China's shifting role as a global power. China's President Xi Jinping, absent from the General Assembly, last addressed the UN in person in 2015. The race to select the next UN Secretary-General could see candidates courting support from permanent Security Council members, leveraging side events to bolster their profiles. Confidential discussions among Security Council members will also take place outside the public eye.