UN General Assembly 2026
The 80th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) opens on September 8, 2026. Two weeks later, High-Level General Debate kicks off Friday, September 18, 2026 until September 28, 2026.
UNGA 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.
Join CIC at our side events over the course of UNGA! These events cover topics such as governing artificial intelligence (AI), justice issues, economics and inequality, reform at the United Nations, local governance, and more.
Closing the Social Gap: Strengthening the Role of Business and Finance in Advancing Better Outcomes for People
Monday, September 21, 2026 | 3:30–4:30 p.m. (EST)
FF Building, 304 East 45th Street, 15th Floor, Room 1507A, New York
Co-hosted by the TISFD, the Finance Against Slavery & Trafficking, and the Pathfinders for Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies
Inequality, modern slavery, human trafficking, poor labour conditions and other social challenges are not only moral concerns, they are increasingly recognised as material risks to business performance, financial stability and economic resilience.
While sustainability reporting has helped advance action on climate and nature, significant gaps remain in how businesses and financial institutions understand, manage and disclose their impacts on people. Finance Against Slavery and Trafficking (FAST), the Taskforce on Inequality and Social-related Financial Disclosures (TISFD) and the Pathfinders for Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies, will host a dialogue during the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Week.
Bringing together governments, international organizations and sustainability experts, the discussion will explore emerging approaches to social disclosures and how improved measurement, management and accountability can help align private sector conduct and financial flows with sustainable development objectives, including the implementation of the Sevilla Commitment.
UN80 Global High-Level Meeting: Shaping the Next Phase of UN Reform
Thursday, September 24, 2026 | 8:30–11:00 a.m. (ET)
Ford Foundation Center for Social Justice, 320 E 43rd St, New York, NY 10017
The high-level political meeting of UN80 Global will convene on the margins of the high-level week of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly meeting will harness the Group’s cross-regional reach to translate political convergence into coordinated action for the final quarter of 2026 and the next United Nations (UN) leadership cycle.
This event is invitation-only.
Tackling the Inequality Crisis: Why an International Panel on Inequality is Needed Now
Thursday, September 24, 2026 | 9:00-11:30 a.m. (ET)
101 Park Avenue, Chrysler Forum
Organized by ITUC, Oxfam International, the Fight Inequality Alliance, and Pathfinders for Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies
This event will bring together trade unionists, civil society, academia, governments, and international organizations to discuss what an International Panel on Inequality could make possible: and independent evidence base and shared analysis to help turn the tide on inequality.
Rights, Remedies and AI Jurisprudence: Upholding Justice, Rule of Law and Human Rights in the Age of Agentic AI
Thursday, September 24, 2026 | 12:00-2:00 p.m. (ET)
Convene, 101 Park Avenue, NY, 10017
Organized by OHCHR and Pathfinders for Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies (hosted by the Center on International Cooperation at New York University) with co-sponsorship of Open Society Foundations, The World Bank Group, the Korea-World Bank Partnership Facility, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Republic of Korea, the Dominican Republic Judiciary, the Justice Action Coalition, and the Ada Lovelace Institute.
Join us for a side event examining the implications of agentic AI for accountability, liability and access to remedy worldwide, bringing senior justice leaders and judges across regions into the global conversation on AI governance.
CIC at 30: Local Governance for Global Impact
As CIC celebrates its 30th anniversary, we reflect on three decades of work at NYU Arts & Science and mark an exciting new chapter as CIC joins the NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. Building on this legacy, this high-level event will focus on advancing more effective, inclusive, and accountable international cooperation in a rapidly changing world. A particular challenge is ensuring that negotiated global agreements are prioritized and translated into on-the-ground action that supports development and improves people’s lives.
Join us on September 24 from 7:00–9:00 p.m. at NYU Wagner 105 E 17th St, New York.
Book Launch—Foreign Policy at the AI Frontier: How AI is Reshaping Progress, Power, and Peace”
Monday, September 28, 2026 | 4:30-6:00 p.m. (ET)
Pless Hall Lobby, NYU Steinhardt, 82 Washington Square East, NY
Co-hosted by the NYU Center on International Cooperation, NYU Peace Research and Education Program, and Data for Peace.
Join us for the launch of CIC non-resident fellow, Branka Panic’s new book “Foreign Policy at the AI Frontier: How AI is Reshaping Progress, Power, and Peace.
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