In 2026, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) will engage in a process to select the next Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN). The current Secretary-General, António Guterres, will complete his second five-year term at the end of 2026.
This paper provides an overview of the process for the selection of the UN Secretary-General (SG). In short, the process has evolved from a non-transparent closed-door exercise almost exclusively dominated by the Security Council to a more transparent, inclusive process involving more active and engaged participation of the General Assembly.