The 81st Session of the UN General Assembly officially opened on Tuesday, September 8, 2026.
But its high-level General Debate starts on September 22, 2026 Tuesday morning at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time at UN Headquarters in New York is 18:45 PM Nepali Standards Time.
The world leaders are arriving at UN Headquarters in New York City for the 81st General Assembly at the United Nations headquarters in New York which is believed to be the center of world diplomacy located in the Turtle Bay neighborhood of Manhattan.
As per the various international news reports, 130 Heads of State and government of the globe are expected to attend the leaders cum diplomatic jamboree in New York, USA, from September 22 to 28.
From Nepal, Minister for Foreign Affairs Shisir Khanal has been already in New York and reports are coming that he has been busy in meeting several
After assuming office Prime Minister Balendra Shah is leaving abroad for New York Today (Tuesday) for the first time. He is leading a 14-member delegation. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs the Prime Minister Balendra Shah will address the World Leaders’ gathering at the UN General Assembly Debate Session on September 24, 2026 that is Nepali time of Friday morning.
After attending a meeting in New York, PM Shah is scheduled to return to Kathmandu on September 26.
According to the reports, some veteran leaders of the world are not being attended. But instead other high level diplomats and senior representatives are representing their respective countries.
The 81st session of the UN General Assembly guided by the theme “Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all” the general debate will run from Tuesday, September 22, to Saturday, September 26, before resuming on Monday, September 28.
The world leaders and high level diplomats are to discuss major global issues and set out their positions on matters ranging from peace and security to climate, health and development.
Besides other main issues to be solved, the United Nations will get a new Secretary-General.
The current U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres is completing his term at the end of the year.
The morning of September 21 2026 will be Guterres’ final speech at the UN General Assembly which is going to open today shortly.
After the Welcome speech by the U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, the President of UN’s 81st General Assembly Dr. Khalilur Rahman will deliver his words.
Then as per the UN tradition, the Brazilian President speaks first and then the US President will speak.
Then after, according to the schedule other leaders and diplomats will speak at the General Assembly that runs through September 28.
Regarding the new Secretary General, by tradition, the next Secretary-General is expected to come from Latin America.
Also, as there has never been a woman Secretary General, many countries are encouraging the next Secretary General to be a woman. However, there has been no consensus on this yet.
The current candidates for the new to be Secretary General of the United Nations are former Vice President Rebeca Grynspan of Costa Rica, former Foreign Minister Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett of Guyana, former President Macky Sall of Senegal, former Foreign Minister María Fernanda Espinosa of Ecuador, former UN Under-Secretary-General Olara Otunnu of Uganda, Ivonne Baki Ecuadorean diplomat nominated by Tonga and Rafael Grossi of Argentina.
Among the seven candidates at the floor, Rebeca Grynspan of Costa Rica and Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett of Guyana are among the front-runners for the coveted helm.
Meanwhile, during the General Assembly there will be sideline meetings of the leaders and diplomats on bilateral, regional, international as well as other important issues at the UN premise.
But the US President Trump will also be busy during the UN meet-week as the US President has traditionally scheduled to meet various leaders of the world who are attending the 81st UN General Assembly.
