WHAT?
The ECOSOC Youth Forum will take place from 14 to 16 April 2026 at United Nations Headquarters in New York. Held under the theme of the 2026 High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), the Forum will focus on transformative, equitable, innovative, and coordinated actions to advance the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals.
The Forum will place special emphasis on the Sustainable Development Goals under in-depth review at the 2026 HLPF, namely Goals 6 (Clean water and sanitation), 7 (Affordable and clean energy), 9 (Industry, innovation and infrastructure), 11 (Sustainable cities and communities), and 17 (Partnerships for the goals).
Serving as a global platform, the ECOSOC Youth Forum will bring together young people, Member States, the UN system, and other partners to exchange ideas, showcase innovative solutions, and strengthen youth engagement in accelerating progress on the SDGs.
WHO?
The 2026 ECOSOC Youth Forum is convened by the President of ECOSOC and organized by the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) in close collaboration with the UN Youth Office, the United Nations Inter Agency Network on Youth Development (IANYD) and co-convened by the Major Group for Children and Youth (MGCY) and the International Coordination Meeting of Youth Organizations (ICMYO), with technical input from youth organizations relevant to the theme of the forum.
Youth leaders from around the world will engage with government representatives, youth delegates, policymakers, and stakeholders from civil society and the private sector to advance youth priorities and concerns.
HOW?
The three-day event will feature plenary sessions as well as interactive thematic and regional breakout sessions to facilitate deeper discussions on advancing the 2030 Agenda, implementing the Pact for the Future and contributing to different intergovernmental processes such as the UN Water Conference 2026, the World Urban Forum 2026 (WUF13), the SDG Summit 2027 and the HABITAT Assembly 2027.
Side events will take place virtually and in-person from 14 to 16 April 2026.
