Media Advisory
Young people to gather at the United Nations to drive urgent action on the Sustainable Development Goals
Innovate, Unite and Transform: Youth Shaping the Road to 2030
Young leaders, innovators and advocates from around the world will gather at United Nations Headquarters in New York on 14 to 16 April 2026 for the 2026 Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Youth Forum, to advance innovative solutions to accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals.
As the world confronts increasingly complex and interconnected crises — from climate change and growing inequalities to economic and technological transformations — the leadership and voices of young people have never been more vital.
Held under the theme “Innovate, Unite and Transform: Youth Shaping the Road to 2030,” the Forum — the largest annual gathering of young people at United Nations Headquarters in New York — provides a global platform for youth to engage with Member States, the United Nations system, and other stakeholders, reaffirming young people as essential partners in building a sustainable, inclusive, and resilient future.
Discussions will focus on clean water (SDG 6), energy (SDG 7), infrastructure (SDG 9), sustainable cities (SDG 11), and partnerships (SDG 17, which will be discussed in depth at the upcoming 2026 High-level Political Forum in July.
WHO:
- H.E. Lok Bahadur Thapa, President of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
- H.E. Ms. Annalena Baerbock, President of the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly
- Ms. Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations
- Li Junhua, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs
- Felipe Paullier, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs
- Jaewon Choi, Executive Director of DMUN and Thematic Focal Point in the Financing for Development Children and Youth Constituency, MGCY
- Ministers and senior government representatives from Member States
- Youth leaders, entrepreneurs and representatives of youth-led organizations from all regions
WHEN: 14 – 16 April 2026
WHERE: United Nations Headquarters, New York, and streamed live on UN WebTV: http://webtv.un.org
FORMAT:
- Opening and closing plenary sessions featuring high-level speakers, youth leaders, and UN officials
- Thematic sessions addressing the SDGs under review by the HLPF
- Interactive dialogues between youth, Member States, and key stakeholders
- Regional breakout sessions focusing on challenges, solutions and best practices at the regional level for achieving the SDGs
- Side events
SDG MEDIA ZONE: In Conversation
Join the United Nations Department of Global Communications at the virtual SDG Media Zone during the 2026 ECOSOC Youth Forum and hear about the transformation and solutions needed to accelerate action on the SDGs. The SDG Media Zone extends discussions beyond the policy space and into the public sphere through impactful interviews and conversations on issues that matter to people everywhere.
KEY LINKS
Media Contacts
- Paul Simon, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs – simonp@un.org
- Helen Rosengren, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs – rosengrenh@un.org
- Sharon Birch, UN Department of Global Communications – birchs@un.org
