Global Forum Calendar
The global policy arena is shaped by countless forums—from UN summits to trade and climate gatherings—where strategic participation can amplify your influence. This calendar is not exhaustive, but it may help you find convenings aligned with your mission and time your engagement for impact.
Terra40 offers expert support in navigating and hosting events that advance your priorities. Hosting a mission-aligned convening? We can feature it here or in our monthly Terra Flow newsletter. Let’s turn your presence into lasting policy change—get in touch with us.
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February 2026
Fifth edition of the Academy and Conference “Human Rights Go Local: What Works”
February 2-5, 2026 / Online / Event website
Focus: Local Governments and Human Rights-Based Budgeting: Pathways to Accountability
64th Commission For Social Development – CSocD64
February 2-11, 2026 / New York / Event website
Theme: Advancing Social Development and Social Justice through Coordinated, Equitable, and Inclusive Policies
World Governments Summit
February 3-5, 2026 / Dubai / Event website
Focus: Future of government and governance
Sixth Global Conference on the Elimination of Child Labour
February 2-11, 2026 / Marrakech / Event website
Focus: Discuss the major issues involved in the elimination of child labour, and collectively explore concrete and effective solutions
Munich Security Conference
February 13-15, 2026 / Munich / Event website
Focus: A leading forum for high-level debates on international security policy, bringing together Heads of State, ministers, and leaders from various sectors.
Topics: Expect discussions on European security, the future of NATO, multilateralism, evolving global power dynamics, regional conflicts, and tech-related security challenges.
African Union Summit
February 15-16, 2026 / Addis Ababa / Event website
Focus: the 39th Ordinary Session
March 2026
Mobile World Congress
March 2-5, 2026 / Barcelona / Event website
Focus: Exploring AI, connectivity, digital policy, and enterprise transformation, alongside the 4YFN startup event, bringing together global leaders in mobile tech.
Theme: The IQ Era
Commission on the Status of Women
March 9-20, 2026 / New York / Event website
Theme: Justice access for women and girls; ending discriminatory laws
10th International Academic Conference on Education
March 12-14, 2026 / Berlin / Event website
Focus: Shaping the future of education
SXSW Innovation Conference
March 12-18, 2026 / Austin / Event website
Focus: Innovation, networking, and emerging trends for creative industries
Global Philanthropy Leaders’ Forum
March 18-20, 2026 / San Francisco / Event website
Focus: Application-based gathering that convenes senior leaders, decision-makers, and changemakers from global philanthropy and adjacent sectors.
Theme: Architecting the Future: Operating Systems for a New Era of Philanthropy
Growth Summit 2026
March 24-26, 2026 / Rabat / Event website
Focus: Economic growth in a changing geopolitical and development landscape
8th Global Conference on Education and Teaching
March 26-28, 2026 / Prague / Event website
Focus: Educational innovation, research collaboration, and emerging trends in teaching and learning
12th International Conference on Education
March 26-28, 2026 / Bali / Event website
Theme: Transforming Education for a Sustainable and Inclusive Future: Adaptive Teaching, Innovative Research, Local and Global Partnerships, and Policy Implications
April 2026
2026 World Bank Group/International Monetary Fund Spring Meetings
April 13-19, 2026 / Washington, DC / Event website
Focus: Global economic outlook, poverty eradication, financial stability, and aid effectiveness
United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
April 20 - May 1, 2026 / New York / Event website
Theme: Ensuring Indigenous Peoples’ health, including in the context of conflict
Skoll World Forum
April 21-24, 2026 / Oxford / Event website
Focus: Shines a spotlight on some of the most promising solutions and impactful social innovations and connects leaders who are driving social progress around the world.
WHS Regional Meeting 2026
April 27-29, 2026 / Nairobi / Event website
Focus: Brings together leaders, innovators, and changemakers for building a healthier future in the region and beyond.
Topics: Rising burden of chronic diseases, the changing patterns of infectious diseases, and the health financing landscape in Africa and globally.
Women Deliver 2026
April 27-30, 2026 / Melbourne / Event website
Focus: Centers on resisting, reimagining, and rebuilding gender equality, focusing on the Oceanic Pacific’s leadership, climate justice, decolonization, and amplifying underrepresented voices against a backdrop of anti-rights movements.
Themes: Feminist solidarity, bodily autonomy, and transformative action, launching a Feminist Playbook for future justice.
Land and Property Research Conference
April 29 - May 1, 2026 / Washington, DC / Event website
Focus: Land governance research and its impact on economic development and poverty reduction
May 2026
Milken Global Conference
May 3-6, 2026 / Los Angeles / Event website
Focus: Connects individuals with the capital and influence to drive change with experts and innovators transforming health, finance, business, technology, philanthropy, industry, and society.
The 21st Session of the United Nations Forum on Forests
May 11-15, 2026 / New York / Event website
Focus: Land governance research and its impact on economic development and poverty reduction
Africa CEO Forum
May 14-15, 2026 / Kigali / Event website
Co-Host: International Finance Cooperation – World Bank Group
Focus: 2,800 business leaders, investors, and policy makers from Africa and around the world gathering for the African Private Sector
World Urban Forum
May 17-22, 2026 / Baku / Event website
Focus: Examining rapid urbanization and its impact on communities, cities, economies, climate change, and policy
World Health Assembly
May 18-23, 2026 / Geneva / Event website
Focus: Setting global health policies, priorities, and governance for WHO member states
ICT4D Conference
May 20-22, 2026 / Nairobi / Event website
Focus: Global leaders, practitioners, and innovators will gather to explore the future of digital transformation
Themes: Data Theme: Charting the Future of Data in Development and Humanitarian Response, Impact Theme: Delivering on the Sustainable Development Goals in a Fragile World, Future Theme: Shaping Tomorrow – Building Equitable and Sustainable Digital Futures, Hands-On Theme: Practical Demonstrations & Interactive Learning
June 2026
SCORAI Global Conference 2026
June 8-11, 2026 / São Paulo / Event website
Theme: Looking Back to Move Forward: Sustainable Consumption from Rio 92 to the Post-SDGs Agenda
G7 Summit 2026
June 14-16, 2026 / Evian / Event website
Host: France
Focus: The annual meeting of leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the US, focusing on global challenges like economic stability, climate, AI, and development aid reform.
Our Ocean Conference
June 16-18, 2026 / Mombasa / Event website
Focus: Addressing the key issues facing the ocean through voluntary commitments for action
Theme: Our Ocean. Our Heritage. Our Future.
London Climate Action Week
June 20-28, 2026 / London / Event website
Focus: Accelerating climate action by bringing together global leaders from business, policy, finance, and civil society to foster collaboration and find solutions
11th International Conference on Global Public Health 2026
June 20-28, 2026 / Dubai / Event website
Focus: The intersections of Climate Change, Health Equity, and Sustainable Health Systems.
Hamburg Sustainability Conference
June 29-30, 2026 / Hamburg / Event website
Focus: Provides a space for questioning topics such as the governance of international organizations and entrepreneurial approaches for sustainable development.
Themes: Resilient Economies, Technology and the Future of Our Planet; Risk, Uncertainty and Conflict; and Ensuring the Future of Human Collaboration: Multilateralism and Governance.
July 2026
High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) 2026
July 6-15, 2026 / New York / Event website
Theme: Transformative, equitable, innovative and coordinated actions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals for a sustainable future for all
AI for Good Global Summit
July 7-10, 2026 / Geneva / Event website
Focus: Leveraging AI to accelerate progress on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), connecting innovators with decision-makers for real-world impact in areas like health, climate, and gender
Themes: Responsible AI governance, AI skills for all, AI for negotiation/diplomacy, and showcasing practical solutions from startups and research, all under the ITU’s leadership.
the 26th International Aids Conference
July 26-31, 2026 / Rio de Janeiro / Event website
Focus: The world’s largest conference on HIV and AIDS will bring together people living with HIV, researchers, policy makers, healthcare professionals, funders, media and communities
Theme: Rethink, Rebuild and Rise
August 2026
UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP17)
August 17-28, 2026 / Ulaanbaatar / Event website
Focus: Desertification, land degradation, and drought, and will seek to foster collaboration, promote sustainable land management, and advance land restoration efforts.
World Water Week 2026
August 24-28, 2026 / Stockholm / Event website
Theme: Water for People and Progress
September 2026
18th World Congress on Public Health
September 6-9, 2026 / Cape Town / Event website
Focus: Unites public health professionals, policymakers, and advocates worldwide to address the most pressing global health challenges.
Theme: Health Without Borders: Equity, Inclusion, and Sustainability
United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 81st session)
September 8-22, 2026 / New York / Event website
Focus: The main deliberative, policymaking, and representative body of the United Nations, providing a forum for its 193 member states to discuss a wide range of international issues.
New York Climate Week 2026
September 21-28, 2026 / New York / Event website
Focus: Accelerate climate action by bringing together leaders from business, government, and civil society to discuss and implement solutions
October 2026
NetHope Global Summit 2026
October TBD, 2026 / Amsterdam / Event website
Focus: Brings together humanitarian organizations and tech leaders for collaboration on digital solutions for global good.
Topics: Innovation, shared learning, and practical connections to build a more resilient future
Building Bridges 7th edition
October 6-8, 2026 / Geneva / Event website
Focus: A unique alliance spanning the financial sector, public authorities, and Geneva-based international organisations — this flagship event is a launchpad for investment-ready ideas, strategic alliances, and high-impact partnerships.
Theme: Sustainability, Resilience, and Security
World Health Summit 2026
October 11-13, 2026 / Berlin / Event website
Focus: Brings together global health stakeholders from all sectors and regions to find solutions for the most pressing health challenges.
Theme: TBD
2026 World Bank Group/International Monetary Fund Fall Meetings
October 12-28, 2026 / Bangkok / Event website
Focus: Global economic outlook, poverty eradication, financial stability, and aid effectiveness
UN Biodiversity Conference (CBD COP17)
October 18-30, 2026 / Yerevan / Event website
Focus: To protect and restore biodiversity to achieve a “peace with nature” by 2050
Theme: Taking Action for Nature
November 2026
Conference of Parties (COP31) – UN Climate Change Conference
November TBD, 2026 / Antalya / Event website
Heads of State Summit: TBD
Significance: 31st Conference of the Parties to UNFCCC
Key focus: TBD
Paris Peace Forum 2026
November TBD, 2026 / Paris / Event website
Focus: A global platform focused on reinventing diplomacy to address challenges like climate change, technological disruption, and geopolitical shifts, bringing together leaders from governments, international organizations, businesses, and civil society to develop practical, multi-actor solutions for global governance and sustainable prosperity, moving beyond just discussing problems to fostering concrete action
6th United Nations World Data Forum 2026
November 9-12, 2026 / Riyadh / Event website
Host: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Focus: Held every two years and aims to spur data innovation, nurture partnerships, mobilize high-level political and financial support for data, and build a pathway to better data for sustainable development
Themes: Innovation for better and more inclusive data, Leveraging data and enhancing its value to support better decision-making, Building trust and protection, and promoting ethical use of statistical data, Effective partnerships for better data and a more equitable system.
World Conference on Marine Biodiversity
November 17-20, 2026 / Bruges / Event website
Theme: The marine biodiversity insights we need for the ocean we want
December 2026
UN Water Conference
December 2-4, 2026 / Dubai / Event website
Co-Hosts: Senegal and United Arab Emirates
Focus: Accelerate progress on SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, promoting investment, innovation, and global cooperation to build a water-secure future.
2026 G20 Summit
December 14-15, 2026 / Miami / Event website
Host: United States of America
Focus: Annual meeting of leaders from the world’s major economies (19 countries + EU + African Union) to tackle key global issues like economic stability, climate change, sustainable development, and health, evolving from a finance-focused group to the premier forum for international economic cooperation.
Themes: Unleashing economic prosperity by limiting regulatory burdens. Unlocking affordable and secure energy supply chains. Pioneering new technologies and innovations.