Media Advisory

UN Forum to accelerate action towards the Sustainable Development Goals

WHAT: As the world steps up efforts to deliver on the 2030 Agenda, countries and communities are gathering at the 2026 High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) at UN Headquarters in New York from 7 to 15 July under the 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,” to accelerate progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

The Forum will bring together governments, business leaders, civil society representatives, mayors, scientists, policymakers and international organizations to assess SDG progress, exchange experiences, strengthen partnerships and accelerate action to achieve a more inclusive and sustainable future for all.

Convened under the auspices of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the Forum will review in depth Goals 6 (Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all), 7 (Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all), 9 (Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation), 11 (Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable) and 17 (Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development).

The High-level Segment of ECOSOC, including the three-day ministerial segment of the HLPF, will take place on 13-16 July 2026.

Thirty-six countries will present their Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs), sharing their experiences, successes, challenges and lessons learned in implementing the SDGs.

This year’s VNR countries are: Albania, Algeria, Bahrain, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Estonia, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Kiribati, Liberia, Malawi, Marshall Islands, Mozambique, Norway, Republic of Moldova, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, Switzerland, Togo, Tonga, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania and Uruguay.

The Forum will culminate in the adoption of a Ministerial Declaration on 15 July which will provide important policy guidance for countries as they continue efforts to accelerate SDG progress.

WHO: High-level representatives at the HLPF include H.E. Mr. Lok Bahadur Thapa, President of ECOSOC; H.E. Ms. Annalena Baerbock, President of the General Assembly; Mr. António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations; and Mr. Li Junhua, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs and ministerial participation from the countries presenting their VNRs. Governments, business leaders, civil society representatives, mayors, scientists, policymakers and international organizations will also be in attendance.

WHEN: 7-15 July 2026

WHERE: UN Headquarters in New York
Live on http://webtv.un.org

Launch of The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2026

The launch of The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2026 will take place at the opening of the Forum on 7 July. The report notes that while progress has been uneven and insufficient, notable achievements across regions and countries demonstrate that purposeful global action can transform lives at scale. The report calls for renewed global focus on the Goals.

Press briefing

WHAT: Press briefing to launch The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2026

WHO: Ms. Amina J. Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General
Mr. Li Junhua, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs
Mr. Shantanu Mukherjee, Acting Director, Statistics Division, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA)

WHEN: Tuesday, 7 July 2026, 12:45 p.m. EDT

WHERE: UN Press Briefing Room, S-237. Live on UN WebTV

Hashtags: #SDGreport, #SDGs, #2030Agenda, #GlobalGoals, #HLPF

Special events and side events at the 2026 HLPF

13 high-level special events will be organized at the HLPF, in collaboration with various partners to showcase key sectors’ engagement in SDG implementation. These events will provide opportunities to assess progress, highlight practical initiatives, share experiences and foster collaboration to accelerate progress on the SDGs. These events include:

• SDGs in Practice (7 July);
• UN Decade of Sustainable Transport – Annual Stocktake (7 July);
• SDG 6 Special Event at the High-level Political Forum (HLPF) 2026 (7 July);
• Implementing the Global Plan of Action for the Decade of Sustainable Energy for All to 2030 (8 July);
• Science Day 2026 at the HLPF: The science-policy imperative in the final stretch to 2030 and beyond (9 July);
• We The Peoples: Shaping the Future of the UN (9 July);
• Bridging Systems, Building Trust: Advancing Water, Energy, Innovation and Sustainable Cities through Coordinated Policy Actions (9 July);
• 2026 HESI Global Forum – Reimagining Higher Education for Global Transformation toward a Sustainable Future (9 July);
• 2026 SDG Global Business Forum (14 July);
• The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World – Special Event on Understanding and Addressing the High Costs of A Healthy Diet (14 July);
• IPU Parliamentary Forum at the HLPF (14 July);
• Local and Regional Governments Forum on the 2030 Agenda (14 July); and
• Local2030 Coalition Special Event (15 July)

More than 250 side events (on-site; off-site and virtual) will take place during the Forum.

At the same time, 9 VNR labs will provide an informal platform for experience-sharing and reflection on the Voluntary National Review process.

SDG Media Zone

The SDG Media Zone will host high-level panel discussions, interviews, and deep dives into SDG progress, putting the goals under review at HLPF in the spotlight. Bringing together UN leadership and industry experts, conversations will focus on scaling solutions for a better world. Sessions will be on-demand via un.org/sdgmediazone and the official UN YouTube channel.

For more information: High-level Political Forum 2026 (HLPF) & ECOSOC High-level Segment (HLS):

• Programme HLPF and HLS
• Participation
• 2026 Voluntary National Reviews
• Documentation & Outcomes
• Events: VNR labs; Special events; List of side events, off-site & virtual side events; and Exhibitions
• Media Corner

All HLPF events will be live streamed on UN Web TV: http://webtv.un.org

Media contacts:

UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs
Paul Simon, E: simonp@un.org
Helen Rosengren, E: rosengrenh@un.org

UN Department of Global Communication
Sharon Birch E: birchs@un.org
Martin Samaan, E: samaanm@un.org