The Week Ahead at the United Nations in Brussels, Belgium and further afar. Join events, seminars and conferences, in person or online, from the heart of the European Union to UN Headquarters and missions around the world.
Find out about key UN-EU events, international observances and global summits.
Bookmark this page to stay abreast of what’s happening.
BRUSSELS/BELGIUM:
Tuesday, 8 September
- Understanding and Addressing the High Cost of a Healthy Diet (FAO)
L42, rue de la Loi, 42, Brussels – 15.00-16.30 CEST – Additional information - EU-UN partnership for peace, security and development: Round table on advancing effective multilateralism
Permanent Representation of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the EU, Rue de Trèves 35, Brussels – 10.00-13.00 CEST – Additional information
Thursday, 10 September
- UN Climate Executive Secretary Simon Stiell will address the European Parliament Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety (UNFCCC/EP)
European Parliament, Brussels – 11.30AM CEST – Livestream link
Tuesday, 15 September
- On the occasion of the International Day of Democracy: “Democratic Innovation Across Borders: From Brussels to the World” (UNDP & City of Brussels)
Old Council Chamber, City Hall, Grand-Place, Brussels – 5.00PM CEST - How can the EU shore up an international system adrift? – ENSURED Final conference (CEPS)
1, Place du Congrès, Brussels – 9.30-16.15 CEST – Additional information
Thursday, 17 September
- NEW: SDG Action Learning Network Civil Society Organisations (CIFAL Brussels)
Mundo Matongé, Edinburgstraat 26, 1050 Brussel – (in Dutch) 9.30-12.00 CEST – Additional information
18-25 September
- Brussels World Clean Up Week
The City of Brussels will organise a full week of activities, awareness-raising initiatives and mobilisation around public cleanliness and civic engagement.
Additional information
24 September
- Action Learning Platform Human Rights (CIFAL Brussels)
Voka, Koningsstraat 158 Rue Royale, 1000 Brussel – (in Dutch) 9.00-16.00 CEST – Meer informatie
12-14 October
- European Week of Regions and Cities
EP, COR & DG REGIO, Brussels – Additional information
13 October
SDG-Forum Belgium
- “Navigating Uncertain Times: Let’s Stick Together!” (CIFAL Brussels)
Flagey, Place Sainte Croix, 1050 Ixelles – (in Dutch) – Meer informatie
15 October
- Start of the UN Brussels’ Back to school campaign
22 October
- Cine ONU de Wilde Noordzee (with UNEP)
23 October
- UN80 ‘Shared Lives, Shared Future’ expo in Koekelberg, Brussels
24 October
- UN Day celebrations
EUROPE AND BEYOND:
September
9 September
- Tobacco and Infertility: An overlooked public health challenge (WHO)
Webinar – 11.00 AM CEST – Additional information
14 September – 9 October
- As the EU Pay Transparency Directive comes into force this July, the need for concrete action on the gender pay gap has never been more urgent. The ITC-ILO course “Achieving equal pay: ILO policy framework and practical approaches” is particularly relevant for European policymakers, public officials and social partners in designing and implementing effective equal pay measures.
Online course – Additional information
21-23 September
- FAO Global Conference for actions on One Health in agrifood systems
Hybrid (Rome, Italy) – Additional information - Global Symposium on Soil Compaction
Hybrid (Aarhus, Denmark) – Additional information
October
5-7 October
- 2026 EIFAAC International Symposium on managing and conserving inland Fisheries and Aquaculture resources in a changing world
Riga, Latvia – Additional information
8-16 October
- World Food Forum 2026
Rome, Italy – Additional Information
12-16 October
- FAO Science and Innovation Forum 2026
Hybrid (Rome, Italy) – Additional information - Rome Water Dialogue 2026
Hybrid (Rome, Italy) – Additional information
13-16 October
- Hand-in-Hand Initiative Investment Forum 2026
Hybrid (Rome, Italy) – Additional information
15 October
- Junior World Food Day 2026
Additional information
16 October
- World Food Day
Additional information
25-27 October
- 9th World Investment Forum 2026 (UNCTAD)
Doha, Qatar – Additional information
LOOKING AHEAD:
December
- 2026 United Nations Water Conference
Dubai, UAE – 2-4 December – Additional information
Jan-Feb 2027
- The United Nations Conference of Plenipotentiaries on Protection of Persons in the Event of Disasters
Manila, Philippines – 25 Jan – 12 Feb – Additional information
Upcoming observances:
Observances designated by UN agencies or with a global dimension are marked with an asterisk (*).
August
- 01–07 August: World Breastfeeding Week
- 09 August: International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples (A/RES/49/214)
- 11 August: World Steelpan Day (A/RES/77/316)
- 12 August: International Youth Day (A/RES/54/120)
- 19 August: World Humanitarian Day (A/RES/63/139)
- 21 August: International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism (A/RES/72/165)
- 22 August: International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief (A/RES/73/296)
- 23 August: International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and Its Abolition (29 C/Resolution 40)
- 27 August: World Lake Day (A/RES/79/142)
- 29 August: International Day against Nuclear Tests (A/RES/64/35)
- 30 August: International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances (A/RES/65/209)
- 31 August: International Day for People of African Descent (A/RES/75/170)
International Years 2026
- International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists | A/RES/76/253
- International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development | A/RES/78/127
- International Year of the Woman Farmer | A/RES/78/279
International Decades
- United Nations Decade of Sustainable Transport (2026–2035)
NEW International Year
- 2028 Proclaimed Year of International Law
