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:
28 August
- ACTIVATE: Introduction to Digital Resilience (CIFAL Brussels)
Online – 10.00-11.30 CEST – Additional information
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
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
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
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)
24 October
- UN Day celebrations
- UN80 ‘Shared Lives, Shared Future’ expo in Koekelberg, Brussels
EUROPE AND BEYOND:
August
27 July – 1 August
- UN Biodiversity subsidiary body meetings: Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice
Nairobi, Kenya – Additional information
1-7 August
- World Breastfeeding Week (WHO)
Additional information
3-5 August
- Strengthening the capacity of Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) from SIDS to audit the implementation of the SDGs
Ukulhas Convention Centre, Maldives – Additional information
3-7 & 10-13 August
- Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) Fifth Session
UNHQ, New York – Additional information
3-13 August
- Committee for UN Framework Convention on Int Tax Cooperation (UNFCITC) (DESA)
UNHQ, New York – Additional information
4-12 August
- UN Biodiversity subsidiary body meetings: Subsidiary Body on Implementation
Nairobi, Kenya – Additional information
11 August
- Global Employment Trends for Youth 2026 report (ILO)
Additional information
17-28 August
- 17th session of the Conference of the Parties | UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) (COP17)
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia – Additional Information
18-20 August
- Regional Conference on Population & Development (ECLAC)
Montevide, Uruguay – Additional information
24-28 August
- Conference of States Parties to Arms Trade Treaty (CSP12) (ODA)
Geneva, Switzerland – Additional information
September
- 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 – 14 Sep – 9 Oct – Additional information
21-23 September
- FAO Global Conference for actions on One Health in agrifood systems
Hybrid (Rome, Italy) – Additional information
LOOKING AHEAD:
October
- EIFAAC 2026 International Symposium
Riga, Latvia – 5-7 October – Additional information - 9th World Investment Forum 2026 (UNCTAD)
Doha, Qatar – 25-27 October – Additional information
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
