Day One: World Leaders Open 81st UN General Assembly in New York

NEW YORK, September 22, 2026: The 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly opened its high-level General Debate in New York on Tuesday, bringing together presidents, prime ministers, monarchs and senior leaders from across the world for a day of major diplomatic speeches and meetings.

The opening day features 29 national leaders and senior representatives from Latin America, North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

Morning Session: Major Powers and Regional Leaders

The morning session begins with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, followed by United States President Donald Trump.

The appearance of the leaders of Brazil and the United States places two major countries of the Western Hemisphere at the forefront of the opening General Debate.

They are followed by King Abdullah II of Jordan, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Türkiye, President Sadyr Zhaparov of Kyrgyzstan and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

The morning programme continues with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda, Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori, Chilean President José Antonio Kast, French President Emmanuel Macron and Finnish President Alexander Stubb.

The session concludes with Grand Duke Guillaume of Luxembourg and Angolan President João Lourenço.

The opening morning therefore brings together leaders representing countries with very different geographic positions, political systems and foreign-policy priorities.

Afternoon Session: Asia, Europe, Africa and the Pacific

The second half of the first day begins at 3:00 p.m., with Mongolian President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa scheduled to address the Assembly.

He is followed by South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, Suriname’s President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons, Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio, and Bosnia and Herzegovina Presidency Chairman Denis Bećirović.

The afternoon programme also includes Dominica’s President Sylvanie Burton, Swiss Confederation President Guy Parmelin, Vietnamese leader To Lam, Seychelles President Mathew Herminie and Nauru’s President David Adeang.

Further speeches are scheduled from Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković.

Diplomacy Beyond the General Assembly Hall

The first day is not limited to speeches from the UN podium. The arrival of so many national leaders in New York creates an extensive programme of bilateral and multilateral diplomacy.

Heads of government and senior representatives traditionally use the General Assembly week to meet counterparts, discuss regional and international issues and engage with the UN Secretary-General.

For countries facing security, economic, climate and development challenges, these meetings provide an opportunity to present national priorities directly to other governments.

A Global Opening Day

From Brazil and the United States to Jordan, Türkiye and Qatar, and from France and the United Kingdom to Japan, South Korea, Vietnam and African nations, the first day demonstrates the geographical breadth of the United Nations.

The opening day also sets the tone for the wider General Assembly week, when leaders will address international peace and security, conflicts, development, climate change, economic pressures and the future of multilateral cooperation.

With the remaining General Debate schedule for September 24–28 still listed as forthcoming, more world leaders are expected to be added to the programme as the session progresses.

For New York, the first day of the 81st General Assembly marks the beginning of one of the world’s largest annual gatherings of political leaders—a week in which national positions are presented publicly while intensive diplomacy takes place alongside the speeches.

Written & Research by Irfan Tariq