UN General Assembly High-level Week 2026 is bringing world leaders together in New York from 18 to 28 September, as the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly seeks to revitalize global cooperation and give a critical push to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Water and sanitation will be discussed in a range of meetings convened by UN organizations and Member States, providing important opportunities to collaborate and build momentum ahead of the 2026 UN Climate Summit (COP31) in November and the 2026 UN Water Conference in December:
Corporate Water Stewardship Half Day
21 September 2026 | 9:30 AM–12:00 PM | SAP America Inc., 10 Hudson Yards, New York
Convened by the CEO Water Mandate alongside New York Climate Week, the event will focus on collective private-sector action on water, including Positive Water Impact, water value chains, nature-based solutions, basin-level collaboration and business alignment ahead of the 2026 UN Water Conference. Find out more.
Water for Planet: From the 2026 UN Water Conference to 2028
21 September 2026 | 11:00 AM–1:00 PM | Conference Room 7, UN Headquarters
Co-organized by the High-level Experts and Leaders Panel on Water and Disasters (HELP), the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) and partner Member States, the event focuses on integrated action across water, climate, biodiversity, source-to-sea, resilience and disaster risk reduction. Find out more.
International High-Level Panel on Water Investments for Africa and Global Cooperation Leaders Event: Mobilising Commitments towards the UN 2026 Water Conference
21 September 2026 | 1:00–2:30 PM | Permanent Observer Mission of the African Union to the United Nations, New York
Co-organized by the Global Water Partnership Organisation (GWPO) at the request of Namibia, and convened by Namibia in collaboration with Senegal, South Africa and the African Union Commission, the event will mobilize commitments towards the 2026 UN Water Conference and advance water investment in Africa. Find out more.
From Response to Resilience: Transforming Investments for Water in Fragile & Humanitarian Settings
21 September 2026 | 4:00–5:30 PM | UAE Permanent Mission, New York
Organized by the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, the roundtable will explore financing, capacity, technology, innovation, locally led action and nature-based solutions for resilient water systems in fragile and humanitarian settings.
Toward the 2026 UN Water Conference: Consultation on Advancing AI-Powered Hydrology for Water Resilience
23 September 2026 | 4:30–6:00 PM | UAE Permanent Mission, New York
Led by the International Affairs Office of the UAE Presidential Court, the consultation will explore how artificial intelligence can support water management and climate resilience, including through the MaiWater AI initiative and its AI-augmented hydrological model. RSVP here.
Water as a Strategic Imperative: From Global Challenges to Collective Action
24 September 2026 | 3:30–5:00 PM | ECOSOC Chamber, UN Headquarters
Organized by Senegal and the United Arab Emirates, co-hosts of the 2026 UN Water Conference, the event will bring together senior leaders to explore how water can be elevated as a strategic priority linked to peace, resilience, prosperity, food and energy security, and sustainable development. RSVP here.
The UAE Water Academic Carnival: Showcasing Challenges and Solutions
25 September 2026 | 1:00–3:00 PM | UAE Mission to the UN, New York
A national academic initiative under the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the event will bring together academia, research and policy to showcase innovative water solutions aligned with SDG 6 and preparations for the 2026 UN Water Conference. View the agenda and RSVP here.