28 May 2026, New York, USA - The World Cup Diplomacy Summit 2026 will bring together diplomats, policymakers, sports stakeholders and experts at United Nations Headquarters in New York to explore the role of sport in advancing diplomacy, sustainable development and international cooperation ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026™.

UNITAR and Gulf Colleges have launched a new hybrid Master’s Degree in Strategic Leadership and Artificial Intelligence to equip future leaders with strategic, ethical and practical AI capabilities in global governance and decision-making.

8 May 2026, Geneva, Switzerland - The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) issued the 2025 Results Report. The report highlights the progress, partnerships and impact achieved throughout the year. Amid rising expectations for a more agile and impactful United Nations, UNITAR continued to strengthen capacities across Member States and among diverse stakeholders worldwide while advancing important institutional milestones, including the adoption of UNITAR’s new four-year Strategic Framework.

6 April 2026, New York, USA - On 30 March 2026, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research, in collaboration with the Permanent Mission of Singapore to the United Nations, convened a timely hybrid briefing for delegates on Multilateralism in Practice. Held in person at UN Headquarters and livestreamed via UN WebTV, the session brought together approximately 480 participants across both in-person and virtual audiences.

The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), in partnership with the University of Gloucestershire, has launched a new online part-time MSc in Sustainable Global Futures aimed at strengthening professionals’ capacities to address complex global sustainability challenges.

The programme focuses on developing interdisciplinary skills aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including policy analysis, strategic foresight, data-informed decision-making and multi-stakeholder collaboration. It combines academic research with practical insights from United Nations practitioners in areas such as climate action, global health, gender equality and energy policy.

Designed for working professionals, the course offers flexible learning and culminates in an applied final project addressing sustainability priorities at local, national or global levels. The initiative reflects UNITAR’s broader commitment to capacity-building and multilateral cooperation in support of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The strengthened collaboration underscores a shared commitment to equipping young leaders with the competencies required to engage effectively in multilateral processes.

24 February 2026, Geneva, Switzerland - UNITAR, in partnership with the United Nations Offices at Geneva, Vienna and Nairobi, successfully delivered the online course “Working in a Multilingual Environment” in all six official UN languages. The self-paced course, held in March and September 2025, recorded 2,650 enrolments and over 800 certified participants, strengthening effective multilingual communication across the UN system.

Applications are closing soon for the March 2026 cohort of the Lifelong Learning Master’s Degree in International Affairs and Diplomacy, jointly offered by UNITAR and UOC. Delivered fully online, the programme combines academic rigor and practical expertise to prepare professionals for leadership roles in international affairs.

UNITAR successfully delivered the inaugural public edition of its Executive Diploma in Sports Diplomacy in Geneva from 26 to 30 January 2026. Bringing together participants from over 10 countries, the programme explored how sport can serve as a platform for diplomacy, peacebuilding and sustainable development. Through expert-led workshops, high-level discussions and on-site visits, participants gained practical tools to leverage sport as an instrument of international cooperation.

11 December 2025, Geneva, Switzerland — The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), in partnership with the Global Digital Economy Cities Alliance (DEC40), will launch the International Digital Economy Governance and Leadership Capacity Building Programme in January 2026 in Beijing. The initiative combines online learning and onsite training to equip senior officials and industry leaders with advanced competencies in digital governance, smart-city transformation, and emerging technologies. All travel and accommodation costs will be fully covered by the programme’s donor.