2026 United Nations Secretary-General selection

2026 United Nations Secretary-General selection
2026
Secretary General before election

António Guterres

 Elected Secretary General

TBD

A United Nations Secretary-General selection is expected to be held in 2026 to choose the Secretary-General of the United Nations. The current United Nations Secretary General is António Guterres, whose term ends on 31 December 2026.[1]

Candidates

Declared to be nominated

Candidates cannot be formally nominated until the race begins.[2]

Photo Candidate Nominator Nominated Regional Group Prior experience Citations
David Choquehuanca Bolivia 25 April 2025 Latin American and Caribbean Group Foreign Minister of Bolivia (2016–2017)
Secretary General of ALBA (2017–2019)
Vice President of Bolivia (2020–2025)		 [3][2][4]
Michelle Bachelet Chile 23 September 2025 Latin American and Caribbean Group President of Chile (2006–2010, 2014–2018)
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (2018–2022)		 [5][3][6]
Rebeca Grynspan Costa Rica 8 October 2025 Latin American and Caribbean Group Second Vice President of Costa Rica (1994–1998)
Secretary-General of the Ibero-American General Secretariat (2014–2021)
Secretary-General of UNCTAD (2021–present)		 [7][8][3][9][10]

Running

Photo Candidate Country Announced Regional Group Prior experience Citations
Bruno Donat Mauritius 22 June 2025 African Group Head of the Geneva Office of the United Nations Mine Action Service (2019–2025) [11][12]
Rafael Grossi Argentina
Italy[a]		 22 September 2025 Latin American and Caribbean Group
Western European and Others Group		 Argentine Ambassador to Austria (2013–2019)
Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (2019–present)		 [8][3][6][13][14]

Speculative

Photo Candidate Country Regional Group Prior experience Citations
Jacinda Ardern New Zealand Western European and Others Group Prime Minister of New Zealand (2017–2023) [3]
Alicia Bárcena Mexico Latin American and Caribbean Group Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (2008–2022)
Mexican Secretary of Foreign Affairs (2023–2024)
Mexican Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources (2024–present) 		[15][8][3]
María Fernanda Espinosa Ecuador Latin American and Caribbean Group Ecuadorian Minister of Foreign Affairs (2007; 2017–2018)
Ecuadorian Minister of National Defense (2012–2014)
President of the United Nations General Assembly (2018–2019)		 [16][8][3][6]
Kristalina Georgieva Bulgaria Eastern European Group Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (2019–present) [3]
Vuk Jeremić Serbia Eastern European Group Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs (2007–2012)
President of the United Nations General Assembly (2012–2013)		 [3]
Amina J. Mohammed Nigeria
United Kingdom[a]		 African Group
Western European and Others Group		 Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations (2017–present) [17][3]
Mia Mottley Barbados Latin American and Caribbean Group Prime Minister of Barbados (2018–present) [8][18][3][6]
Achim Steiner Brazil
Germany[a]		 Latin American and Caribbean Group
Western European and Others Group		 Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (2017–present) [3]

Declined

Notes

  1. ^ a b c This person holds multiple citizenship.

References

  1. ^ Samarasinghe, Natalie (2021-06-16). "Opinion: The road to the 2026 UN secretary-general race begins now". Devex. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
  2. ^ a b Dávalos, Gabriela Keseberg; Donaldson, Ben (2025-05-08). "Bolivia Jumps the Gun With Early Candidate for UN Secretary-General". PassBlue. Retrieved 2025-06-09.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Rumoured potential candidates". 1 for 8 Billion. Retrieved 2025-04-28.
  4. ^ "Bolivian VP nominated for UN top position". MercoPress. Retrieved 2025-06-09.
  5. ^ Dodds, Felix; Spence, Chris (2024-04-22). "Africa: Who Should Be the Next UN Leader? - Part 6". Inter Press Service. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
  6. ^ a b c d e LA NACIÓN. "Un candidato argentino para presidir la ONU". Inter Press Service (in Spanish).
  7. ^ Dodds, Felix; Spence, Chris (2024-04-22). "Africa: Who Should Lead the United Nations? - Part 5". Inter Press Service. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
  8. ^ a b c d e f Fillion, Stephanie (2023-09-29). "Analysis: Who could lead the United Nations next? This Caribbean climate leader makes diplomats 'jump' with excitement". CNN. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
  9. ^ Franco, Juan David Mosos (2025-10-08). "Costa Rica propone a Rebeca Grynspan para secretaria general de la ONU - EFE". EFE Noticias (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2025-10-08.
  10. ^ "Le Costa Rica propose Rebeca Grynspan pour succéder à Antonio Guterres à l'ONU". RFI (in French). 2025-10-08. Retrieved 2025-10-08.
  11. ^ CBS 42. (2025, June 22). Global Candidate Bruno Donat runs for UN Secretary-General: Official conducted hunger strike for Gaza children. https://www.cbs42.com/business/press-releases/ein-presswire/822318552/global-candidate-bruno-donat-runs-for-un-secretary-general-official-conducted-hunger-strike-for-gaza-children/
  12. ^ Ginzo, Julián (2025-10-19). "Planning a UN Revolution - THEY SAID SO". Retrieved 2025-11-05.
  13. ^ Al Jazeera English (2025-09-22). IAEA chief Rafael Grossi looking to become the next UN Secretary General. Retrieved 2025-11-19 – via YouTube.
  14. ^ Piqué, Elisabetta. "Italia respalda la candidatura de Rafael Grossi como secretario general de la ONU". LA NACIÓN (in Spanish).
  15. ^ Dodds, Felix; Spence, Chris (2024-04-22). "Africa: Who Should be the Next UN Leader? - PART 3". Inter Press Service. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
  16. ^ Dodds, Felix; Spence, Chris (2024-04-22). "Africa: Who Should be the Next UN Leader? - PART 4". Inter Press Service. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
  17. ^ Dodds, Felix; Spence, Chris (2024-04-22). "Africa: Who Should Be the Next UN Leader? - Part 1". Inter Press Service. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
  18. ^ Dodds, Felix; Spence, Chris (2024-04-22). "Africa: Who Should be the Next UN Leader? - PART 2". Inter Press Service. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
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