The United Nations has officially launched its search for the next Secretary-General, with the selection process set to culminate in the appointment of a new global leader by January 1, 2027. The announcement, made jointly by UN General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock and Security Council President Michael Imran Kanu on November 25, 2025, emphasizes the need for a candidate capable of steering the organization through an era of unprecedented geopolitical and socioeconomic challenges.
Key priorities outlined in the selection criteria include multilingual communication skills, proven leadership in multilateral diplomacy, and a commitment to transparency. For the first time in UN history, member states are being urged to prioritize gender equality by nominating female candidates, addressing the organization’s 80-year gender gap in its top position.
The revamped selection process introduces unprecedented transparency measures, requiring candidates to publish vision statements and disclose campaign funding sources. A public roster of nominees will be maintained throughout 2026, with livestreamed dialogues allowing global citizens to assess contenders’ positions on critical issues ranging from climate action to conflict resolution.
Current Secretary-General António Guterres, who has held the position since 2017, will conclude his tenure as the UN faces mounting pressure to reform its peacekeeping operations and funding structures. Security Council members are expected to begin preliminary voting rounds in July 2026, with final recommendations to be presented to the General Assembly later that year.
