Process for new Secretary General in January 2027 has started

The United Nations is led by the Secretary-General. Currently, this role is held by António Guterres, with a new appointment expected in 2027.

The selection process is rigorous and held to high standards. The Secretary General must be focused on fostering dialogue among nations and advocating for vulnerable and marginalized communities worldwide.

This week, four candidates have reached the interactive dialogue stage. They present their vision and respond to questions from Member States and civil society. A unique and transparent process! 

Process 2025-2026

The process of appointing and selecting the next Secretary-General is based on General Assembly resolutions and will be guided by the principles of transparency and inclusivity.

On 5 September 2025 the General Assembly adopted resolution 79/327 on the Revitalization of the work of the General Assembly, which sets out the process for the selection and appointment in line with Article 97 of the Charter of the United Nations. Resolution 79/327 builds on previous related resolutions, which introduced significant improvements to the selection and appointment process of the Secretary-General.

Within the process:

• A joint letter of the President of the General Assembly and the President of the Security Council initiates the process.
• Candidates are nominated by a Member State or groups of Member States and provide a vision statement, curriculum vitae and campaign financing disclosures.
• The President of the General Assembly convenes webcast interactive dialogues with all candidates.
• The President of the General Assembly engages closely, in a transparent and inclusive manner, with Member States.

Candidates are:

• Michelle Bachelet Jeria, former president of Chile
• Macky Sall, former president of Senegal
• Rebeca Grynspan, former vice president of Costa Rica
• Rafael Mariano Grossi, leader of the International Atomic Energy Agency