2026 United Nations Secretary-General selection

2026 United Nations Secretary-General selection
2026
Incumbent Secretary-General

António Guterres


A United Nations Secretary-General selection is currently being held to choose the next Secretary-General of the United Nations. The incumbent Secretary-General is António Guterres of Portugal, whose term ends on 31 December 2026.[1]

Campaign

On January 16, Annalena Baerbock, President of the United Nations General Assembly, publicly called on more candidates to enter the race.[2]

Candidates

Registered candidates

The selection process formally began on 25 November 2025. To date, two candidates have been formally nominated. [3]

Photo Candidate Nominator Nominated Regional Group Prior experience Citations
Michelle Bachelet Chile Brazil[a] Mexico[a] 2 February 2026 Latin American and Caribbean Group President of Chile (2006–2010, 2014–2018)
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (2018–2022)		 [4][5][6]
Rafael Grossi Argentina 22 December 2025 Latin American and Caribbean Group Argentine Ambassador to Austria (2013–2019)
Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (2019–present)		 [7][5][6][8][9][10]

Expressed interest but no formal candidacy filed

Photo Candidate Country Announced Regional Group Prior experience Citations
Ivonne Baki Ecuador 11 January 2026 Latin American and Caribbean Group Ecuadorian Ambassador to France (2024)
Ecuadorian Ambassador to the United States (2020–2024)		 [11]
Colombe Cahen-Salvador France 31 March 2024 Western European and Others Group Co-Founder of Atlas Movement [12]
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)		 [5][13][14]
Bruno Donat Mauritius 22 June 2025 African Group Head of the Geneva Office of the United Nations Mine Action Service (2019–2025) [15][16]
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)		 [17][7][5][18][19]

Speculated

Photo Candidate Country Regional Group Prior experience Citations
Jacinda Ardern New Zealand Western European and Others Group Prime Minister of New Zealand (2017–2023) [5]
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) 		[20][7][5]
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)		 [21][7][5][6]
Kristalina Georgieva Bulgaria Eastern European Group Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (2019–present) [5]
Vuk Jeremić Serbia Eastern European Group Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs (2007–2012)
President of the United Nations General Assembly (2012–2013)		 [5]
Amina J. Mohammed Nigeria
United Kingdom[b]		 African Group
Western European and Others Group		 Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations (2017–present) [22][5]
Mia Mottley Barbados Latin American and Caribbean Group Prime Minister of Barbados (2018–present) [7][23][5][6]
Kevin Rudd Australia Western European and Others Group Prime Minister of Australia (2007–2010)
Foreign Minister (2010–2012)
Australian Ambassador to the United States (2023–present)		 [24]
Achim Steiner Brazil
Germany[b]		 Latin American and Caribbean Group
Western European and Others Group		 Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (2017–present) [5]

Declined

Endorsements

Michelle Bachelet
Nations
Ivonne Baki
Nations
Rafael Grossi
Nations

Notes

  1. ^ a b This person was nominated by multiple countries.
  2. ^ a b 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 Banjo, Damilola (2026-01-14). "Where Are the Candidates? UN General Assembly Chief Calls for More People to Enter Secretary-General Race". passblue.com. Retrieved 2026-02-16.
  3. ^ "Selection and appointment of the next Secretary-General". United Nations.
  4. ^ Dodds, Felix; Spence, Chris (2024-04-22). "Africa: Who Should Be the Next UN Leader? - Part 6". Inter Press Service. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Rumoured potential candidates". 1 for 8 Billion. Retrieved 2025-04-28.
  6. ^ a b c d e La Nación. "Un candidato argentino para presidir la ONU". Inter Press Service (in Spanish).
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ Al Jazeera English (2025-09-22). IAEA chief Rafael Grossi looking to become the next UN Secretary General. Retrieved 2025-11-19 – via YouTube.
  9. ^ a b Piqué, Elisabetta. "Italia respalda la candidatura de Rafael Grossi como secretario general de la ONU". La Nación (in Spanish).
  10. ^ a b "El Gobierno presentó formalmente la candidatura de Rafael Grossi para conducir la ONU". Infobae (in Spanish).
  11. ^ a b "Líbano oficializa candidatura de Ivonne Baki para la Secretaría General de la ONU". El Universo (in Spanish).
  12. ^ "Një OKB për 'mbijetesën' e njerëzimit – aktivistja Cahen-Salvador shpall kandidaturën për Sekretare të Përgjithshme | Albanian Post" [A UN for the 'survival' of humanity – activist Cahen-Salvador announces candidacy for Secretary-General | Albanian Post.]. albanianpost.com (in Albanian). Retrieved 2026-01-07.
  13. ^ Dávalos, Gabriela Keseberg; Donaldson, Ben (2025-05-08). "Bolivia Jumps the Gun With Early Candidate for UN Secretary-General". PassBlue. Retrieved 2025-06-09.
  14. ^ "Bolivian VP nominated for UN top position". MercoPress. Retrieved 2025-06-09.
  15. ^ 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/
  16. ^ Ginzo, Julián (2025-10-19). "Planning a UN Revolution - THEY SAID SO". Retrieved 2025-11-05.
  17. ^ Dodds, Felix; Spence, Chris (2024-04-22). "Africa: Who Should Lead the United Nations? - Part 5". Inter Press Service. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
  18. ^ Franco, Juan David Mosos (2025-10-08). "Costa Rica propone a Rebeca Grynspan para secretaria general de la ONU - EFE". EFE Noticias (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-10-08.
  19. ^ "Le Costa Rica propose Rebeca Grynspan pour succéder à Antonio Guterres à l'ONU". RFI (in French). 2025-10-08. Retrieved 2025-10-08.
  20. ^ Dodds, Felix; Spence, Chris (2024-04-22). "Africa: Who Should be the Next UN Leader? - PART 3". Inter Press Service. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
  21. ^ Dodds, Felix; Spence, Chris (2024-04-22). "Africa: Who Should be the Next UN Leader? - PART 4". Inter Press Service. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
  22. ^ Dodds, Felix; Spence, Chris (2024-04-22). "Africa: Who Should Be the Next UN Leader? - Part 1". Inter Press Service. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
  23. ^ Dodds, Felix; Spence, Chris (2024-04-22). "Africa: Who Should be the Next UN Leader? - PART 2". Inter Press Service. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
  24. ^ Knott, Matthew (27 January 2026). "Kevin Rudd tried before for the UN's top job. Two obstacles stand in the way of another go". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 27 January 2026. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  25. ^ "Con el respaldo de Brasil y México: Presidente Boric inscribió candidatura de Michelle Bachelet a la ONU". 24horas (in Spanish).
  26. ^ Lula da Silva [@LulaOficial] (February 2, 2026). "É com muita honra que o Brasil apoia a candidatura de @mbachelet à Secretária-Geral da ONU. Em oito décadas de história, é hora de a organização finalmente ser comandada por uma mulher" (Tweet) (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retweeted by Gabriel Boric – via Twitter.
  27. ^ "México, Brasil y Chile oficializan la candidatura de Michelle Bachelet para la Secretaría General de la Organización de las Naciones Unidas". Gobierno de México (in Spanish).
  28. ^ "Paraguay expresó su apoyo a la candidatura de Grossi para la ONU". La Nación (in Spanish).
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