Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal will lead a Nepali delegation to New York on 20 September 2026 Sunday to attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Khanal's advance departure sets up a two-stage Nepali presence at this year's General Assembly, with Prime Minister Balendra "Balen" Shah following separately just two days later, leading a full 14-member delegation for the high-level session itself.
During the General Assembly's high-level segment, Khanal is scheduled to take part in various high-level meetings, side events, and ministerial-level gatherings. He also has bilateral meetings planned with his counterparts and other prominent global figures, according to the Foreign Ministry.
Nepal's presence at this year's Assembly carries added weight given the country's recent disaster response needs and its ongoing efforts to rebuild diplomatic relationships after last year's sweeping ambassadorial recalls making Khanal and Shah's engagements at the UN a chance to reset and reinforce those ties on a global stage.
