UN Announces Growing Lineup for Digital Cooperation Day 2026 in New York
The United Nations is bringing together an expanding group of experts and decision-makers for Digital Cooperation Day 2026, an event that will examine how countries can work together to shape the next phase of artificial intelligence and digital development.
The event is scheduled for September 21, 2026, in New York City, during the High-Level Week of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Organized by the UN Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies, the gathering will focus on practical approaches to digital cooperation, with artificial intelligence at the center of discussions. The organizers say the event will bring together representatives from governments, industry, academia, civil society and the wider technology community.
A Diverse Group of Speakers
The UN’s official speaker page currently lists 12 speakers, with more expected to be added.
The announced participants include government and international-organization officials, technology executives, AI researchers, policy specialists and advocates working on child safety and data protection.
Among those listed are Guy Ryder, UN Under-Secretary-General for Policy; Natasha Crampton, Microsoft’s Vice President and Chief Responsible Artificial Intelligence Officer; Rebecca Finlay, CEO of Partnership on AI; and Leonardo Cervera Navas, Secretary-General of the European Data Protection Supervisor.
The lineup also includes experts from Egypt, Senegal, Spain and other parts of the global technology ecosystem, reflecting the event’s emphasis on international cooperation rather than a single-country approach to AI policy.
AI at the Center of the Discussion
This year’s Digital Cooperation Day is being held under the theme “Shaping a Global AI Future Through Science, Policy, and Capacity.”
The program is designed to examine the practical foundations needed for countries to benefit from artificial intelligence while addressing the risks and inequalities associated with rapid technological change.
The agenda includes discussions on national AI strategies, skills and education, disaster-risk reduction, AI governance, open-source AI and international cooperation.
One of the major sessions will explore how governments can translate national ambitions for artificial intelligence into workable strategies. Another will examine the role of education, skills and capacity-building in preparing societies for an AI-driven economy.
Closing the AI Divide
A major concern behind the event is the unequal ability of countries to develop and deploy advanced technologies.
Nations with limited digital infrastructure, investment, technical expertise or institutional capacity can struggle to keep pace with the rapid development of AI.
The UN’s program therefore places considerable emphasis on capacity building and practical cooperation.
The organization says the event will showcase country-led initiatives and examine lessons from real-world digital transformation efforts. The objective is to move beyond broad commitments and consider how international cooperation can translate into tangible outcomes.
Digital Governance and Public Trust
Artificial intelligence also raises difficult questions about regulation, accountability and public trust.
Digital Cooperation Day will address these issues through sessions focused on AI governance and cross-border cooperation.
The program includes a session examining how countries could co-design AI governance sandboxes and connect them internationally. Such approaches could allow policymakers and innovators to test regulatory ideas while learning from experiences in other jurisdictions.
Data protection is another important element of the discussion, particularly as AI systems increasingly depend on large quantities of information.
Protecting Children in the Digital Age
The speaker lineup also includes Megan Garcia, an artificial-intelligence litigation attorney and national child-safety advocate.
Her participation reflects the growing international focus on protecting children as digital technologies and AI systems become increasingly embedded in everyday life.
Questions surrounding children’s privacy, online safety, digital wellbeing and exposure to emerging technologies are becoming increasingly important for policymakers and technology companies.
Open-Source AI and International Cooperation
Another part of the program will focus on open-source artificial intelligence.
Open technologies can potentially help countries and organizations gain access to AI capabilities without relying entirely on a small number of technology providers.
However, open AI also creates questions surrounding safety, governance, technical capacity and responsible deployment.
The UN’s agenda will examine practical applications and strategies for international cooperation in this area.
The Event Comes During UN General Assembly High-Level Week
Digital Cooperation Day is taking place during the High-Level Week of the UN General Assembly, placing digital policy discussions alongside a much broader international agenda.
The event will be held at 605 3rd Avenue in New York City, outside the UN Headquarters. The official schedule currently runs from the morning through the afternoon, followed by a reception. Certain sessions will also be available through live broadcast.
Attendance is invitation-only, according to the UN’s official FAQ, and there is no registration fee for approved participants.
Why the Meeting Matters
Artificial intelligence is developing at a speed that is challenging governments to update policies, education systems, infrastructure and regulatory frameworks.
The UN’s Digital Cooperation Day provides a forum for countries and other stakeholders to discuss how they can respond collectively.
Rather than treating AI solely as a technological issue, the 2026 program connects it with education, economic opportunity, disaster preparedness, governance, data protection and international cooperation.
That broader approach reflects the growing understanding that the future impact of AI will depend not only on how powerful the technology becomes, but also on whether countries have the capacity and institutions needed to use it responsibly.
With more speakers still being added, the event’s final lineup is expected to offer an even wider range of perspectives.
For the United Nations, the September gathering represents another step toward building a more coordinated international approach to digital transformation—one that seeks to ensure that advances in artificial intelligence are accompanied by stronger cooperation, greater capacity and safeguards for people and communities.
Key Details
- Event: UN Digital Cooperation Day 2026
- Date: September 21, 2026
- Location: New York City
- Venue: 605 3rd Avenue
- Organizer: UN Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies
- Theme: Shaping a Global AI Future Through Science, Policy, and Capacity
- Focus: AI strategy, education, capacity building, governance, open-source AI, digital cooperation and data protection
- Speakers announced: 12 at the time of publication, with more being added
