On 22–23 June 2026, the United Nations General Assembly will hold a High-Level Meeting on HIV and AIDS in New York. The event will be one of the key political moments for the global HIV response, as it will provide a platform for countries to assess progress, discuss remaining gaps and agree on new commitments for the period beyond 2025.
High-Level Meetings on HIV and AIDS have been held every five years since 2001 and remain an important mechanism for international accountability. They make it possible not only to review progress towards previous targets, but also to secure political decisions that influence national strategies, funding, access to prevention, treatment, care and support, as well as the protection of the rights of people affected by HIV.
The 2026 meeting is particularly important because it is expected to lead to the negotiation and consideration of a new UN Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS. This document will help define the direction of the global response for the coming years and is expected to include new targets for 2030. Through such political commitments, governments reaffirm their readiness to continue working towards ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
UNAIDS emphasises that the meeting is taking place at a time when progress remains both significant and fragile. Over recent decades, the world has achieved major gains in expanding access to treatment, prevention and support. However, this progress has not been equal everywhere, and in some countries and regions it is under threat due to shrinking funding, political instability, pressure on multilateral cooperation, stigma, discrimination and persistent barriers faced by communities with limited access to services.
In this context, the new Political Declaration should not be a formal document only, but a practical tool for sustaining and strengthening the HIV response. The ambition and specificity of its provisions will influence countries’ ability to keep HIV on the political agenda, ensure sustainable financing and expand access to modern prevention and treatment options.
The participation of civil society, communities and other stakeholders is an important part of the preparation process. Through multistakeholder consultations, they will be able to highlight priorities that should be reflected in the future declaration. This is especially important to ensure that the document takes into account not only global indicators, but also people’s real needs: access to services, protection of rights, reduction of stigma, support for community-led organisations and the sustainability of programmes in a changing donor landscape.
The 2026 High-Level Meeting will be a test of whether the international community is ready not only to reaffirm previous commitments, but also to adapt the HIV response to new challenges. In a time of global uncertainty, shrinking resources and, at the same time, new opportunities in prevention and treatment, political leadership is becoming critically important.