The Secretariat of the United Nations Internet Governance Forum (IGF) has issued a call for session proposals for the 2026 IGF, inviting governments, civil society organizations, the private sector, the technical community, academia, and other stakeholders to help shape the agenda of this year’s global forum on Internet and digital policy issues.
The 2026 IGF will take place in Nairobi, Kenya, from December 14 to 18, 2026, in a hybrid format that will enable participation both in person and online.
According to the IGF Secretariat, stakeholders have until July 31, 2026, to submit proposals for sessions that will contribute to discussions on the future of the Internet and digital governance.
The Secretariat said this year’s Forum will explore the overarching theme of the evolving relationship between artificial intelligence, other forms of intelligence, the future of the Internet, and their governance.
It noted that proposals should examine these issues from a broad range of policy, technical, economic, and societal perspectives while encouraging inclusive, multistakeholder dialogue.
Stakeholders may submit proposals for a variety of session formats, including workshops, open forums, lightning talks, pre-events to be held on “Day Zero,” launches and awards sessions, and networking events.
The Secretariat urged prospective organisers to select and submit their session proposals in the session format that best aligns with their objectives, noting that workshops remain the principal substantive component of the IGF programme and will be competitively evaluated by the IGF’s Multistakeholder Advisory Group (MAG) because of limited programme space. But other session formats will be reviewed according to their respective selection criteria.
The MAG is a 40-member body established by the UN Secretary-General to advise on the programme and schedule of the IGF, and comprises representatives from governments, the private sector, civil society, technical community, and academia to ensure equal participation in global internet policy dialogue.
The Secretariat also emphasized that all session proposals, which are to be submitted through the online application platform, should demonstrate meaningful opportunities for interaction and accommodate both onsite and remote participants, reflecting the Forum’s commitment to inclusive hybrid participation. For workshop proposals, the quality of hybrid engagement will form part of the evaluation process.
Recognizing the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) in content creation, the Secretariat also issued guidance on the use of AI in preparing submissions, saying AI tools may be used to assist with drafting or improving language, but proposals must reflect the organizers’ own ideas, expertise, and policy questions.
The Secretariat added that although AI-assisted tools may support the administration of the call, responsibility for evaluating workshop proposals will remain exclusively with the MAG.
The IGF Secretariat noted that English remains the working language for session proposals and explained that sessions involving onsite and online speakers must include at least three speakers physically present in Nairobi, including the onsite moderator, to ensure effective interaction between in-person and remote participants.
The annual IGF serves as the UN’s principal multistakeholder platform for dialogue on public policy issues related to the Internet and brings together governments, international organizations, businesses, civil society, the technical community, and academia to exchange ideas, share experiences, and identify solutions to emerging digital governance challenges.
Although the Forum does not negotiate binding agreements, it plays an influential role in shaping international discussions on Internet and digital policy.
The launch of the call for session proposals coincides with the opening of separate calls for applications for IGF Village booths and remote hubs, all of which share the same submission deadline of July 31.
The Secretariat is encouraging stakeholders from all regions and sectors to participate actively in shaping the programme for the Nairobi meeting and contributing to global conversations on the governance of the digital future.
The 2026 IGF will build on two decades of the Forum’s work in promoting inclusive dialogue on Internet and digital governance. Organisers expect this year’s discussions to place particular emphasis on AI governance, digital inclusion, trust, innovation, and the future evolution of the global Internet.
