HLPF 2026: Recommended Events

The following is a curated list of High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development 2026 side events and parallel events that are recommended by JCoR and our Religious community at the United Nations in New York. Please check back as this page will continue to be updated as the HLPF approaches.

 

Welcome Gathering for Delegates of Religious NGOs to the 2026 HLPF 7 July 2026, 1:00pm-4:00pm (New York time)

In-person event held at the Salvation Army (221 E. 52nd Street, New York, NY  10022)
Sponsor: Justice Coalition of Religious
Description: JCoR is offering an in-person welcome gathering for the 2026 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. This event will be held for delegates of NGOs representing Catholic Sisters, Brothers, or priests at the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF). The gathering will serve as an opportunity to meet other delegates, to pray and reflect on hopes and intentions for engagement with the HLPF process, and to ask questions about how to participate.

Youth Voices for a Sustainable Future: Experiences, Perspectives, and Recommendations on SDGs 6, 7, 9, 11, and 17
8 July 2026, 8:30am-10:00am (New York time)

Virtual event held via Zoom
 
***Interpretation provided in English and Spanish***
 
Sponsor: Justice Coalition of Religious, Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Loreto Generalate, VIVAT International, Maryknoll Sisters of St. Dominic, Dominican Leadership Conference, Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd, Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, The Mary Ward Centre – Toronto, The Grail
 
Description: With 2030 just four years away, the world is at a critical moment in delivering on the SDGs The 2026 HLPF focuses on five goals that are interconnected and foundational to the wellbeing of current and future generations — clean water, affordable energy, resilient infrastructure, inclusive cities, and enhanced through global partnerships.
Progress on these goals remains uneven, and in some cases, there is regression. Young people (aged 10 to 24 years) number 1.8 billion today, and this generation is disproportionately affected by the consequences of slow or insufficient action. Youth in low- and middle-income countries face daily realities of water insecurity, energy poverty, and exclusion from the digital economy. Young residents of rapidly urbanizing cities grapple with inadequate and unaffordable housing, infrastructure deficits, and climate vulnerability. At the same time, young people are among the most dynamic advocates, innovators, and implementers driving SDG progress in their communities.
This side event places young people at the center of the conversation as co-facilitators, panelists, and co-creators of actionable policy recommendations for the global community.
 
Concept note: Click on the following link to access the concept note in English
 
Flyer: Click on the following link to access the event flyer in English and Spanish
 

JCoR Reflection & Debriefing gatherings
8 July 2026, 5:00pm-6:00pm (New York time)
9 July 2026, 5:30pm-6:30pm (New York time)
13 July 2026, 6:00pm-7:00pm (New York time)
14 July 2026, 6:00pm-7:00pm (New York time)
15 July 2026, 5:00pm-6:00pm (New York time)

In-person events held in the JCoR office conference room
 
Sponsor: Justice Coalition of Religious
 
Description: Gather with other delegates from the JCoR community for one hour of facilitated reflection/debriefing on your experience at the HLPF. Share your thoughts, learnings, and ideas for follow-up action.
 
All delegates of NGOs representing Catholic Sisters, Brothers, or priests are welcome to attend these JCoR SDG reflection and debriefing sessions.

Thirst, Hygiene, and Dignity: The hidden face of homelessness under SDGs 6, 7, 9, 11, and 17
9 July 2026, 8:30am-10:00am (New York time)

Hybrid event held in-person at TBC and online via Zoom
 
Sponsor: Justice Coalition of Religious, NGO Working Group to End Homelessness, Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Loreto Generalate, Mary Ward Center – Toronto
 
Description: This side event brings together member states, UN system entities, civil society, and — critically — a person with lived experience of homelessness to interrogate what is working, what is failing, and what bold action is needed in the final years of the 2030 Agenda. As countries present progress at the High-Level Political Forum 2026, there is an urgent need to highlight homelessness as a cross-cutting development and human rights issue. Addressing it requires integrated, people centered, and partnership-driven approaches that bridge humanitarian response, development policy, and systemic change.
 
Concept note: Click on the following link to access the concept note in English
 
Flyer: Click on the following link to access the event flyer in English
 

Making Finance Work: Turning Challenges into Inclusive and Sustainable Outcomes for People and the Planet
9 July 2026, 8:30am-10:00am (New York time)

Virtual event held via Zoom
 
Sponsor: NGO Committee on Financing for Development
 
Description: Coming soon
 
Register to join via Zoom: coming soon

Communities of Hope: Advancing Human Dignity and Development for Sustainable Futures
10 July 2026 from 9:00am-10:30am (New York Time)

In-person event held at the 10th floor conference room of the Church Center for the United Nations (777 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017)
 
Sponsor: Justice Coalition of Religious, Proclade International, Religious of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Medical Mission Sisters,  Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, School Sisters of Notre Dame, and the  Dominican Leadership Conference
 
Description: This side event seeks to showcase how community-led initiatives contribute not only to the technical implementation of the SDGs, but also to the construction of more inclusive, humane, peaceful, and sustainable societies. It also aims to reflect on the ethical, cultural, and spiritual dimensions necessary for sustainable development processes.
 
Concept note: Click on the following link to access the concept note in English

Improving Access to Safe Water and Innovative Initiatives at the Grassroots 
13 July 2026 from 9:30am-10:45am (New York time)

Hybrid event held in-person at the Bahai office to the UN (866 United Nations Plaza) and online via Zoom
 
Sponsor: NGO Committee on Social Development, NGO Mining Working Group, Congregations of St Joseph, Daughters of Charity, Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, International Presentation Association, Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, Mercy International, Passionists International, LP4Y, International Association of Schools of Social Work
 
Description: This event will focus on community-level water projects. It will bring the voices of people from the grassroots to the HLPF and show how local groups have been able to improve access to clean water, address water scarcity and/or access to sanitation and hygiene. Based on the results of a widely-circulated survey, this side event will show how grassroots initiatives across the five continents are contributing to the implementation of SDG 6 and the human right to water. Speakers will include people from the grassroots and grassroots videos showing selected WASH projects in Asia, Africa and The Americas.
 
Concept note: Please click on the following link to access the concept note in English
 
Register to join via Zoom: coming soon

Sustainable Futures for All: Inspiration from Tough Old Broads (Film Screening)
Date/time TBC

Location TBC
 
Sponsor: Justice Coalition of Religious, NGO Committee on Social Development, Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Loreto Generalate, Loretto Community, Dominican Leadership Conference, Congregation of Notre Dame, International Longeivity Centre – Canada, 261 Fearless, The SustainabilityX Magazine, Be Embraced Foundation, AVON
 
Description: With four years remaining until the 2030 SDG deadline, the world needs more than data. It needs stories. It needs galvanized hope and rekindled commitment to achieve the SDGs, inspired through storytelling. Tough Old Broads is a reminder that change is possible. These women looked at systems that excluded them and said: We can do this. Let us look with renewed eyes at the SDG commitments and echo: We can do this.
 
Concept note: Click on the following link to access the concept note in English
 
Register to join via Zoom: 

JCoR SDG Lab at the 2026 HLPF 
27-31 July 2026 from 10:00am-12:00pm (New York time)

Virtual events (held via Zoom)
 
Sponsor: Justice Coalition of Religious
 
Description: The annual High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) will take place from 7-15 July this year. It functions as the central United Nations platform for the follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Each year, the forum focuses on a select few SDGs, and government leaders voluntarily report on their national progress toward achievement of these SDGs. The SDGs of focus this year are 6, 7, 9, 11, and 17.

In addition to reports from governments, the HLPF also includes events sponsored by civil society groups, to highlight their perspectives on implementation and progress toward the SDGs in their respective countries. JCoR will join the conversation by offering a series of virtual discussion, which we are calling the “JCoR SDG Lab.” This series will showcase Catholic Religious and their partners’ perspectives on progress and good practices towards sustainable development. It will be held from 27-31 July and include sessions dedicated to each of the aforementioned SDGs of focus for the 2026 HLPF. 

All are welcome to attend these JCoR SDG Lab sessions. Please see the details below, and register to join us for one or more of the sessions!

***Interpretation will be provided in English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish.***

27 July 2026: SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation
Register: Click here to register via Zoom 

28 July 2026: SDG 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy
Register: Click here to register via Zoom

29 July 2026: SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure 
Register: Click here to register via Zoom

30 July 2026: SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities
Register: Click here to register via Zoom

31 July 2026: SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals
Register: Click here to register via Zoom