About the UN
Celebrating its 80th anniversary in 2025 and established at the United Nations Conference on International Organisations (also known as the San Francisco Conference) held from 25 April – 26 June 1945 in San Francisco, California, the United Nations is an international intergovernmental organisation designed to maintain international peace and security and be a place for nations to come together to discuss and solve problems.
80th anniversary events
To commemorate the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, multiple events, exhibits, and gatherings were organised, including five main events:
- Charter Day on 26 June
- A commemoration to the UN on 19 September
- A high-level commemoration meeting on 22 September
- United Nations Day on 24 October
- The UN at Expo 2025
Anniversary themes
A common theme expressed at the various events prepared for the 80th anniversary is ‘unity’. It can be seen in the Shared Lives, Shared Future exhibit, the UN Pavilion in Osaka, which focuses on the theme of ‘United for a Better Future’, and in UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ speech on 22 September, where he reiterated the importance of multilateral cooperation and wisely said “the only way forward is together”.
Charter Day: 26 June 2025
The day started with UN diplomats in Manhattan jogging a route in the shape of ‘UN@80’, followed by a program of events that included remarks from senior UN representatives, a musical performance, and a plenary meeting of the General Assembly where delegations and member states were invited to deliver statements.
The speeches presented during the opening segment included then President of the General Assembly, Philémon Yang, who emphasised the importance of choosing “dialogue and diplomacy instead of destructive war”, a reminder that the UN Charter is “the bedrock of international relations” from Secretary-General António Guterres, and a “call to action” from then President of the United Nations Security Council, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, to “recommit ourselves to the principles and purposes of the Charter”.
Commemorating a living legacy: 19 September
On 19 September, the Office of the Secretary-General hosted an evening celebration that brought together representatives from UN member states and UN staff, as well as philanthropic partners, academics, non-governmental organisations, and members of civil society for an event that included a short film, a live musical performance, and closing remarks from several UN members.
High-level anniversary meeting: 22 September
A one-hour high-level meeting of the General Assembly reflecting on the UN’s past achievements and future multilateral aspirations was held, with remarks offered by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, where he reiterated the UN’s mission statement, reminded attendees of the risks and consequences of a world without multilateral institutions, and then provided a call to action to reinforce the work done by the UN.
United Nations Day: 24 October
To celebrate the anniversary of the UN Charter going into force, W.H. Auden’s Hymn to the United Nations was posted on the UN’s website and Secretary-General António Guterres delivered a message reiterating the importance of the UN and the work it conducts.
Expo 2025
As part of its eighty-year anniversary, the UN promoted its involvement with Expo 2025, which was held in Osaka, Japan from April to October 2025, where the UN Pavilion promoted the theme of ‘United for a Better Future’.
80th Anniversary exhibits
In support of the five main events, three installations and exhibits were prepared:
- Shared Lives, Shared Future
- Reviving the Spirit of San Francisco
- 80 Multilateral Agreements that Shaped Our World
Shared Lives, Shared Futures
Shared Lives, Shared Futures presents the stories of over 200 lives around the world that in some way or another were positively affected by the UN. Selections from this exhibit are on display at UN headquarters in New York City and Geneva, as well as at assorted UN Information Centres globally including Nairobi, Canberra, Warsaw, Dushanbe, and many other cities. The exhibit is also slowly being uploaded online, with the last of the stories expected to be uploaded by December 2025.
The Spirit of San Francisco
On display at the UN headquarters in New York City, Reviving the Spirit of San Francisco is an audio-visual exhibit that displays images and videos from the 1945 San Francisco Conference, and features the original UN Charter as well, which is on loan from the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration.
A history of multilateral agreements
An exhibit on 80 multilateral agreements that shaped our world was put on display at the Dag Hammarskjöld Library at the UN headquarters in New York City. The installation includes the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 2015 Paris Agreement, among other notable documents.
Key takeaways
Everyone has in some way been positively affected by the UN, and that global connection is at the heart of the UN’s 80th anniversary. The world is increasingly polarised, and the United Nations made it repeatedly clear during its anniversary celebrations that to preserve and build upon the legacy established 80 years ago and tackle both current and future challenges, we must continue working together in the spirit of multilateral cooperation. The only way forward is together.
