UNESCO: Global Forum On The Ethics Of AI 2026
Echoing our contributing lead author role for the UNESCO Science Report and previous contributions to UNESCO's ethics frameworks, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia will host the Forum from 14 to 17 September 2026, convening 194 invited Member States, over 1,200 participants, and more than 100 speakers across 30-plus sessions. It aims to advance implementation of the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence through high-level dialogue, knowledge exchange and international cooperation on AI governance.
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4th Global Forum On The Ethics Of AI 2026
Launched in Prague, Czech Republic in December 2022 under the theme "Ensuring Inclusion in the AI World," the Global Forum was UNESCO's first dedicated platform for translating its newly adopted 2021 Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence into practical governance. The second edition was held in Kranj, Slovenia in February 2024 under the theme "Changing the Landscape of AI Governance." It marked the launch of the Global AI Ethics and Governance Observatory, developed with the Alan Turing Institute and ITU, alongside the newly established Women 4 Ethical AI platform. The third edition was hosted by Thailand in Bangkok in June 2025, the first Global Forum held in Asia, under the theme "Ethical Governance of AI in Motion." It reported that more than 75 UNESCO Member States had by then engaged with the Recommendation through its Readiness Assessment Methodology, with co-funding support from the European Union since 2024. Each edition has brought together governments, international organizations, academia, industry, and civil society to exchange knowledge and regulatory experience across regions, with the explicit aim of fostering inclusive AI development.
Continuing that trajectory into its fourth edition, the 2026 Forum is co-hosted by UNESCO and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by the Saudi Data & AI Authority (SDAIA) and the International Centre for AI Research and Ethics (ICAIRE). The Riyadh programme is structured around seven high-level ministerial dialogues and plenaries, alongside a closed-door Scientific Briefing and Ministerial Meeting. It also features 21 expert panels and two side events, including awards, capacity-building sessions, and partnership launches. The plenary programme opens with remarks from UNESCO Deputy Director-General Åsa Regnér. It is followed by sessions marking five years of the Recommendation, regional cooperation across the Gulf, Africa, and Latin America, and dedicated dialogues on financing and partnerships for ethical AI governance. Ministers and senior officials from dozens of countries will take part, alongside representatives from ITU, ESCWA, ICESCO, and the Digital Cooperation Organization. The Forum coincides with Saudi Arabia's designation of 2026 as its Year of Artificial Intelligence, positioning Riyadh as a growing convening point for global AI ethics governance following the earlier Global AI Summit and LEAP editions hosted in the Kingdom.
References
¹ UNESCO. "4th Global Forum on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence." UNESCO. Riyadh. September 14–17, 2026.
² UNESCO. "4th Global Forum on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence." News Article. UNESCO. 2026.
³ Global Forum on the Ethics of AI (GFEAI), International Centre for AI Research and Ethics (ICAIRE). "GFEAI 2026." Riyadh. 2026.
⁴ International Research Centre on Artificial Intelligence (IRCAI). "Global Forum on the Ethics of AI (GFEAI) 2026." IRCAI. 2026.
⁵ UNESCO. "Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence." United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Paris. November 2021.