Past sessions
Regular sessions
The General Assembly’s regular session begins each year on a Tuesday, on the third week of September, counting from the first week that contains at least one working day. See the opening dates of the 71st to 80th regular sessions of the General Assembly and of the general debate
The General Assembly meets annually in regular session, intensively from September to December, and resumes in January until all issues on the agenda are addressed – which often is just before the next session starts.
Since the 60th session in 2005, the President-elect of the General Assembly suggests a theme of global concern for the upcoming general debate, based on informal discussions with Member States, the President of the current session of the General Assembly, and the Secretary-General. Shortly after his/her election, the President-elect sends a letter to all Member States announcing the theme for the upcoming general debate and inviting them to focus their speeches on the proposed theme.
See resolutions of all previous sessions
Special sessions
The General Assembly may meet in special sessions at the request of the Security Council, of a majority of Member States, or of one Member State if the majority of Members concur.
Emergency special sessions
Emergency special sessions may be called within 24 hours of a request by the Security Council on the vote of any nine Council members, or by a majority of UN Member States, or by one Member State if the majority of Members concur.
