The six candidates seeking to become the next Secretary-General of the United Nations are set to participate in a public debate on Thursday, one week before the formal selection process begins.

The 90-minute event will take place in the UN General Assembly Hall and will feature questions from diplomats, UN staff and civil society representatives. It will also be broadcast live.

The candidates are former Chilean President, Michelle Bachelet, former Ecuadorian Foreign Minister, Maria Fernanda Espinosa, Argentine diplomat, Rafael Grossi, Costa Rican Economist, Rebeca Grynspan, Guyanese Foreign Minister, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett and former Senegalese President, Macky Sall. They are vying to succeed outgoing Secretary-General António Guterres, whose tenure ends this year.

President of the UN General Assembly, Annalena Baerbock, said the debate would give member states and the public an opportunity to assess the candidates’ priorities, leadership qualities and vision for the organisation.

She noted that the next Secretary-General would be expected to strengthen the UN, uphold its charter and steer the organisation through mounting global challenges.

The race comes as the United Nations faces financial constraints and growing criticism over its effectiveness.

The administration of United States President Donald Trump has called for reforms, urging the organisation to focus more on its core responsibilities of maintaining international peace and security, while other member states continue to emphasise the importance of human rights and sustainable development.

Analysts say the contest has so far been more subdued than the 2016 race that produced Guterres, with candidates taking cautious positions to avoid alienating influential Security Council members.

The UN Security Council is scheduled to hold its first confidential straw poll on July 30 to gauge support for the candidates. Additional rounds of voting are expected until one candidate secures at least nine votes without a veto from any of the council’s five permanent members.

The successful nominee will be recommended to the General Assembly for formal appointment and is expected to assume office on January 1, 2027.

While Rafael Grossi is widely viewed as one of the leading contenders, diplomats say the race remains open, with Rebeca Grynspan and Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett also attracting significant support. Calls have also intensified for the United Nations to appoint its first female Secretary-General, while Latin American countries are pressing for the position under the organisation’s regional rotation tradition.