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World

Choosing the next UN Secretary-General

António Guterres’s second term ends on 31 December 2026, and the Security Council is narrowing the field through straw polls. How the choice is made, who is in the race and how each poll went.

Updated 2 November 2026
USAID (public domain)
Key facts
Term ends
31 December 2026 (António Guterres)
How it works
The Security Council recommends a candidate; the General Assembly appoints
To be recommended
At least 9 of 15 votes in favour and no veto from a permanent member
Front-runners in the sixth poll (16 October)
Rebeca Grynspan (Costa Rica), Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett (Guyana), Rafael Grossi (Argentina)
Straw polls
Colour-coded ballots for the permanent members since 16 October 2026

Latest coverage4 stories

Today2 Nov 2026 · all stories that day →

Saturday, 31 October 202631 Oct 2026 · all stories that day →

ExplainerWorld

Explained: how the UN chooses its Secretary-General

Fifteen countries narrow the field in secret straw polls, five of them hold a veto, and the General Assembly has the final word. Here is how the process works — and where the 2026 race stands.

·Rational Times World Desk·3 min read

Friday, 30 October 202630 Oct 2026 · all stories that day →

Tuesday, 27 October 202627 Oct 2026 · all stories that day →