Rather than focusing on a single form of diplomacy, UNAOC’s activities during these five months demonstrated the diversity of approaches that can contribute to international understanding. Cultural heritage and historical memory featured prominently in discussions on Atlantic Creoleness, while youth participation was strengthened through peacebuilding programmes and international campaigns. Other initiatives addressed hate speech, religious intolerance, peace mediation and the role of sport as a tool for social inclusion.

From Praia and Kazan to New York, Luanda and Limerick, these activities illustrate how dialogue can take place in diplomatic forums as well as through education, culture, sport and community engagement. They also demonstrate the Alliance’s emphasis on bringing different groups into the same conversation rather than treating cultural differences as barriers to cooperation.

The following overview highlights two significant UNAOC-related activities from each month between May and September 2026, tracing how intercultural dialogue and cooperation developed throughout the summer period.

MAY 2026

Atlantic Creoleness: Reinterpreting Shared Histories in Cabo Verde

On 28 May, UNAOC High Representative Miguel Ángel Moratinos participated in the International Meeting on Atlantic Creoleness in Praia, Cabo Verde, convened by President José Maria Neves as part of the country’s 50th anniversary of independence. Held under the theme “Building Bridges, Building a Better Future”, the meeting explored the historical encounters and exchanges that shaped Atlantic societies.

The concept of Creoleness was presented as a living form of cultural heritage emerging from interaction between different peoples, histories and traditions. The meeting also sought to give greater recognition to communities whose contributions had historically been marginalised.

For UNAOC, the initiative directly reflected the organisation’s focus on intercultural dialogue and cultural diversity. Moratinos described cultural heritage not simply as something to preserve, but as something that can be revitalised through creativity, community participation and youth engagement. Policymakers, scholars, artists and civil society representatives were brought together to explore how cultural exchange can contribute to more inclusive societies.

The meeting therefore connected historical reflection with contemporary cultural diplomacy, using Cabo Verde’s experience as a bridge between continents, generations and communities.

Kazan Forum: Dialogue Between Russia and the Islamic World

Earlier in May, on 15 May, the UNAOC High Representative addressed the opening session of the Russia–Islamic World Strategic Vision Group at the 2026 Kazan Forum in Kazan, Russia. The forum brought together representatives connected to Russia and countries of the Islamic world, with discussions centred on cooperation, mutual understanding and shared values.

Moratinos highlighted the role of dialogue in overcoming cultural and religious misunderstandings, pointing to respect for diversity, solidarity and shared aspirations for peace and development as foundations for cooperation.

The meeting also addressed the challenge of anti-Muslim prejudice and the importance of education, people-to-people exchanges and cultural dialogue in countering stereotypes. In this context, the forum provided a space where international and regional actors could discuss relations that extend beyond political interests to include cultural and human connections.

For UNAOC, the Kazan Forum illustrated how intercultural diplomacy can complement traditional diplomatic engagement by creating opportunities for societies with different historical and religious backgrounds to identify areas of common understanding.

JUNE 2026

The International Day for Dialogue Among Civilizations

June placed dialogue itself at the centre of UNAOC’s agenda. On 10 June, the Alliance participated in the Second International Day for Dialogue Among Civilizations, an initiative established to highlight dialogue, mutual understanding and cooperation between civilisations. The High Representative stressed that dialogue can bridge differences without requiring societies to abandon their distinct identities.

The event came at a time marked by conflict, polarisation, hate speech and rapid technological change. UNAOC used the occasion to emphasise that intercultural dialogue should not remain confined to diplomatic meetings. Education, cultural exchanges, youth engagement and responsible media were identified as practical spaces in which dialogue can become part of everyday life.

Artificial intelligence also featured in the broader discussion, particularly regarding the risk that technology could amplify misinformation, intolerance and hatred. At the same time, technology was presented as a potential tool for expanding knowledge and connectivity.

The International Day therefore reinforced one of UNAOC’s central principles: cultural diversity does not have to be an obstacle to cooperation. Dialogue can instead provide a framework through which different identities and perspectives coexist while contributing to common goals.

The Muscat Plan of Action: Traditional and Indigenous Leaders in Peacebuilding

On 11 June, UNAOC and the Permanent Mission of the Sultanate of Oman to the United Nations launched the Muscat Plan of Action for Traditional and Indigenous Leaders and Peoples at UN Headquarters in New York. The plan was developed through a global consultation process involving traditional and Indigenous leaders and focuses on their role in countering hate speech, preventing atrocities and supporting peace mediation.

The initiative recognises that traditional and Indigenous leaders can contribute to conflict prevention through their local knowledge, community relationships and ability to mediate between groups. The launch brought together UN representatives, Member States and traditional and Indigenous actors to discuss how these roles could be strengthened.

The Plan also connects cultural knowledge with international peacebuilding. Rather than separating cultural identity from conflict prevention, it recognises community traditions and local leadership as potential resources for dialogue and social cohesion.

By supporting greater participation from traditional and Indigenous communities, the initiative broadened the range of voices involved in international peacebuilding. It also demonstrated how cultural diplomacy can operate at community level, connecting international institutions with local forms of knowledge and mediation.

JULY 2026

Luanda: A Call for Peace and Respect for International Law

One of the summer’s most significant UNAOC initiatives took place in Luanda, Angola, on 16–17 July, with the third edition of A Call for Peace, the End of Wars and Respect for International Law. Organised by UNAOC in collaboration with the Government of Angola, the gathering brought together political leaders, religious figures, women leaders, youth representatives, academics and civil society actors.

The initiative built on previous meetings in Gernika and Sarajevo and focused on dialogue, reconciliation and international cooperation. Its programme included thematic roundtables on the role of religious leaders, youth participation in conflict prevention, women mediators and contemporary conflict dynamics.

The resulting Luanda Joint Statement emphasised intercultural and interreligious dialogue, the participation of women and youth in peacebuilding, the protection of cultural and religious heritage and the need to counter hate speech and disinformation. It also explicitly identified cultural diplomacy and sports diplomacy among the tools that can contribute to trust and peaceful coexistence.

Luanda therefore represented a particularly broad interpretation of cultural diplomacy: one in which dialogue, historical memory, religious engagement and cultural diversity are connected to wider international efforts to build peace.

“War Is Not a Game”: Using Sport to Promote Peace

On 23 July, UNAOC launched “War Is Not a Game”, also known as #PlayForPeaceNotWar, a campaign using sport as a platform to promote peace and dialogue. The campaign was presented as part of UNAOC’s wider work to engage young people and challenge narratives of violence and division.

The initiative complemented the organisation’s Sport for #OneHumanity campaign, which uses sporting activities to promote diversity, inclusion and mutual understanding. Sport provides a particularly accessible form of intercultural exchange: participants can cooperate around common rules and shared objectives regardless of nationality, language or religious background.

The campaign also reflected a broader theme visible across UNAOC’s summer activities: the importance of moving dialogue beyond formal diplomatic settings. While international organisations and governments remain essential partners, young people and communities can also become active participants in peacebuilding.

Through sport, UNAOC sought to communicate the idea that cooperation is not only a political principle but also something that can be experienced through everyday interaction, teamwork and shared activities.

AUGUST 2026

International Youth Day: Young People as Bridge-Builders

On 12 August, UNAOC marked International Youth Day with a message from High Representative Miguel Ángel Moratinos highlighting young people’s role in intercultural and interreligious dialogue. Under the theme “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations”, the message focused on the shared aspirations of young people for dignity, participation, opportunity and peace.

The message also presented youth engagement as one of UNAOC’s core areas of work. Its Young Peacebuilders programme provides participants with training, mentorship and networks, while PLURAL+ gives young filmmakers a platform to address issues including migration, diversity, social inclusion and intercultural dialogue.

The High Representative also referred to the youth dimension of A Call for Peace, noting that young participants had been involved in translating the lessons of history into initiatives for peacebuilding.

The emphasis on youth reflects an understanding of cultural diplomacy as a process that should not be limited to established diplomatic institutions. By supporting young people as participants and creators of dialogue, UNAOC seeks to give future generations a direct role in shaping relationships between cultures and communities.

Sport for #OneHumanity Reaches Young People in Ireland

On 15 August, a Youth Development Clinic was held in Limerick, Ireland, on the opening day of the World Ultimate Club Championship. Organised by the World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF) and Limerick Youth Ultimate, the activity formed part of WFDF’s support for UNAOC’s Sport for #OneHumanity campaign.

The free clinic brought together young people aged 13 to 20 and combined sporting activities with lessons on teamwork, discipline, fair play and non-discrimination. Participants later attended the championship’s opening ceremony and took part in a mini-tournament.

The activity demonstrates how UNAOC’s cultural diplomacy agenda can be translated into grassroots initiatives. Sport provided a shared environment in which young people from different backgrounds could interact without requiring a common language or cultural background.

The campaign itself describes sport as a platform for social inclusion, diversity and mutual understanding. In this context, the Limerick event extended UNAOC’s message beyond international institutions and into a local community, showing how international cooperation can also operate through youth activities and civil society partnerships.

SEPTEMBER 2026

The International Prayer Breakfast: Dialogue Across Faiths

On 8 September, UNAOC High Representative Miguel Ángel Moratinos addressed the Annual International Prayer Breakfast at United Nations Headquarters in New York. The gathering brought together people from different countries, cultures and faith traditions at the beginning of the new General Assembly session.

The event created a moment for reflection before the start of the UN’s diplomatic calendar. Moratinos emphasised the role of religious leaders and faith communities as partners for peace, particularly when formal channels of communication become more difficult.

The discussion also addressed the spread of hate speech, polarisation and attacks against religious communities and places of worship. In this context, the breakfast demonstrated how interreligious dialogue can complement formal diplomacy by creating opportunities for people from different traditions to meet and exchange perspectives.

For UNAOC, the event reflects two decades of work to create spaces in which people from different cultural and religious backgrounds can interact. The emphasis was not on eliminating differences, but on ensuring that differences do not become sources of hostility.

Global Conference on Dialogue and Tolerance

On 17 September, UNAOC co-organised the Global Conference on Promoting Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue and Tolerance in Countering Hate Speech in New York, together with the Kingdom of Morocco and the UN Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect.

The conference brought together Member States, faith leaders, civil society representatives and experts to examine how dialogue and tolerance can help counter hate speech and prevent division. The participation of representatives from Jewish, Christian, Muslim and Hindu communities underlined the conference’s interreligious dimension.

UNAOC presented dialogue and mutual understanding as tools for prevention, resilience and social cohesion. The initiative also reflected the Alliance’s wider efforts to address discrimination based on religion or belief and to strengthen cooperation between governments and non-state actors.

Coming during the opening weeks of the 81st UN General Assembly session, the conference placed intercultural and interreligious dialogue within a wider multilateral setting. It demonstrated how cultural diplomacy can contribute not only to cultural exchange but also to international efforts aimed at preventing intolerance and strengthening peaceful coexistence.

Many Cultures, One Humanity

The activities carried out or supported by the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations between May and September 2026 reveal a broad understanding of cultural diplomacy. Across five months, UNAOC worked through cultural heritage, religion, youth programmes, sport, education and multilateral dialogue to create opportunities for interaction between different communities.

From the discussion of Atlantic Creoleness in Cabo Verde to the youth initiatives connected to peacebuilding, the summer programme repeatedly highlighted the importance of creating spaces where different perspectives can meet. In Luanda, cultural and religious dialogue was connected directly to peacebuilding and international law. In New York, interfaith gatherings and discussions on hate speech placed dialogue at the centre of multilateral cooperation. Through Sport for #OneHumanity, the same principles reached younger audiences at community level.

Together, these activities show that cultural diplomacy can take many forms. It can involve a discussion of shared historical identities, a training programme for young peacebuilders, a religious gathering, a sporting event or a high-level international conference. What connects them is the creation of opportunities for people to listen, exchange experiences and recognise common interests.

The summer period therefore demonstrated UNAOC’s continued effort to turn its motto — “Many Cultures, One Humanity” — into practical forms of international engagement. Rather than treating cultural difference as a barrier, these initiatives use dialogue and cooperation as ways of building connections across it.

• https://www.unaoc.org/2026/05/remarks-international-meeting-on-atlantic-creoleness-cabo-verde/
• https://www.unaoc.org/2026/07/luanda-joint-statement/
• https://www.unaoc.org/2026/08/message-international-youth-day/
• https://www.unaoc.org/2026/05/remarks-russia-islamic-world-strategic-vision-group-kazan-forum/
• https://www.unaoc.org/2026/09/remarks-annual-international-prayer-breakfast-2026/
• https://www.unaoc.org/2026/09/remarks-global-conference-countering-hate-speech/
• https://www.unaoc.org/2026/06/remarks-international-day-for-dialogue-among-civilizations/
• https://www.unaoc.org/playforpeace/
• https://wfdf.sport/2026/08/wfdf-hosts-youth-clinic-in-support-of-unaocs-sport-for-onehumanity-campaign-at-wucc-2026/
• https://www.unaoc.org/2026/06/media-advisory-launching-event-of-the-muscat-plan-of-action/