KATHMANDU, September 22, 2026 — Prime Minister Balendra Shah left Nepal on Tuesday evening for New York, leading the country’s delegation to the High-Level Week of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Shah departed Tribhuvan International Airport on a Qatar Airways flight bound for Doha before continuing to New York, according to Radio Nepal, citing the prime minister’s press and research expert, Dipa Dahal.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Shah is scheduled to address the General Debate of the 81st UN General Assembly on September 24. The United Nations lists the 81st session’s General Debate as taking place from September 22 through September 28, with no session on September 27.
During his stay in New York, Shah is also scheduled to meet United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, according to the Foreign Ministry. He is due to return to Kathmandu on September 26.
The Nepali delegation includes Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal, Chief Advisor to the Prime Minister Kumar Byanjankar, Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai and other senior government officials. Khanal travelled to New York separately for high-level meetings, side events and other diplomatic engagements.
Swarnim Wagle assigned acting prime minister duties
Finance Minister Dr Swarnim Wagle was assigned the responsibilities of acting prime minister during Shah’s absence. Shah recommended Wagle for the role to President Ram Chandra Paudel before leaving the country, and the President subsequently approved the assignment.
Shah became prime minister on March 27, 2026. His September trip to New York comes nearly six months after he assumed office.
The verified 2026 visit is to the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly. References in the supplied material to the 78th UN General Assembly relate to a different event in 2023, when then-Prime Minister Balendra Shah “Balen” led Nepal’s delegation to New York.
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