International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons

September 26 marks the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, a date designated by the United Nations General Assembly to raise awareness of the danger posed by nuclear weapons and to spur international efforts toward disarmament.

The UN considers nuclear disarmament one of the greatest global challenges. According to the United Nations, there are still around 12,187 nuclear weapons in the world. The number of deployed weapons has fallen significantly compared to the Cold War period, but the states that possess nuclear weapons continue to invest in modernizing their arsenals.

The situation has been further complicated by the weakening of international arms-control agreements. After the expiry of New START on February 5, 2026, the United States and Russia — the two countries with the largest nuclear arsenals — no longer have an agreement in force placing mutually agreed limits on their arsenals.

The UN has considered nuclear disarmament a priority since 1946, when the General Assembly adopted its first resolution, while in 1959 it endorsed the goal of general and complete disarmament.

Every September 26, the UN calls on states, institutions, civil society, academics and the public to raise awareness of the humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons and to support efforts to create a world free of nuclear weapons.

The purpose of this day is to bring back into focus the need for international engagement and negotiations, at a time when, despite decades of diplomatic efforts, nuclear weapons remain part of the security policies of several states.