The Future of Multilateral Events: From Hybrid Summits to Virtual Negotiations

Why Change Was Inevitable

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated a transformation already underway: the digitization of diplomacy.
Travel restrictions forced negotiators to adopt video conferencing, online side-events, and digital platforms.
What began as necessity has now become a feature of global diplomacy, creating new opportunities and challenges.

Hybrid Summits as the New Normal

Major events increasingly combine in-person and online participation.
Heads of state may attend physically, while ministers and experts join remotely.
This hybrid model expands inclusivity, reduces costs, and allows smaller states to maintain visibility without overextending resources.

Digital Tools at Work

• Virtual Negotiation Rooms: Secure, encrypted platforms where draft texts are exchanged and revised in real time.
• Interactive Side-Events: Online panels with live Q&A, polls, and breakout rooms to increase engagement.
• Digital Documentation: Cloud-based platforms hosting statements, resolutions, and data dashboards for transparency.
• AI-Powered Translation: Real-time interpretation tools reducing barriers to multilingual dialogue.
• Blockchain Credentials: Secure verification of delegate identities and voting processes.

Opportunities and Risks

Virtual diplomacy creates access for more voices—civil society, youth, and private sector actors can join discussions once limited to diplomats.
At the same time, cybersecurity threats, digital divides, and the loss of informal “corridor diplomacy” remain serious challenges.
Nations must balance openness with security and ensure equitable access to technology.

Best Practices for Future Events

1. Invest in Platforms: Ensure secure, user-friendly systems with multilingual capacity.
2. Design Hybrid Agendas: Blend physical and digital tracks, with equal weight for remote participants.
3. Facilitate Informality: Create digital spaces that replicate corridor chats and informal exchanges.
4. Measure Engagement: Use analytics to track participation and improve event design.
5. Prioritize Inclusion: Subsidize access for developing countries to reduce the digital divide.

Looking Ahead

Multilateral events are entering a new phase where technology is no longer a supplement but a core feature.
By combining in-person gravitas with digital reach, hybrid and virtual formats can make diplomacy faster, more inclusive, and more resilient.
New York, as both a diplomatic and technological hub, is poised to lead this transformation.