UNESCO in Model UN

UNESCO, founded in 1945 and based in Paris, is the UN organization for education, science, culture and communication. Its General Conference of all member states meets every two years and sets its policies. In Model UN, UNESCO simulations debate heritage and education most, and AI in schools recurs, a subject of UNESCO's 2021 Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence.

  • 40 open now
  • 72 upcoming conferences
  • about 24 delegations
Find an UNESCO conference

Similar: UNICEF · CSTD · UN · UN

  • 3 countries: on 82 to 87% of seat lists
  • 21 more seats in a typical simulation of 24

UNESCO applications closing soon

21 conferences close applications in the next 30 days. These close first.

More UNESCO conferences

66 more upcoming

Browse all Model UN conferences

Where and when UNESCO conferences run

The United States, France and Greece host the most. December is the busiest month.

In 25 countries and online

Upcoming by month

18 in December 202611 open for applications now

28 of the 72 are for school students only and 6 for university students only; 34 are free. See all high school MUN conferences or university MUN conferences.

Most UNESCO conferences are in the United States, France and Greece.

UNESCO topics in Model UN

Of 543 UNESCO topics on mymun, 50% are about education and culture, 13% about cyber and AI and 8% about climate and environment. Rising this season: cyber and AI (26% of topics this season, up from 10%).

ThemeShare of topics
  1. Education and culture 50%

    Example: Ensuring Access to Quality Education for Girls in Conflict and Crisis Settings, United Youth Diplomacy model united nations

  2. Cyber and AI Rising13%

    Example: Addressing the impact of artificial intelligence on artists and creative industries, C.S. Lewis Model United Nations

  3. Climate and environment 8%

    Example: Preserving Cultural Heritage in Conflict and Climate-Vulnerable Regions, DLMUN Conference VII

  4. Human rights 7%

    Example: Establishing Ethical frameworks for AI In Indigenous cultural preservation, Oxford International Model United Nations

  5. Armed conflicts 6%

    Example: Accountability for Heritage Destruction in Armed Conflict, IE University Model United Nations

Recent UNESCO topics

  1. Ensuring Access to Quality Education for Girls in Conflict and Crisis Settings

    United Youth Diplomacy model united nations
    Education and cultureWomen and children

  2. Preserving Endangered Languages

    JayMUNC

  3. Adressing the theft of riches during the colonial ERA

    Rocklandyan MUN
    Decolonization and self-determination

  4. Creating frameworks for proper Gaydar production, combating the threat of health conditions caused by excessive consumption of sugar-based products

    Zosia Lubas Model United Nations

UNESCO countries in Model UN

France, China and the United Kingdom appear on 82 to 87% of UNESCO seat lists on mymun, and the United States and India on 79 to 81%. UNESCO's General Conference seats every member state, and an Executive Board of 58 member states, elected for four-year terms, oversees the programme.

  • 3 countries: on 82 to 87% of seat lists
  • 21 more seats in a typical simulation of 24

Most often seated

CountryShare of seat lists
  1. 1France87%
  2. 2China85%
  3. 3United Kingdom82%
  4. 4United States81%
  5. 5India79%
  6. 6Germany74%
  7. 7Japan70%
  8. 8Brazil68%
  9. 9Russia65%
  10. 10Italy64%
  11. 11Canada63%
  12. 12Mexico61%

Most requested

CountryShare of applicants
  1. 1France9%
  2. 2United Kingdom5%
  3. 3United States5%
  4. 4Germany4%
  5. 5Egypt4%
  6. 6Canada4%
  7. 7India4%
  8. 8China4%
  9. 9Italy4%
  10. 10Japan3%
  11. 11Brazil3%
  12. 12Spain2%

How UNESCO compares

CommitteeUpcomingOpen nowRoom sizeSchool onlyMost debated
UNESCO72402439%Education and culture
UNICEF70392244%Women and children
Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD)21102062%Cyber and AI
UN Environment Programme (UNEP)122702045%Climate and environment
UN Development Programme (UNDP)291652%Economy and development

UNESCO in Model UN: questions and answers

How many delegates are in a UNESCO committee?

The real General Conference seats every UNESCO member state. UNESCO simulations on mymun seated about 24 delegations.

Can UNESCO adopt treaties?

Yes. Its General Conference adopts conventions, such as the 1972 World Heritage Convention, by a two-thirds majority and recommendations by a simple majority, and each member state must put them to its national authorities within a year.

Is UNESCO a good committee for beginners?

Yes: most delegations can start from their own country's entries on the World Heritage List, which records the sites each state party has inscribed.

What topics does UNESCO debate in Model UN?

Top themes in 543 UNESCO topics on mymun: education and culture (50%), cyber and AI (13%) and climate and environment (8%).

Can school students join an UNESCO?

Yes. 66 of the 72 upcoming conferences with an UNESCO take high school delegates, and 28 are for school students only.

Prepare for your UNESCO committee

Updated Nov 15, 2026