September 23, 2026 – Leaders from around the world will gather in London next summer to drive new action and investment in the youngest children and their families. The countdown to the first-ever Global Early Years Finance Summit began with a special launch event held during the United Nations General Assembly. The venue and dates – June 2 and 3, 2027 – were officially announced by the Act For Early Years campaign.
You can find out more about the Summit here: https://www.earlyyearssummit.org
The historic summit – due to be held in London during the UK’s presidency of the G20 and co-hosted with the Government of Jordan – is crucial because investing in the early years is one of the smartest moves any national or local government can make. The country-led Summit will support countries and cities to accelerate progress towards their own local priorities by unlocking new investment in young children and their families.
Why is the summit being held?
90% of brain development happens before the age of five – shaping lifelong learning, health and economic participation. But millions of children currently go without quality nurturing care and early learning.
Investing in the early years helps governments achieve the goals already at the top of their agendas – from foundational learning and human capital development to workforce participation, child and maternal nutrition, gender equity and poverty reduction.
The summit will bring together countries, cities and partners to accelerate progress towards their own early years goals. It will celebrate local leadership, mobilize investment and accelerate action for the youngest children
The event will focus on practical investments to improve children’s lives while helping governments deliver wider economic and social goals, including:
- Universal access to quality primary health care in support of health, wellbeing, nutrition and development across pregnancy, birth and early childhood.
- Universal access to quality, inclusive preschool education and learning
- Universal support for families including affordable and quality childcare, child benefits and parent and caregiver support.
Where and when will it be held?
The summit will be held in London on June 2 and 3, 2027. That will be strategically at the midpoint of the United Kingdom’s Presidency of the G20, the forum for the world’s major economies. This will continue the impressive early years momentum from the recent G20 presidencies of Brazil and South Africa.
Who will be there?
Hundreds of leaders from all walks of life. They will include government ministers, city mayors, development finance institutions, philanthropies, business leaders and civil society representatives.
The summit is co-hosted with the Government of Jordan and supported by the Act For Early Years partners including early childhood networks, UNICEF, UNESCO, the World Bank, Theirworld, the LEGO Foundation, Sesame Workshop and the Conrad. N. Hilton Foundation.
You can find out more about the Global Early Years Finance Summit and the wider Act For Early Years campaign on the campaign’s website.