WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States has announced plans to host what it calls a “new G20” in 2026, outlining a reoriented agenda focused on innovation, economic competitiveness and technological leadership as Washington prepares to welcome leaders of the world’s largest economies for the first time in nearly two decades.
In a statement released on Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the revamped G20 will reflect America’s values and strategic priorities, coinciding with the country’s 250th anniversary celebrations next year.
Rubio said the United States intends to “forg[e] ahead with a new G20,” criticizing South Africa’s recent presidency of the forum.
“South Africa operated with spite, division, and radical agendas that failed to produce economic growth,” he said. “America’s G20 will propel us forward with innovation, entrepreneurship and perseverance… We’re ready to lead the way in Miami.”
Summit Returns to U.S. Soil for First Time Since 2009
The 2026 Leaders’ Summit will be held in Miami, Florida, marking the first time the G20 convenes in the United States since 2009, when the group met in Pittsburgh to respond to the global financial crisis.
According to the State Department, the U.S. presidency will highlight themes tied to economic dynamism and technological progress — framing the summit as both a symbolic moment and a substantive shift in global economic coordination.
The administration plans to elevate discussions on removing regulatory barriers, securing energy supply chains, and accelerating new technologies, including artificial intelligence.
Meetings Begin This Month
The first Sherpa and Finance Track sessions are scheduled for December 15–16 in Washington, D.C., setting the groundwork for a year of negotiations leading up to the December 2026 summit.
The U.S. argues the refreshed agenda is necessary as the global economy confronts rapid technological change and what the administration describes as the need to move “beyond ideological preoccupations around green energy.”
President Trump, whose administration will oversee the G20 cycle, has promised a results-driven process.
Rubio said the United States wants to “provide a roadmap to prosperity for the entire world.”
A High-Stakes Presidency
The U.S. presidency of the G20 comes at a time of geopolitical polarization, with divisions among major economies over wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, climate policy, global debt, and China’s growing assertiveness.
Washington’s framing of a “new G20” suggests it will seek to set a different tone from recent hosts and steer the group toward issues that align with its domestic and foreign policy priorities.
The State Department has not clarified how the U.S. approach might alter traditional G20 consensus-building, but officials say further thematic details will be released in early 2026.
