Johannesburg is preparing to host one of the most important global gatherings of the year as the 2025 G20 Leaders’ Summit kicks off this weekend, 22–23 November, at the Nasrec Johannesburg Expo Centre. This marks the first time the G20 summit is held on African soil, positioning South Africa at the centre of global diplomacy as it leads discussions among the world’s major economies. Heads of state, ministers, and high-level delegations from the G20 and invited guest nations have begun arriving in Gauteng under heightened security, with road closures and restricted zones expected around the venue.
South Africa’s presidency of the G20 is anchored in the theme “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability,” a banner under which Pretoria aims to shift global attention toward the needs and priorities of the Global South. The summit will bring together leaders representing about 80% of the world’s GDP and two-thirds of its population, including members of the African Union, which now holds permanent G20 status. Alongside the main summit, business forums, civil society gatherings, and ministerial meetings held throughout the week have shaped the agenda heading into the leaders’ sessions.
The official programme is structured around three major focus areas: inclusive and sustainable economic growth; climate and disaster resilience; and strengthening global cooperation in a time of widening geopolitical tensions. South Africa has placed particular emphasis on issues such as debt sustainability for developing countries, mobilising finance for the just energy transition, reforming global financial institutions, and ensuring the world is better equipped to respond to climate-related disasters. A flagship contribution to the summit includes a new Global Inequality Report, commissioned by South Africa and led by Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz.
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Despite international political dynamics, the summit is expected to proceed with robust participation from G20 and guest countries, with more than 40 nations and organisations represented across various levels. Negotiations on the final leaders’ declaration are already under way, as South Africa positions the summit as an opportunity to elevate African voices on the world stage and push for more equitable global economic frameworks. Full proceedings of the open sessions will be live-streamed on the official G20 South Africa channels, allowing the public to follow the historic event as it unfolds.