Peacekeepers on a basketball court, medical students running a mobile clinic and a virtual reality journey through the island’s shared cultural heritage are among the activities planned for Saturday. Organised by the United Nations Country Team in Cyprus under the hashtag #TogetherForCyprus, the event gives the public an opportunity to engage directly with UN agencies and entities working across the island.
Date, time and location
The open day takes place on Saturday 24 October 2026, from 13:00 to 17:00, on Markou Drakou Street, next to Ledra Palace in the UN buffer zone in Nicosia.
What the event will showcase
According to the United Nations in Cyprus, the event will present the UN’s work in support of peace, human rights, sustainable development, gender equality, humanitarian action, public health, migration, refugee protection, cultural heritage and environmental sustainability.
Visitors will be able to explore information stands, interactive exhibits, public engagement activities and presentations on the organisation’s work across Cyprus.
Participating organisations
The following organisations are taking part:
- United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP)
- UN Good Offices Mission in Cyprus
- United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
- UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency
- International Organization for Migration (IOM)
- World Health Organization (WHO)
- International Labour Organization (ILO)
- Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus (CMP)
Civil society organisations, youth groups, community representatives and students are also expected to attend. The event is held with support from the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation.
Welcoming remarks
Khassim Diagne, the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Cyprus and Head of UNFICYP, will deliver welcoming remarks at 14:00.
Activities running throughout the afternoon
The UNDP VR Activity, from 13:00 to 17:00, invites visitors to discover the island’s shared cultural heritage through virtual reality and step into the past.
A Mobile Clinic, also open from 13:00 to 17:00, will see medical students engage in community outreach, contribute to health promotion and apply their knowledge in a community setting.
Early afternoon sessions
Gender in Action, from 13:00 to 14:00, features practitioners working for the UN speaking about gender equality and women’s rights in the organisation’s work.
Spin for Peace, from 13:00 to 14:30, uses a prize wheel to teach visitors about the United Nations, UNFICYP, peacekeeping and the Sustainable Development Goals.
From 14:00 to 16:00, peacekeepers will play a friendly basketball game in the intercommunal hub area, close to the Fulbright gate. All ages are welcome.
Later sessions
Minilingo! Bilingual Cards Game, from 15:00 to 16:00, is led by the Home for Cooperation. The card game celebrates the Greek and Turkish languages of Cyprus, with games such as memory and snap built around shared words and cultures.
Voices Across Borders, from 15:00 to 16:30, is an interactive workshop using games, teamwork and challenges to bring people together and explore different perspectives, with no lectures involved.
The Peace Visioning Board, from 15:00 to 17:00, is organised and facilitated by KyklOIKOdromio. The collaborative art workshop celebrates peace, unity and creativity through the reuse of materials and is open to children and adults.
