The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) is entering a defining phase. In November 2026, states parties will convene for the first Review Conference under South African presidency. This places South Africa at the centre of a process that has been shaped by humanitarian concerns, multilateral negotiation, and sustained pressure from non-nuclear states.

Key Milestones in the TPNW Process

In May 2010, the Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) formally recognises the humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons use. 2013, March, the first conference on the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons takes place in Oslo.

The following year – 2014 – between February and December, follow-up conferences are held in Nayarit and Vienna. 127 states endorse the Humanitarian Pledge, calling for renewed commitment to disarmament obligations and interim risk-reduction measures. In 2015 (October–December), the UN General Assembly (UNGA) mandates an Open-Ended Working Group to advance multilateral nuclear disarmament negotiations.

From February to August 2016, three working group sessions are held in Geneva, culminating in a recommendation to pursue a prohibition treaty. In October and December, the UN adopts resolutions to begin formal negotiations. In 2017 (March–July), negotiations take place at the United Nations in New York. On 7 July, the TPNW is adopted by 122 states and the Treaty opens for signature in September.

In October 2020, the 50th ratification triggers entry into force and in January 2021, the TPNW enters into force. Between 2022 and 2025, States parties meet in Vienna and New York to operationalise the Treaty and advance implementation measures.

At the end of 2026 (November–December), the first Review Conference will be held in New York under South African presidency. South Africa has been part of the broader coalition of states advocating for a rules-based framework that rejects nuclear weapons as instruments of security.

From a realist perspective, the TPNW will not eliminate nuclear weapons, but it can strengthen the norm against their use and further delegitimise them. This 2026 Review Conference will test the Treaty’s ability to move beyond normative commitments towards measurable implementation. The outcome should influence the trajectory of global disarmament efforts and the role of non-nuclear states in shaping international security norms.