World faith leaders to open first U.S. G20 Interfaith Forum in Salt Lake City

Senior religious leaders from seven faith traditions will gather Thursday in Salt Lake City for the first U.S.-hosted G20 Interfaith Forum, with public events at the Historic Tabernacle and a two-day forum at the University of Utah. The opening ceremony and an afternoon dialogue on disagreement and peacemaking will spotlight faith’s role in global policy, conflict reduction and public service.

Why it matters: - The G20 Interfaith Forum is bringing religious leaders and public officials into the G20 conversation at a moment when the forum is focused on economic growth, energy security, artificial intelligence and the future of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. - The Salt Lake City gathering is the first time the annual forum has been held in the United States. - The opening events are open to the public, giving the wider community access to a rare multi-faith gathering.

What happened: - The G20 Interfaith Forum opens Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026, at the Historic Tabernacle at Temple Square in Salt Lake City. - Senior leaders from Muslim, Catholic, Orthodox, Hindu, Jewish, Anglican and Latter-day Saint traditions will share one stage during the Opening Ceremony and Welcome Concert. - Sheikh Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, secretary general of the Muslim World League, will deliver the opening keynote as guest of honor. - President Dallin H. Oaks of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will host the evening. - Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, apostolic nuncio to the United States, will deliver a message on behalf of the Holy See. - The lineup also includes Elder Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon, Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazadeh, Pujya Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati, Rabbi Mark Dratch and Dr. Francis Kuria Kagema. - The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square will perform between addresses and prayers.

The details: - Earlier Thursday, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, former South Carolina Gov. David Beasley and Martin Luther King III will take part in “Peacemaking through Disagreeing Better,” a public dialogue on cross-party and cross-faith cooperation. - The afternoon program will include the presentation of the Jewish–Muslim Declaration of Fraternity in Faith. - Organizers say the declaration describes a relationship that moves beyond tolerance toward mutual support. - The opening dialogue runs from 3:30 to 5 p.m. MDT, with doors opening at 2:30 p.m. - The Opening Ceremony and Welcome Concert runs from 7:30 to 9 p.m. MDT, with doors opening at 7 p.m. - Registration is required at the event registration page. - The forum sessions on Oct. 16-17 at the University of Utah are closed to the public. - The complete 2026 forum program and speaker list are available at the full forum program.

Between the lines: - IF20 was founded in 2014 and meets each year in the country holding the G20 presidency. - The group’s premise is that faith communities bring practical experience from running schools, hospitals and relief networks. - That experience is positioned as relevant to global issues the G20 already debates, including poverty, health, technology and the environment. - IF20 Vice President Katherine Marshall said the group wants to bring the best of religious traditions, ideas and experience to the G20 table and present care for vulnerable people as a central shared gift of religion. - IF20 Director of Communications Marianna Richardson framed the Salt Lake City events as an invitation to the wider community. - The Utah program follows a broader theme for this year’s forum: “Resilient Hope, Shared Future.”

What's next: - The full forum continues Oct. 16-17 at the University of Utah with plenary sessions and smaller breakouts. - Discussions will cover human trafficking, mental health, education, disaster response and freedom of religion or belief. - Participants will also take part in a service project. - The forum closes Saturday at the Cathedral of the Madeleine with a handover to next year’s organizers in the United Kingdom. - The G20 Leaders’ Summit is scheduled for Miami on Dec. 14-15.

The bottom line: - Salt Lake City is becoming the U.S. stage for a major faith-and-policy gathering that ties religion, public service and global economic debates together in one public opening event.