The general assembly of the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (UIAA) is a prestigious mountaineering event, where several global mountaineering communities gather together. The event has given an amazing platform for Nepal to showcase the heritage of the Himalayas and the prospects of mountain tourism. The platform also provides the opportunity to address the severe impact of climate change in the Himalayas, mountain safety, and sustainable tourism.
Nepal Proposes Recognition for 6 New 8,000 Meter Peaks in the UIAA General Assembly 2026
The 2026 UIAA General Assembly was held in Kathmandu, Nepal, and the event was successfully inaugurated on Thursday, October 29, at Hotel Yak and Yeti. This year’s general assembly was hosted by the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA).
The major talk point of the 2026 General Assembly was the proposal of the recognition of 6 new 8,000-meter peaks by Nepal. The following peaks were presented by the NMA president, Phur Gelje Sherpa, in the event:
- Yalung Khang - 8,505 m
- Kanchenjunga South - 8,476 m
- Kanchenjunga Central - 8,473 m
- Lhotse Middle - 8,410 m
- Lhotse Sar - 8,400 m
- Yalung Khang West - 8,077 m
Currently, the international mountaineering community only recognizes 8 of the 8,000-meter peaks in Nepal. If the proposal of the 6 more 8,000-meter peaks gets recognized by the UIAA, then Nepal would be home to 14 out of 20 highest peaks in the world. This could possibly bring newer opportunities in the mountaineering sector, including mountain tourism and research.
In the Kathmandu 2026 UIAA General Assembly, other important topics were also discussed. The UIAA president Peter Muir addressed the impact of climate change, noting the recent natural disaster that affected several regions of Nepal. Similarly, Kang Joon-Seok, the chief executive officer of Black Yak, also emphasized the importance of giving greater attention to global warming.
Mountain Safety was also given great importance during this event. Before the general assembly, the third UIAA mountain safety symposium took place in Kathmandu on October 27 and October 28. The symposium was attended by over 60 mountaineers, doctors, rescuers, paramedics, and several mountain safety experts from different parts of the world. The event became a forefront stage of sharing experiences and knowledge and building stronger cooperation related to mountain safety and rescue.
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