The OG team at Shanghai High School for Day 1 of OGMUN SHSID 2026

This April, OG returned to Shanghai for OGMUN SHSID 2026, hosted by Shanghai High School International Division. Across the conference itself and the days that followed, the trip combined serious committee discussions with the chance to experience one of the world’s most dynamic cities. Read on for some of our highlights from a memorable week in Shanghai!

Secretary-General, Charlotte Allen, addresses delegates

OG Secretary-General Charlotte Allen and Director-General Luca Moretto led the conference alongside the wider OG team, overseeing a weekend of committee debate and workshops. Together, they helped create an environment in which delegates were encouraged to challenge themselves, take ideas seriously, and make the most of everything the conference had to offer.

Director-General, Luca Moretto, announces committee awards

This year’s conference featured seven committees: CSW, DISEC, CSTD, OAS, UNSC, ECOFIN, and COP31, directed respectively by Charlotte, Luca, Daria Bogolyubova, Catrina McNamara, Oskar Doepke, Tom Henderson, and Isla Moseley. Together, they gave the conference a real range of tone and subject matter across the weekend. Some committees focused on broad policy questions and required delegates to think carefully through complex issues, while others demanded quick judgment and adaptability, especially in UNSC, where crisis developments pushed students to respond in real time. That variety was part of what made the conference so engaging, and across all seven committees, delegates grew in confidence as debate unfolded.

A sunny lunch break for some of OG’s directors in the beautiful SHSID grounds

Alongside committee sessions, students also took part in workshops on public speaking and university applications. These gave students space to reflect on some of the broader skills that MUN helps develop, and it was encouraging to see them engage with those sessions as seriously as they did with committee debate. We hope they also helped students think about how their experience at OGMUN SHSID might support them beyond the conference itself.

Team OG team hosted an admissions panel for delegates, sharing their experiences of the application process

The Closing Ceremony also recognised the contributions delegates had made throughout the weekend, with committee awards celebrating individual impact in debate and delegation awards recognising school teams that had played a particularly strong role across the conference. In their closing remarks, the OG Secretary-General and student Director-General reminded delegates that this was only the beginning of their MUN journeys. The skills developed over the weekend — from communication and negotiation to resilience and adaptability — will continue to matter long after the conference itself, and progress often comes not through perfection, but through patience, persistence, and a willingness to keep learning.

“I hope that you leave this conference with a stronger sense of confidence — not only in your ability to speak, but in your capacity to engage thoughtfully with complex ideas and with your fellow delegates.”

— Charlotte Allen, Secretary-General, Closing Ceremony Remarks

Delivered in partnership with WELAND and Shanghai High School, OGMUN SHSID 2026 also benefited hugely from the contribution of the SHSID student secretariat and Assistant Directors. They played an important role throughout the weekend, helping committees run smoothly and supporting the wider conference. Their work made a real difference throughout the weekend, and we are so grateful to everyone who helped make OGMUN SHSID 2026 such a special experience!

Taking in the Shanghai skyline on a Huangpu River Cruise

Of course, the conference was only one part of the trip! After the event, the OG team had the chance to explore Shanghai together and enjoy everything this vibrant city has to offer. That meant visits to Yu Garden, the Bund, and Shanghai Tower, as well as a night river cruise with striking views across Shanghai’s illuminated skyline. At Yu Garden, the team saw the city in bloom, while Longhua Temple brought colour, atmosphere, and a strong sense of tradition. The charming canals of Zhujiajiao Ancient Water Town showed a slower, more historic side of the region. Across the trip, the team also spent time in Tianzifang, the French Concession, and the Shanghai Museum. And no trip to Shanghai would be complete without plenty of team dinners, including hotpot (a team favourite), and some evenings spent enthusiastically singing at KTV....

A day trip to Hangzhou was another memorable part of the week. The team was shown around by local guide Mary, who shared fascinating insights into the region and its traditions. A cruise on West Lake gave the team beautiful views of the green mountains surrounding the city, especially in the sunshine, while at Lingyin Temple the group took in the temple grounds, the carved stone figures, and the stories connected to the site. Alongside time for shopping, it made for a lovely day out and a memorable part of the team’s time in China.

Enjoying a boat ride at Zhujiajiao Ancient Water Town

OGMUN SHSID 2026 was a brilliant week, and we are hugely grateful to WELAND, Shanghai High School International Division, the student secretariat, the Assistant Directors, and every delegate who helped make it possible. We returned from Shanghai with many fond memories, and we’re already excited to be back in China soon! Watch this space for highlights from our summer programmes…