Delegate Social

A Delegate Social (sometimes called a "Delegate Dance" or simply "the social") is a scheduled non-committee event at most Model UN conferences, typically held on the Friday or Saturday night of a multi-day conference. Its purpose is to give delegates a structured way to meet peers from other schools and countries outside the formal setting of committee sessions.

Socials are usually organized by the host conference's secretariat, often by a dedicated Delegate Experience or Social Affairs team. Common formats include:

• A dance party with a DJ in a hotel ballroom or campus venue
• Themed nights (decades, masquerade, country-flag attire)
• Cultural showcases at international conferences such as WorldMUN or LIMUN
• Alternative low-key options like board game lounges, trivia, or movie rooms for delegates who prefer quieter environments

Attendance is voluntary but typically high, and most conferences include the social in the standard delegate registration fee. Conduct at socials is governed by the conference Code of Conduct, and many conferences explicitly prohibit alcohol regardless of local drinking age, particularly at high school circuits like NHSMUN or ILMUNC. University-level conferences such as Harvard WorldMUN, NMUN, and Oxford International Model United Nations may permit alcohol service for delegates of legal age, with wristband systems.

Faculty advisors and conference staff usually supervise. Disciplinary issues at socials — underage drinking, harassment, or leaving the venue without permission — are among the most common reasons for delegate expulsion from a conference.

For delegates, the social serves a secondary diplomatic function: it is often where alliances forged in committee are reinforced, contact information is exchanged for future conferences, and the broader MUN community network is built. Many veteran delegates cite socials as a key reason for returning to the circuit, alongside committee debate itself.