Like nearly every aspect of life, international environmental negotiations have been turned upside down by the COVID-19 pandemic. As closed borders and distancing measures are the norm for the foreseeable future, international environmental governance has been forced to adapt. Many regimes chose to conduct negotiations virtually. In this paper, we analyse the challenges and opportunities of virtual multilateral negotiations vis-à-vis the management of the negotiation process. We place a particular emphasis on the virtual negotiations within the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, the Montreal Protocol for Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Data is collected from official documents, specialized press reports, and semi-structured interviews with organizers and participants of virtual formats. Findings show that the impact of virtual formats is particular high on small group transparency and inclusiveness, as well as transparency about the negotiation schedule.