There is disclosed a process for the preparation of 2-hydroxy-4,6-diaryl-1,3,5-triazines, which comprises reacting the compound of formula ##STR1## wherein R is hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl or halogen, with urea, using a base selected from the class of the alkali metal hydrides, alkaline earth metal hydrides, or alkali metal amides, alkaline earth metal amides, or of the alkali metal C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alcoholates in the presence of a polar solvent, to give the final products in a one step process in which the molar ratio of urea to base is 1:2 to 1:3 and the molar ratio of compound of formula (1) to urea is 2:1 to 5:1.2-Hydroxy-4,6-diaryl-1,3,5-triazines are prepared in very good yield by the inventive process. The compounds are used as intermediates for the synthesis of UV absorbers.