Annual International Observances: Month-by-Month Guide

Every day, somewhere in the world, people are coming together to raise awareness, inspire change, or celebrate cultural and global progress. From World Health Day to International Day of Education, international observances help shine a spotlight on key global issues. This month-by-month guide provides a full list of official UN and globally recognized days observed annually.

Bookmark this page to stay updated on meaningful global observances all year round!

January – International Observances

Date	Observance	Description
4 Jan	World Braille Day	Celebrates the importance of Braille in the lives of the blind and visually impaired.
24 Jan	International Day of Education	Highlights the critical role of education in peace and development.
26 Jan	International Day of Clean Energy	Promotes access to affordable, reliable, sustainable clean energy worldwide.
27 Jan	Holocaust Remembrance Day	Honors victims of the Holocaust and promotes Holocaust education.

February – International Observances

Date	Observance	Description
2 Feb	World Wetlands Day	Raises awareness about wetlands’ importance to biodiversity and human life.
4 Feb	World Cancer Day	A global effort to reduce cancer’s impact through prevention and awareness.
4 Feb	Human Fraternity Day	Promotes human solidarity and cultural understanding across communities.
6 Feb	Zero Tolerance to FGM	Aims to eradicate female genital mutilation and protect women’s rights.
10 Feb	World Pulses Day	Celebrates pulses (like lentils and beans) as key to sustainable food.
11 Feb	Women and Girls in Science Day	Advocates for gender equality in STEM fields.
12 Feb	Prevention of Violent Extremism Day	Focuses on preventing extremism through education and peacebuilding.
13 Feb	World Radio Day	Recognizes radio’s role in communication, freedom, and education.
20 Feb	Social Justice Day	Encourages action to promote social justice and equality.
21 Feb	Mother Language Day	Celebrates linguistic diversity and promotes multilingual education.

March – International Observances

Date	Observance	Description
1 Mar	World Seagrass Day	Highlights the importance of seagrass in ocean ecosystems.
1 Mar	Zero Discrimination Day	Advocates for equality before the law and in practice.
3 Mar	World Wildlife Day	Raises awareness of wildlife conservation and biodiversity.
3 Mar	Ear and Hearing Loss Day	Promotes hearing care and prevention of hearing loss.
5 Mar	Disarmament Awareness Day	Encourages understanding of global disarmament efforts.
8 Mar	International Women’s Day	Celebrates women’s achievements and advocates for gender equality.
10 Mar	Women Judges Day	Promotes the inclusion of women in the justice system.
15 Mar	Combat Islamophobia Day	Fights discrimination and prejudice against Muslims.
20 Mar	Happiness Day	Encourages happiness as a fundamental human goal.
20 Mar	French Language Day	Celebrates French language and culture within the UN.
21 Mar	Racial Discrimination Day	Promotes racial equality and tolerance.
21 Mar	World Poetry Day	Honors poets and poetic expression.
21 Mar	International Nowruz Day	Marks Persian New Year and celebrates cultural heritage.
21 Mar	World Down Syndrome Day	Raises awareness for the rights of people with Down syndrome.
21 Mar	Forests Day	Supports the conservation and sustainable use of forests.
21 Mar	World Day of Glaciers	Highlights the critical role glaciers play in the environment.
22 Mar	World Water Day	Promotes clean water access and sustainable water management.
23 Mar	Meteorological Day	Recognizes the role of meteorology in climate and weather safety.
24 Mar	Tuberculosis Day	Raises awareness about tuberculosis and efforts to end it.
24 Mar	Truth about Gross Human Rights Day	Honors those who fought for truth and justice in human rights violations.
25 Mar	Victims of Slavery Day	Remembers those who suffered from the transatlantic slave trade.
25 Mar	Solidarity with Detained Staff Day	Recognizes UN staff who have been detained or gone missing.
30 Mar	Zero Waste Day	Promotes sustainable waste reduction and recycling practices.

April – International Observances

Date	Observance	Description
2 Apr	Autism Awareness Day	Promotes understanding and inclusion of people with autism.
4 Apr	Mine Awareness Day	Highlights landmine danger and promotes demining efforts.
5 Apr	Day of Conscience	Celebrates conscience and ethical behavior globally.
6 Apr	Sport for Peace Day	Promotes peace and development through sports.
7 Apr	World Health Day	Marks WHO’s founding and highlights global health issues.
7 Apr	Genocide in Rwanda Reflection Day	Honors the memory of victims of the 1994 genocide.
12 Apr	Human Space Flight Day	Celebrates the first manned spaceflight by Yuri Gagarin.
14 Apr	Chagas Disease Day	Raises awareness about a neglected tropical disease.
15 Apr	World Art Day	Encourages artistic expression and cultural creativity.
20 Apr	Chinese Language Day	Promotes Chinese as one of the UN’s official languages.
21 Apr	Creativity and Innovation Day	Inspires creative solutions for sustainable development.
22 Apr	Mother Earth Day	Encourages protection of our planet’s natural resources.
23 Apr	Book and Copyright Day	Promotes reading, publishing, and protection of intellectual property.
23 Apr	Spanish Language Day	Highlights the cultural richness of the Spanish language.
23 Apr	English Language Day	Celebrates English’s influence as a global language.
24 Apr	Diplomacy for Peace Day	Promotes multilateral diplomacy for peace and understanding.
24 Apr	Girls in ICT Day	Encourages young women to pursue careers in technology.
25 Apr	Delegates Day	Honors UN delegates and their contribution to diplomacy.
25 Apr	World Malaria Day	Raises awareness and action to fight malaria.
26 Apr	Intellectual Property Day	Highlights the role of IP in innovation and creativity.
26 Apr	Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day	Remembers the 1986 nuclear disaster and its victims.
28 Apr	Safety and Health at Work Day	Promotes a safe and healthy work environment globally.
30 Apr	International Jazz Day	Celebrates jazz as a tool for peace, unity, and dialogue.

May – International Observances

Date	Observance	Description
2 May	World Tuna Day	Highlights the importance of sustainable tuna fishing.
3 May	World Press Freedom Day	Promotes press freedom and defends media independence.
8–9 May	WWII Remembrance	Honors those who lost their lives during World War II.
10 May	International Day of Argania	Celebrates the argan tree and its cultural and ecological value.
11 May	World Migratory Bird Day	Focuses on conservation of migratory birds and their habitats.
12 May	International Day of Plant Health	Highlights the importance of protecting plant life.
15 May	International Day of Families	Emphasizes the role of families in development and stability.
16 May	Living Together in Peace Day	Promotes tolerance, solidarity, and peace among communities.
16 May	International Day of Light	Celebrates light science and its role in modern society.
17 May	World Telecommunication Day	Raises awareness about communication technologies.
20 May	World Bee Day	Highlights the importance of bees and pollinators.
21 May	Cultural Diversity Day	Encourages intercultural dialogue and diversity.
21 May	International Tea Day	Promotes tea’s cultural and economic significance.
22 May	Biodiversity Day	Raises awareness about the importance of ecosystems.
23 May	End Obstetric Fistula Day	Focuses on ending a preventable childbirth injury.
23 May	International Day of Vesak	Celebrates the birth, enlightenment, and death of Buddha.
24 May	International Day of the Markhor	Celebrates the endangered national animal of Pakistan.
25 May	Africa Day	Commemorates the founding of the African Union.
25 May	World Football Day	Highlights football’s role in education and unity.
29 May	UN Peacekeepers Day	Honors peacekeepers for their service and sacrifice.
30 May	International Day of Potato	Recognizes the potato’s value in global food security.
31 May	World No-Tobacco Day	Advocates for tobacco control and healthy living.

June – International Observances

Date	Observance	Description
1 Jun	Global Day of Parents	Recognizes the role of parents in child development.
3 Jun	World Bicycle Day	Celebrates cycling as a simple, affordable mode of transport.
4 Jun	Innocent Children Victims of Aggression	Honors children who are victims of abuse and war.
5 Jun	World Environment Day	The largest global event promoting environmental action.
5 Jun	Illegal Fishing Day	Raises awareness about unregulated fishing practices.
6 Jun	Russian Language Day	Celebrates the Russian language and culture in the UN.
7 Jun	World Food Safety Day	Promotes food safety and better health practices.
8 Jun	World Oceans Day	Highlights ocean preservation and marine biodiversity.
12 Jun	World Day Against Child Labour	Focuses on ending child exploitation.
13 Jun	Albinism Awareness Day	Promotes the rights and safety of people with albinism.
14 Jun	World Blood Donor Day	Encourages voluntary blood donation to save lives.
15 Jun	Elder Abuse Awareness Day	Raises awareness to prevent abuse of older persons.
16 Jun	Family Remittances Day	Recognizes the financial impact of migrant workers.
17 Jun	Desertification and Drought Day	Encourages action to combat land degradation.
18 Jun	Sustainable Gastronomy Day	Supports sustainable cooking and food practices.
18 Jun	Countering Hate Speech Day	Promotes tolerance and inclusive dialogue.
19 Jun	Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict	Aims to end war-related sexual violence.
20 Jun	World Refugee Day	Recognizes the strength of people forced to flee.
21 Jun	International Day of Yoga	Celebrates yoga’s holistic benefits for mind and body.
21 Jun	Solstice Celebration Day	Acknowledges solstice-based cultural practices.
23 Jun	UN Public Service Day	Honors public servants’ contributions to society.
23 Jun	International Widows’ Day	Raises awareness about the struggles of widows.
24 Jun	Women in Diplomacy Day	Recognizes the role of women in diplomacy.
25 Jun	Day of the Seafarer	Highlights the contributions of maritime workers.
26 Jun	Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking Day	Fights substance abuse and illegal drug trade.
26 Jun	Support Victims of Torture Day	Stands in solidarity with torture victims.
27 Jun	MSMEs Day	Promotes small businesses as engines of global economy.
29 Jun	International Day of the Tropics	Celebrates tropical nations and their challenges.
30 Jun	Parliamentarism Day	Promotes effective, inclusive parliamentary systems.
30 Jun	Asteroid Day	Educates about asteroid impact risks and research.

July – International Observances

Date	Observance	Description
6 Jul	International Day of Cooperatives	Celebrates the role of cooperatives in socio-economic development.
11 Jul	World Population Day	Highlights global population issues and planning.
11 Jul	Srebrenica Genocide Day	Commemorates the 1995 genocide in Srebrenica.
12 Jul	Day of Sand and Dust Storms	Raises awareness about dust storm impacts.
15 Jul	World Youth Skills Day	Promotes skills training for youth employability.
17 Jul	Criminal Justice Day	Advocates for international criminal justice.
18 Jul	Nelson Mandela Day	Encourages community service and human rights.
20 Jul	World Chess Day	Highlights chess as a tool for education and peace.
28 Jul	World Hepatitis Day	Raises awareness about hepatitis prevention and care.
30 Jul	Day against Trafficking in Persons	Calls for action to end human trafficking.
30 Jul	International Friendship Day	Promotes global friendship and peacebuilding.

August – International Observances

Date	Observance	Description
9 Aug	World’s Indigenous Peoples Day	Promotes the rights and cultures of Indigenous communities.
12 Aug	International Youth Day	Highlights issues affecting young people globally.
19 Aug	World Humanitarian Day	Honors humanitarian workers and global aid efforts.
21 Aug	Victims of Terrorism Day	Remembers and supports victims of terrorism.
22 Aug	Violence Based on Religion Day	Condemns religious violence and promotes tolerance.
23 Aug	Slave Trade Remembrance Day	Honors the memory of the transatlantic slave trade victims.
29 Aug	Nuclear Tests Day	Raises awareness about the effects of nuclear testing.
30 Aug	Victims of Enforced Disappearances Day	Highlights the plight of missing persons and their families.
31 Aug	People of African Descent Day	Celebrates African heritage and combats racial discrimination.

September – International Observances

Date	Observance	Description
5 Sep	International Day of Charity	Promotes charitable efforts for poverty and relief.
7 Sep	Clean Air for Blue Skies Day	Encourages actions to improve air quality.
8 Sep	International Literacy Day	Advocates for universal access to literacy and education.
9 Sep	Protect Education from Attack Day	Promotes safe learning environments in conflict areas.
10 Sep	Suicide Prevention Day	Raises awareness about suicide and mental health.
12 Sep	South-South Cooperation Day	Promotes collaboration among developing countries.
15 Sep	International Day of Democracy	Celebrates democratic values and participation.
16 Sep	Science & Innovation for the South	Highlights science and innovation in the Global South.
16 Sep	Ozone Layer Preservation Day	Promotes efforts to protect the ozone layer.
17 Sep	World Patient Safety Day	Focuses on improving healthcare safety.
18 Sep	International Equal Pay Day	Demands equal pay for equal work worldwide.
20 Sep	World Cleanup Day	Global movement to clean up waste and pollution.
21 Sep	International Day of Peace	Promotes peace, ceasefires, and conflict resolution.
23 Sep	Sign Language Day	Raises awareness about sign languages and deaf culture.
24 Sep	World Rivers Day	Celebrates and protects rivers and freshwater systems.
26 Sep	World Maritime Day	Acknowledges the maritime industry’s global importance.
26 Sep	Nuclear Weapons Elimination Day	Advocates for the abolition of nuclear weapons.
27 Sep	World Tourism Day	Promotes sustainable and inclusive tourism.
28 Sep	Access to Information Day	Supports open access to public information.
29 Sep	Food Loss and Waste Day	Raises awareness on food system efficiency.
30 Sep	Translation Day	Celebrates the work of translators and language professionals.

October – International Observances

Date	Observance	Description
1 Oct	International Day of Older Persons	Honors seniors and promotes active aging.
2 Oct	International Day of Non-Violence	Commemorates Gandhi and non-violent movements.
5 Oct	World Teachers’ Day	Recognizes educators’ contributions to society.
7 Oct	World Habitat Day	Advocates for adequate shelter and sustainable cities.
9 Oct	World Post Day	Celebrates the global postal network’s impact.
10 Oct	World Mental Health Day	Promotes mental health awareness and support.
11 Oct	Day of the Girl Child	Highlights challenges faced by girls worldwide.
13 Oct	Disaster Risk Reduction Day	Encourages disaster preparedness and risk reduction.
14 Oct	World Migratory Bird Day	Promotes bird conservation across hemispheres.
15 Oct	Global Handwashing Day	Emphasizes hygiene and disease prevention.
15 Oct	Day of Rural Women	Celebrates rural women’s roles in farming and family.
16 Oct	World Food Day	Promotes food security and sustainable agriculture.
17 Oct	Eradication of Poverty Day	Advocates for social and economic inclusion.
20 Oct	World Statistics Day	Highlights the role of data in decision-making.
24 Oct	United Nations Day	Marks the founding of the UN in 1945.
24 Oct	Development Information Day	Raises awareness of development challenges.
27 Oct	Audiovisual Heritage Day	Preserves audiovisual materials and history.
29 Oct	Care and Support Day	Acknowledges caregivers and support networks.
31 Oct	World Cities Day	Focuses on inclusive, resilient, and sustainable cities.

November – International Observances

Date	Observance	Description
1 Nov	World Ecology Day	Encourages the protection of ecosystems.
2 Nov	End Impunity for Journalists Day	Stands up for journalists facing threats.
5 Nov	Tsunami Awareness Day	Highlights tsunami preparedness and safety.
6 Nov	Environment in War Day	Prevents environmental destruction during conflict.
10 Nov	World Immunization Day	Promotes vaccines to protect global health.
10 Nov	World Science Day	Celebrates science for peace and progress.
14 Nov	World Diabetes Day	Raises awareness about diabetes prevention and care.
15 Nov	Transnational Crime Prevention Day	Tackles international organized crime.
16 Nov	International Day for Tolerance	Fosters mutual respect among cultures and religions.
19 Nov	World Toilet Day	Advocates for sanitation access worldwide.
19 Nov	Road Traffic Victims Day	Remembers road crash victims and promotes road safety.
20 Nov	Africa Industrialization Day	Promotes industrial development across Africa.
20 Nov	World Children’s Day	Defends children’s rights globally.
21 Nov	World Philosophy Day	Encourages critical thinking and dialogue.
21 Nov	World TV Day	Celebrates the influence of television in society.
21 Nov	World Fisheries Day	Highlights sustainable fishing practices.
25 Nov	Elimination of Violence Against Women Day	Campaigns to end gender-based violence.
26 Nov	Sustainable Transport Day	Promotes eco-friendly and safe transportation.
29 Nov	Solidarity with Palestine Day	Supports Palestinian rights and peace.
30 Nov	Chemical Warfare Victims Remembrance	Honors victims and advocates for chemical disarmament.

December – International Observances

Date	Observance	Description
1 Dec	World AIDS Day	Raises awareness and fights HIV stigma.
2 Dec	Abolition of Slavery Day	Calls for the end of modern slavery and exploitation.
3 Dec	Persons with Disabilities Day	Promotes inclusion and accessibility.
4 Dec	International Day of Banks	Acknowledges the role of banking in development.
5 Dec	International Volunteer Day	Recognizes volunteers’ global contributions.
5 Dec	World Soil Day	Promotes healthy soil for food and ecosystems.
7 Dec	Civil Aviation Day	Highlights aviation’s role in connecting the world.
9 Dec	Anti-Corruption Day	Stands against corruption in all forms.
9 Dec	Victims of Genocide Dignity Day	Honors genocide victims and promotes justice.
10 Dec	Human Rights Day	Commemorates the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
11 Dec	Mountain Day	Encourages sustainable mountain development.
12 Dec	Universal Health Coverage Day	Advocates for health care access for all.
12 Dec	Day of Neutrality	Promotes neutrality in international relations.
18 Dec	International Migrants Day	Defends migrant rights and contributions.
18 Dec	Arabic Language Day	Celebrates Arabic as a key UN language.
20 Dec	Human Solidarity Day	Encourages unity in addressing global issues.
21 Dec	World Meditation Day	Promotes mindfulness and inner peace.
27 Dec	Epidemic Preparedness Day	Encourages readiness to face global health crises.

FAQs – List of Annual Observances