Awareness Education
International Literacy Day
International Literacy Day on 8 September highlights literacy as a human right and the millions of people who still cannot read and write.
- UK
- USA
- Ireland (not marked)
- Canada (not marked)
- Australia (not marked)
- New Zealand (not marked)
- International
OrganiserUNESCO
ListingAdded by us from official sources
Last checked19 October 2026
First held1967
About the day
UNESCO proclaimed the day in 1966 and first celebrated it in 1967. At least 739 million young people and adults lacked basic literacy skills in 2024.
2026 theme
Literacy for people, the planet and prosperity
The 2027 theme has not been announced yet.
Dates for the next three years
| Year | Date | Where | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | Wednesday 8 September 2027 | UK, USA, International | Same date every year |
| 2028 | Friday 8 September 2028 | UK, USA, International | Same date every year |
| 2029 | Saturday 8 September 2029 | UK, USA, International | Same date every year |
Where this information comes from
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