World Cotton Day 2026; October 7th.

FORUM: ''Cotton for Sustainability: Livelihoods, Value Addition and Partnership''. World Cotton Day 2026. Cotton touches us every day, it is a source of livelihoods for millions of smallholders and labourers, including women and their families, and contributes significantly to the economies of many developing countries. Adding value to cotton can drive inclusive growth. The World Cotton Day is an excellent opportunity to renew our commitment to enhancing the sustainability of the cotton sector and bring it to the forefront of the global agenda. Investment in the cotton, textiles and garments sector can help transform economic development in Central and West Africa, said speakers at a high-level event on the eve of the WTO's 14th Ministerial Conference in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Ministers, heads of international agencies, development finance institutions, private sector partners highlighted the opportunities for Africa to weave its way up the value chain to accelerate economic growth. Join us as we celebrate the many opportunities within the cotton sector, highlighting its vital role in fostering international trade and inclusive economic growth. Discussions will focus on boosting productivity at all levels, advancing innovative strategies for adding value along the value chain, and reinforcing the power of trade to support a better future for all. Follow the Conversation with the hashtags: #7october, #cotton, #WorldCottonDay.

EVENTS: On October 7th, 2026, the World Cotton Day 2026 will be held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, under the theme "Cotton for Good: Building Prosperity Through Trade, Transformation and Partnership". It is jointly organized by the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC), with the participation of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Trade Organization (WTO), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the International Trade Centre (ITC) and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). This year's conference brings together governments, international organizations, financial institutions and private sector partners to recognize cotton as a driver of prosperity and to reaffirm the sector's place in the multilateral trading system. International leaders will explore avenues for strengthening the global cotton-textile value chain through coordination, partnership and source-centred value addition, with particular emphasis on advancing the Partenariat pour le coton in order to attract investment and open up new opportunities for developing countries and least-developed countries (LDCs) alike.

On 8 October 2026, participants will take part in a technical tour organized by the Government of Uzbekistan. Click here to register for free!

Agenda Programme

08:00 - 09:00 --- Reception
Arrival, Registration and Networking Coffee
09:00 - 09:45 ---Opening
Opening Ceremony Speakers:

Master of Ceremonies: Representative of the Government of UzbekistanTBD, H.E. (Senior Government Representative of Uzbekistan), Welcome remarks by the Government of Uzbekistan
Dr. Qu Dongyu, Director-General, FAO, Statement by the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Mr. Eric B. Trachtenberg, Executive Director, ICAC, Opening remarks by the Executive Director of the International Cotton Advisory Committee
Mr. Jean-Marie Paugam, Deputy Director-General, WTO, Keynote statement by the Director-General of the World Trade Organization
H.E. Mr. Angelo Dan, Ambassador, Deputy Permanent Representative and Chargé d’affaires a.i. of Benin, and Coordinator of the C-4+ Countries, Opening remarks on behalf of the C-4+ countries

09:45 - 10:45 ---High-level panel
High-Level Leaders’ Dialogue ''Trade, Transformation and Partnership: How Cotton Builds Prosperity''
Session Objective: In a global context shaped by trade uncertainty, changing supply chains, industrial policy and growing sustainability requirements, this high-level dialogue will explore how cotton can continue to serve as a strategic driver of development. Bringing together leaders from Uzbekistan, the C-4+ countries, and international organizations, the session will examine how cotton-producing countries can strengthen competitiveness, diversify their economies, and build more resilient connections between agriculture, industry, trade, investment, and innovation. The dialogue will also highlight the Partenariat pour le Coton as a practical platform for mobilizing investment, technical cooperation, and partnerships to support the transformation of the cotton-to-textile value chain in the C-4+ countries. The initiative brings together the C-4+ countries and international, financial, and private-sector partners to support value addition and industrial development.

Speakers:

Ibrokhim Yulchiyevich Abdurakhmonov, Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Uzbekistan; Academician of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan and The World Academy of Sciences.
H.E. Mr. Angelo Dan, Ambassador, Deputy Permanent Representative and Chargé d’affaires a.i. of Benin, and Coordinator of the C-4+ Countries
Mr. Jean-Marie Paugam, Deputy Director-General World Trade Organization – WTO
Mr. Hamadou Karidio, Senior Advisor to the Secretary-General, AfCFTA Secretariat
United Nations Industrial Development Organization – UNIDO

10:50 - 11:15 ---Coffee Break and Official Photo
11:15 - 12:30 --- Plenary session

Plenary Session 1 "Building Prosperity Across the Cotton Value Chain"
Session objective: To showcase practical models of cotton value-chain transformation, drawing on experiences from Uzbekistan’s textile development, Benin’s industrial zone approach, Bangladesh’s apparel export model, and India’s integration into global textile and apparel markets. The session will highlight how investment, processing, manufacturing, and buyer linkages can turn cotton into jobs, exports, and broader economic opportunities.

Speakers:

Mr. Ismonaliyev Fayzullo, Deputy Head of Departement, Agency for the Development of Light Industry
Mr. Ramakrishnan Janarthanan, Chief Executive Officer, LXMI Global Advisory
Mr. Navdeep Sodhi, Partner, Gherzi Textile Organization

12:00 - 12:45 --- Plenary session
Plenary Session 2 "Trust, Quality, and Responsible Cotton Supply Chains"
Session objective: To examine how cotton-producing and textile-exporting countries can build market confidence through quality assurance, inspection, traceability, and responsible sourcing systems. The session will highlight how credible data, verification, and supply-chain transparency can help producers, exporters, and textile companies respond to buyer expectations and access higher-value markets.

Speakers:

Mr. Ben Maitland, Senior Director of Advocacy, Communications and Events, BetterCotton
Ms. Alison Ward, Chief Executive Officer of CottonConnect
Mr. Hafiz Muhammad Bakhsh, Senior Manager, WWF - Pakistan
12:45 - 13:00 --- Coffee Break and Networking

13:00 - 14:00 --- Plenary session
Plenary Session 3 ''Investment, Innovation and Competitiveness in Cotton Economies''
Session Objective: To examine what is needed to scale cotton value-chain transformation through investment, technology, infrastructure, sourcing partnerships, and private sector engagement. The session will focus on how cotton economies can become more competitive by attracting capital, improving production and processing capacity, adopting new technologies, and building stronger links with global buyers.

Speakers:

Xanxadjayeva Nilufar Raximovna, Professor, Tashkent Institute of Textile and Light Industry
Mr. Varun Vaid, Executive Director, Wazir Advisors
Mr. Christian Ndikumagenge, Senior Manager, Export Development, Afreximbank
Textile Export Council of Egypt
14:00 - 15:30 --- Lunch Break

15:30 - 16:15  Building Prosperity Across the Cotton Value Chain; Closing
Closing Spotlight Session
Carbon Markets and Climate Finance: New Opportunities for Cotton Farmers


Session Objective: To discuss how carbon markets and climate finance could create new opportunities for cotton farmers and producer organizations. The session will highlight the conditions needed to make cotton-related carbon projects credible, farmer-centered and commercially viable, including science-based measurement, digital monitoring, certification, buyer confidence and fair benefit-sharing mechanisms.



Speakers:

Mr. Raimov Jovlonbek Farhod ugli & Mr. Firdavs Zukhurutdinov Khamitovich, Head of the Division of Transfer of Agricultural Technologies
Mr. Temurbek Omonov, Head of Department, Green Economy Projects Center under the Ministry of Economy and Finance of the Republic of Uzbekistan
Mr. Govind Setlur, Merago, Carbon Asset Management Agency
16:15 - 16:30 --- Closing
Closing Session 

14:00 - 19:20 --- Cotton, Culture and Craftsmanship in Uzbekistan Tour
Technical Tour organized by Host Country


The World Cotton Day 2026 celebrations conclude on 8 October with a technical tour hosted by the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Delegates will see the country's cotton and textile sector first-hand, from heritage craftsmanship to modern processing and manufacturing. The visit provides a practical illustration of value addition in a producing country, supports peer learning among participants, and thereby lends tangible dimension to the objectives pursued by the event as a whole.

Schedule:

14:00 Departure from Hyatt Regency Tashkent

14:00-14:40 Transfer to cotton-textile cluster/textile enterprise (location to be confirmed)

14:40-15:20 Visit to cotton processing and textile production facilities; presentation on value chain development and cotton transformation

15:20-16:00 Transfer to the Research Institute of Cotton Breeding, Seed Production and Cultivation Agrotechnologies site

16:00-16:40 Visit to the Research Institute of Cotton Breeding, Seed Production and Cultivation Agrotechnologies and a cotton field, including a demonstration of modern cotton cultivation practices, harvesting technologies, and sustainability initiatives

16:40-17:20 Transfer to the Center of Islamic Civlization in Uzbekistan

17:20-19:20 Guided visit to the Center of Islamic Civlization in Uzbekistan

19:20 Return to the hotel / end of programme

On March 25th, 2026, The Cotton High-Level Event at MC14 marked the launch of a new phase under the Partenariat pour le Coton (PPC) initiative, with a focus on mobilizing investment to accelerate the transformation of the cotton-to-textile-and-garment value chain.Today, around 98% of the region's cotton is exported as raw fibre, although the region has the potential to position itself as a gateway for processing and transformation into textiles and garments, speakers underlined. "We are on the cusp of creating a modern textiles and garment industry across West and Central Africa," said WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. Analysis by the PPC shows that USD 5 billion in investment and capacity-building support could generate around 500,000 direct jobs, such as textile manufacturing, transport and even fashion design, with women and youth among those set to benefit. The initiative, which builds on the leadership of the "C-4+" group of countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mali, plus Côte d'Ivoire), aims to position the region as a gateway for cotton processing and industrial development. At the event, PPC partners also launched the "Africa Textile Invest" platform, a new tool to support investors by providing a single access point to information on country data, industrial zones and a pipeline of investment opportunities. 

 

"This new portal is an example of how we can translate the vision of the C-4+ into concrete action," said the Managing Director of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Mr. Gunther Berger, reaffirming UNIDO's commitment to support the development of industrial capacities across the cotton-textile-garment value chain. He also highlighted that industrial development is the bridge that connects natural resources to global markets.

"The future of African cotton lies in value addition," said the Executive Director of the International Trade Centre (ITC), Pamela Coke-Hamilton. "Through this partnership, we'll strengthen the cotton value chain across the continent, including through private-sector investment, so farmers and small businesses capture more value at home. This will change thousands of lives."

Cameroon's Minister of Trade, Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana, also addressed the event, along with ministers from the C-4+ group, development partners and private sector representatives.

Other contributors to the High-Level Panel Discussion were Gherzi Textile Organisation, the Bank of Industry, Arise IIP, Africa Export Import Bank (Afreximbank), the African Development Bank, the Islamic Trade Finance Corporation and Scan-Thor, whose insights enriched the dialogue.

At the opening ceremony of MC14, Dr. George Elombi, the President and Chairman of Afreximbank told the assembled ministers that African cotton will be an engine of growth, with the bank providing the investment power.

"Within 15 to 20 years, Africa will be out of the cotton export business, and fully in to exports of textiles and clothing, ensuring more money stays improving lives and livelihoods across the continent," he pledged to hundreds of attendees.

On the eve of the Conference, FIFA representatives and Cameroonian football legends - including Samuel Eto'o - unveiled new tee-shirts and polo shirts produced by Benin from African cotton for the FIFA Football for Schools programme.

In addition, the ITC and the WTO organized a fashion show featuring a cotton-themed catwalk. A reception after the event showcased the creative work of designers from the C-4+ countries as well as Nigeria and Cameroon, complemented by demonstrations by traditional cotton artisans and jewellers.
Background

Launched at MC13 in Abu Dhabi, the Partenariat pour le Coton (PPC) is a flagship initiative that bridges the WTO's discussions on the development dimension of cotton with tangible industrialization and investment efforts across West and Central Africa. As a multistakeholder support mechanism, bringing together committed international organizations, finance institutions and private-sector partners, the PPC supports the C-4+ countries in mobilizing the investment needed to transform the cotton-to-textile value chain and to translate trade into meaningful development outcomes. The initiative aims to support the C-4+ countries in mobilizing USD 5 billion in investment over a 10-year period, generating USD 6 billion in value-added products, and enabling the region to position itself as a competitive West and Central African cotton and textile gateway for investment. The PPC seeks to leverage trade and investment to produce sustained and inclusive development gains. Following the successful completion of its diagnostic phase (2024-2025), which identified priority investment areas across the C-4+ countries, the PPC is now entering a critical implementation phase. To effectively support countries in attracting investment, a combination of donor funding, blended finance solutions and risk mitigation instruments must be mobilized at scale. MC14 comes at a pivotal moment, providing an opportunity to reinforce commitment in the cotton sector, catalyse investment and accelerate the emergence of a stronger, more integrated regional cotton textile/garment ecosystem across West and Central Africa.

On October 7th, at UNHQ was held the High-level event entitled ''Cotton for Sustainability: Livelihoods, Value Addition and Partnership''. 

Cotton value addition involves transforming raw cotton fiber and plant by-products into higher-value commercial goods across the supply chain, increasing profitability, creating jobs, and reducing waste.

The Pathways for Cotton Value Addition are:

• Fiber Processing & Textiles: Transforming raw ginned lint into spun yarn, woven or knitted fabrics, and finished garments (such as t-shirts, towels, and denim). Specialty processing like mercerizing (double-treating thread like DMC Stranded Cotton to boost strength and sheen) or manufacturing quilted wadding like Legacy 100% Cotton Wadding with Scrim available at Spotlight.
• Seed Utilization: Crushing cotton seeds to produce edible cooking oils and high-protein animal feed or protein meals. Using hulls and other seed fractions as livestock nutrition and energy sources.
• By-Product & Waste Stream Innovation: Converting gin trash (waste left after ginning) into high-value industrial chemicals & Repurposing cotton residues and waste fibers into sound-proofing acoustic panels or 3D-printing filaments that resist heat and moisture.
• Medical & Hygienic Products: Processing staple fibers into medical supplies, absorbent medical cotton rolls like the Value Plus Cotton Wool Roll, and personal care goods

Major producing regions often export raw or ginned fiber rather than finished goods, prompting international initiatives (such as the WTO and UNCTAD programs) to build domestic spinning and textile infrastructure. In regions like Australia, raw cotton production frequently outstrips local manufacturing capacity by a wide margin (with production reaching up to 3 million bales against a much smaller domestic processing demand), meaning most value-adding occurs via export markets or specialized niche manufacturing.

Watch the high-level event entitled ''Cotton for Sustainability: Livelihoods, Value Addition and Partnership''!

01:14:34


Meetings & Events

World Habitat Day 2026; October 5th.

FORUM: "Adequate Housing for All" World Habitat Day 2026. The world is facing a global housing crisis. More than 3 billion people lack access to adequate housing today. Furthermore, more than 1.1 billion people, continue to live in an informal settlement, and hundreds of millions are experiencing homelessness. This crisis is exacerbated by conflicts, disasters, and climate change, with individuals living in informal settlements facing the harshest impacts and having the least ability to recover. Housing is acknowledged as a human right in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Other than it being well established as a right that the world is yet to deliver, people facing the challenge of inadequate housing are also deprived of dignity, safety, stability and opportunity. The Global Observance of World Habitat Day 2026 builds on a renewed wave of political commitment to Adequate Housing. At the second session of the UN-Habitat Assembly, 2023 Member States adopted resolution2/7, which focuses on ensuring adequate housing for all, and resolution 2/2, which aims to transform informal settlements and slums. In these resolutions, Member States have urged UN-Habitat to strengthen its efforts in these important areas and UN Habitat launched the Open-ended Intergovernmental Expert Working Groupon Adequate Housing for All, as an intergovernmental process to help contribute to solving for this challenge. Further through the Pact for the Future, Member States have also committed to ensuring that everyone has access to adequate, safe, and affordable housing. This year also marks the first Urban October under UN-Habitat’s new Strategic Plan 2026–2029, which places housing, land and basic services at the centre of the organization’s mandate. The Baku Call to Action from the thirteenth World Urban Forum held in May 2026, emphasises the importance of a human rights approach to housing and encourages a shift from diagnosis to action. Housing is essential for achieving the SustainableDevelopment Goals. Making progress on both the 2030 Agenda and the New Urban Agenda is closely tied to our ability to provide adequate housing for everyone. World Habitat Day will highlight the importance of adequate housing for thriving communities and the actions needed to make it a reality. This requires targeted efforts for lower-income groups, people experiencing disasters, crisis and homelessness, and those most at risk of displacement. Success depends on how we plan and manage our cities, recognizing the social, economic and ecological functions of land, promoting secure land tenure, preventing urban sprawl, and ensuring housing is located within well-serviced, liveable neighbourhoods. Achieving adequate housing also requires diversifying how housing is produced and delivered, through social, public, rental, cooperative and community-led models alongside market-based solutions. Housing must be environmentally sustainable, climate resilient and culturally appropriate, while prioritizing the upgrading andtransformation of informal settlements to improve conditions for those most in need. Above all, these efforts rely on effective multilevel governance, supported by enabling policies and legislation, robust data, and adequate financing. The Global Observance, hosted by the Sultanate of Oman in Muscat, will kick off the Home & Building Expo and Urban October. It will provide a global platform for exchanging experiences, showcasing innovative approaches, and strengthening partnerships that advance the right to adequate housing in practice.  In line with UN-Habitat’s Strategic Plan 2026–2029 and resolution 2/7 on adequate housing for all, the objectives of the World Habitat Day 2026 will: 1. Showcase innovative practices that advance adequate housing for all and recognise outstanding contributions through the UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour Award, one of the world’s most prestigious human settlements awards. 2. Reaffirm adequate housing as a human right and a cornerstone for achieving the SustainableDevelopment Goals and the New Urban Agenda. 3. Raise awareness of the drivers contributing to the global housing crisis, including unaffordability,informality, insecure tenure, climate impacts, displacement and inadequate conditions and highlight the ongoing gap between commitment and actual progress. 4. Promote dialogue on inclusive, integrated and holistic housing strategies that reach all households and all forms of tenure, with targeted efforts for those in the most vulnerable situations. 5. Highlight the central role of all levels of governments, effective multilevel governance, national urbanpolicies, housing law, well-planned, well-located compact neighbourhoods, in realising adequatehousing. Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #WorldHabitatDay, #UrbanOctober, #urbancrisisresponse, #Right2Housing, #MindtheGap, #LeaveNoOneBehind, #adequatehousing.

EVENTS: On 5 October 2026, the Global Observance of World Habitat Day will be related to "Adequate Housing for All". The global housing crisis whereby an estimated 2.8 billion people face various forms of housing inadequacy, in which close to 1.1 billion reside in slums and informal settlements, calls for urgent and concerted action. World Habitat Day will consider how to realize the ambition of ensuring access to adequate housing for all as a cornerstone for achieving the SDGs and the New Urban Agenda. Register to participate!

AGENDA PROGRAMME OF THE GLOBAL OBSERVANCE OF WORLD HABITAT DAY 2026.

10.30 -11:00 ARRIVAL OF ATTENDEES (All guests to be seated by 11:00)
11:00 - 11:45 NATIONAL OBSERVANCE HIGH-LEVEL OPENING
11:45 - 12:30 GLOBAL OBSERVANCE HIGH-LEVEL OPENING

UN-HABITAT SCROLL OF HONOUR AWARDS: The UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour Award, launched in 1989, recognizes individuals and institutions that have made outstanding contributions to urban development, including improving the quality of urban life for all and ensuring adequate, affordable, and accessible housing.

12:30 - 12:45 SIGNING CEREMONY FOR DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS, INCLUDING INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS
12:45 - 13:30 INAUGURATION OF THE EXPO
15:00 - 15:15 SCROLL OF HONOUR
15:15 - 16:00 MINISTERIAL SEGMENT
16:00 - 17:15 FLAGSHIP DIALOGUE: ADEQUATE HOUSING FOR ALL
17:15 - 17:30 CLOSING CEREMONY

Related Sites and Documents: Concept note & Agenda programme (pdf).

LIVESTREAM: Watch the World Habitat Day 2026 - "Adequate Housing for All" (Muscat, Oman) (Morning Session)!

ARRIVAL OF ATTENDEES (All guests to be seated by 11:00) 10.30 –11:00 

NATIONAL OBSERVANCE HIGH-LEVEL OPENING 11:00 – 11:45 

GLOBAL OBSERVANCE HIGH-LEVEL OPENING 11:45 – 12:30 

Opening address by master of ceremonies World Habitat Day 2026 video Video message from Nga Kor Ming, President of the United Nations Habitat Assembly and Minister of Housing and Local Government, Malaysia Message from António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General, read by Anacláudia Rossbach, Under-Secretary-General and Executive-Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) Welcome address by Anacláudia Rossbach, Executive Director of UN-Habita

SIGNING CEREMONY FOR DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS, INCLUDING INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS 12:30 – 12:45 

UN-HABITAT SCROLL OF HONOUR AWARDS

 Introduction by master of ceremonies Award ceremony • Maryam Nawaz Sharif, Chief Minister of Punjab, Pakistan, representing the Punjab Housing and Town Planning Agency, Lahore, Pakistan • Htoo Aung, representing Housing NOW, Bago, Myanmar • Thiago Bauermann Gubert representing Aldeia do Espraiado - Tekoa Ara Hovy: Brazil’s First Indigenous village established by a Brazilian Municipality • Abdelmalek Ghannem, Bizerte, Tunisia • Sadiq Khan, London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

INAUGURATION OF THE EXPO 12:45 – 13:30

MINISTERIAL SEGMENT 15:00 – 15:45

FLAGSHIP DIALOGUE: ADEQUATE HOUSING FOR ALL 15:45 – 17:00 

MODERATOR: Rania Hedeya, Director, Regional Office for Arab States, UN-Habitat 

PANELISTS: • Elena Carolina Díaz Galán, United Nations Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights • Dr Asmus Hammerich, WHO Representative to Oman • Melani Penjani Chirwa, Programmes Coordinator, Slum Dwellers International (SDI) • Rony Lahoud, General Director, Public Corporation for Housing, Lebanon • Sultan Barakat, Professor of Public Policy, Hamad Bin Khalifa University (Qatar Foundation) and Honorary Professor, University of York • Partha Mukhopadhyay, Senior Fellow, Centre for Policy Research, India • Wendy Werner, World Bank Group Country Manager for Oman CLOSING CEREMONY 17:00 – 17:20 

Closing session by the master of ceremonies Closing remarks, TBC Closing remarks by Anacláudia Rossbach, Executive Director of UN-Habitat Group photo session

COMMUNICATION MATERIALS: Get the campaign toolkit & other assets!

World Teachers’ Day 2026; October 5th.

 

FORUM: “Standing with teachers: 60 years of protecting the profession, advancing its status and shaping our futures”. World Teachers’ Day 2026. The year 2026 will mark the 60th anniversary of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers. We will celebrate progress in recognizing teachers’ vital role, we will highlight the challenges the profession continues to face, and we will call on society and policymakers to protect, promote and elevate its status. Especially the case today, as the world needs 50 million more teachers to achieve SDG 4 by 2030. Sixty years after the adoption of the Recommendation, World Teachers’ Day 2026 provides an opportunity to ask how societies envision the purposes of education today, the role of teachers in achieving them, and the obstacles to realising these purposes and enabling teachers to fulfil their role. At a time when the Recommendation is being revised, World Teachers’ Day will examine how effective policies are in elevating the status of teachers; whether these policies are negotiated through social dialogue and collective bargaining with teachers and their representatives; and the quality and availability of data and evidence used to ascertain teachers’ “status” and determine policy actions. Building on the call of the first World Summit on Teachers and its outcome document, the Santiago Consensus, adopted in August 2025, World Teachers’ Day 2026 will also celebrate teachers’ work and the progress enabled by the Recommendation, while considering its limitations, including challenges in monitoring and implementation. Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #Teachers, #WorldTeachersDay, #5October, #valuingteachervoices, #teaching, #teachingasacollaborativeprofession, #teachthem.

EVENTS: On October 5th at UNESCO HQ, from 8:00 to 06:30 pm GMT will be held the the World teacher's day 2026 and the UNESCO-Hamdan Prize. Co-convened by UNESCO, the International Labour Organization (ILO), UNICEF and Education International, the celebration will take place at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris and will be opened by UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany. It will bring together teachers, ministers of education, policymakers, academics, young people, teacher organizations, education partners and institutions from around the world. 

The 2026 event will have three main objectives: 

(i) celebrate World Teachers’ Day, drawing the attention of decision-makers and the international community to the chosen theme by sharing data, analyses and knowledge about the facts and challenges related to teacher status around the world, as well as promising strategies for addressing these challenges; 

(ii) advocate for changes in teacher status by calling on relevant actors to take action to address the challenges facing the profession; 

(iii) recognise innovations and promising practices in teacher professional development through theawarding of the UNESCO-Hamdan Prize for Teacher Development.

The programme will feature high-level discussions on protecting and advancing the teaching profession, opportunities for teachers and members of the public to interact and share their perspectives, and a performance by a teachers’ choir. The day will also include the award ceremony for the ninth edition of the UNESCO-Hamdan Prize for Teacher Development. Read the concept note, the agenda programme and  Register to participate!

Provisional programme 

Time (UTC+2)                                Session 

08:30 – 09:10 Welcome coffee World Teachers’ Day ceremony 

09:10 – 09:50 Welcome message and musical interlude Opening remarks by the Director-General of UNESCO, Mr Khaled El-Enany Interactive activity with the audience Keynote by Prof Gert Biesta, Professor of Education, University of Melbourne, and Adjunct Professor, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, on the 60th anniversary of the ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers (1966)

09:50 – 10:45 Panel discussion with the co-conveners of World Teachers’ Day - Mr Qun Chen, Assistant Director-General for Education, UNESCO - Ms Vera Paquete-Perdigão, Director of Labour Governance & Sectoral Policies Department, ILO - Ms Brenda Haiplik, Global Lead Teacher Development and Workforce, UNICEF - Mr David Edwards, General Secretary, Education International Musical interlude.

- UNESCO-Hamdan Prize for Teacher Development award ceremony-

10:45 – 12:30 Opening remarks by UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Education, Mr Qun Chen Presentation of the 10 finalists’ teacher development programmes - Recognition of the International Jury - Video celebrating the UNESCO-Hamdan Prize - Thematic discussions with the 10 Prize finalists Remarks by His Highness Sheikh Rashid bin Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum of the United Arab Emirates Announcement of the three laureates.

13:00 – 14:30 High-level lunch (by invitation only) 

- Afternoon panel discussion -

15:00 – 17:00 Rethinking and elevating the status of teachers: Thematic conversation with Ministers of Education, teachers and international experts 

17:00 – 17:30 Visit to the exhibition of finalists’ projects 

17:30 – 19:00 Closing reception of World Teachers’ Day 2026

The international event will include two key moments: (1) a morning session featuring the official World Teachers’ Day commemoration and the award ceremony for the 9th edition of the UNESCO Hamdan Prize for Teacher Development, including a discussion with the 10 finalists on their innovative approaches and projects; and (2) an afternoon session featuring a high-level discussion with Ministers of Education and international experts on policy solutions to elevate the status of teachers and support the transformation of the teaching profession. 

International Day of Older Persons 2026; October 1st.

FORUM: "The Age of Longevity: Rethinking Systems for Longer Lives." International Day of Older Persons 2026. The 2026 observance will explore one of the defining transformations of our time: humanity is living longer than ever before. Global life expectancy has increased steadily over more than seven decades and is projected to continue rising through mid-century. Yet in 2019, the gap between global life expectancy and healthy life expectancy stood at 9.6 years, a gap that has widened since 2000, reflecting the growing burden of noncommunicable diseases. Longer lives are bringing greater attention to how health, social and economic conditions, and human rights are experienced across the life course. Longevity intersects with health systems, labour markets, social protection frameworks, education systems, housing and infrastructure planning, and fiscal sustainability in ways that are deeply interconnected and cannot be addressed in isolation. Where years of life are lived in good health and supported by inclusive labour markets and effective social protection systems, longer lives can generate what has been described as a longevity dividend, reflecting the gains that arise whensustained health, productivity and participation accompany extended life spans. Conversely, where gains in life expectancy are not accompanied by improvements in healthy life expectancy, older persons may spend more years in poorer health, limiting their functional ability, well-being, autonomy and participation. This underscores the need for responsive health systems, care provision and public financing arrangements that support well-being across longer lives. Outcomes vary significantly across and within countries, reflecting deep inequalities in social, economic and environmental conditions that accumulate across the life course. Persistent misconceptions about ageing, including assumptions that chronological age determines ability or that population ageing inevitably constrains economic growth, can distort policy design and reinforce the very outcomes they purport to describe. Older persons should be recognized as active contributors to society rather than passive recipients of care, and policies should reflect the diversity of ageingtrajectories and the capacities and contributions in later life. Addressing these realities requires policy approaches that recognize the linkages between wellbeing, productivity and financial resilience across the life course. The Madrid International Plan ofAction on Ageing (MIPAA), adopted in 2002, remains the cornerstone of international efforts in this regard, alongside a growing international momentum to strengthen the human rights framework for older persons. This year's commemoration, The Age of Longevity: Rethinking Systems for LongerLives, invites Governments, civil society, the private sector, researchers and older persons   themselves to examine how societies can ensure that the additional years gained translate into healthy, productive, dignified and equitable lives for all. Population ageing is no longer a distant projection; it is an unfolding global reality. The globalpopulation aged 60 or over is projected to rise from approximately 1.22 billion in 2025 to more than 2.1 billion by 2050, a transformation that is without historical precedent, most pronounced in developing regions. Growth is fastest at the oldest ages: populations aged 80 or over are expected to more than double, and the number of centenarians to increase more than fourfold by mid-century. In 2025, remaining life expectancy at age 60 varies substantially across regions, from 17.4 years in Africa to 24.9 years in Oceania, reflecting deep inequalities in access to health, social protection and economic opportunity. Despite significant overall gains, healthy life expectancy has not kept pace with longevity in many settings. Low-income regions have achieved substantial gains in healthy life expectancy, while high-income countries have seen a marked slowdown in improvement after 2010, demonstrating thatwealth alone does not guarantee healthy longevity, and that sustained policy investment remains essential regardless of income level. While life expectancy has increased substantially, improvements in healthspan, the years of life livedin good health, have not always kept pace. Extending healthspan, not just lifespan, is increasingly recognized as the defining objective of health policy in an ageing world. Social determinants account for 80 to 90% of health outcomes, and evidence from communities around the world where people live measurably longer and healthier lives consistently points to the power of place, purpose and social connection. Advances in geroscience and artificial intelligence are creating newopportunities to extend life expectancy further, yet without equitable access and sustained investment in prevention, these gains risk widening existing disparities. Longer lives also have profound implications for economic security and social protection. Globally, 3.8 billion people remain without any social protection coverage, and more than 57.8% of the world's workers are in informal employment. Women are disproportionately affected by longevity related financial risk due to lower lifetime earnings, caregiving interruptions and longer average life expectancy. Adapting labour markets, expanding lifelong learning opportunities and extending social protection coverage to informal workers are among the key policy responses needed to ensure that longer lives translate into sustained participation, security and dignity, grounded in the full enjoyment of human rights by all. At the same time, policy design should draw on the knowledge, lived experiences and diverse perspectives of older persons themselves, whose participation is essential to developing responses that reflect the diversity of ageing trajectories. In line with MIPAA, this means enabling older persons not only to take the lead in their own betterment, but also to participate actively in the betterment of society as a whole. The macroeconomic stakes are significant. In the absence of reform, average Government deficits could rise from 2.4 per cent of GDP in 2025 to around 9.1 per cent by 2060. Yet when longer lives are accompanied by sustained health, productivity and participation, a longevity dividend becomes possible and the policy challenge shifts from managing the costs of ageing to investing in the conditions under which longer lives generate shared gains for all generations. Realizing this potential requires moving beyond fragmented, sector-by-sector responses. Pensionreforms too often proceed independently of health strategies; social protection systems were largely designed for shorter lives and formal employment; and preventive investments are rarely linked to fiscal objectives. Strengthening whole-of-government approaches involves clarifying mandates andensuring longevity considerations are reflected across health, labour, fiscal and social protection systems, in line with the implementation of MIPAA. It also requires coordinated action beyond Government alone, engaging civil society, older persons and their representative organizations, the private sector, academia and researchers, each with a distinct role in translating policy into outcomes that ensure the age of longevity becomes an opportunity for all. The 2026 commemoration of the International Day of Older Persons in New York aims to: • Examine how longer lives are reshaping health, social and economic realities over time, including the need for health systems, labour markets, social protection frameworks and public financing arrangements that are better aligned with the realities of longer lives, as well as the opportunities that healthy longevity can generate for individuals, communities and economies. • Highlight evidence on the factors that influence well-being in later life, with a focus on the social, economic and environmental determinants of health across the life course, the importance of prevention, and the cumulative effects of inequality on ageing trajectories. • Explore how policies and systems can better respond to longer lives, including through ageinclusive labour markets, lifelong learning, expanded social protection coverage for informal workers, integrated care models, and whole-of-government approaches that reflect the interconnected nature of longevity across sectors. • Share perspectives from different regions on the experience of ageing, recognizing the significant diversity in how population ageing is unfolding across income levels and geographies, and the importance of solutions that reflect local realities and lived experience. • Encourage dialogue between research, policy and practice, drawing on insights from demography, geroscience, economics, public health and human rights to support evidencebased responses to the opportunities and policy implications of an ageing world.

EVENT: The 2026 event in New York is sponsored by The Permanent Mission ofArgentina to the United Nations. Organized by United Nations Department of Economic andSocial Affairs Programme on Ageing in partnership with the NGO Committee on Ageing in NewYork. The event will include a keynote address followed by a moderated, interactive panel discussion. Time will be reserved for interactive dialogue with participants. 

The 2026 United Nations International Day of Older Persons will explore one of the defining transformations of our time: humanity is living longer than ever before. Global life expectancy has increased steadily over more than seven decades and is projected to continue rising through mid-century. Related Sites and Documents: Event Site & Concept Note. Watch the 36th UN International Day of Older Persons Celebration! 

On Tuesday October 8th, starting at 16:00 pm est, a side event entitled ''Older Women Matter: Addressing Violence Across the Life Course'' was held -This event will feature Ms. Reem Alsalem, the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women and Girls, as well as a panel of experts, including representatives from Member States and representatives of NGOs engaged in the topic. Watch the livestream!

 

International Day of Peace 2026; September 21st.

FORUM: “Investing in Peace: For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day.” International Day of Peace 2026. Today, amidst staggering volatility, the search for peace feels overwhelming—but it has never been more urgent. Peace is more than the absence of war; it is the foundation necessary to collectively tackle humanity’s challenges. It is the lived experience of safety, dignity, opportunities and cooperation in our daily lives. This year’s International Day of Peace honours the 'everyday architects of peace'—people driving local action, laying the groundwork for stability, and building a lasting peace from the ground up. Remember, peace isn’t just built in conference rooms—it is shaped by everyone, everywhere, every day. Follow the conversation with the hashtags: #Peaceday, #sustainingpeace, #InternationalDayofPeace, #21September.

EVENTS: On Monday September 21st, 2026, the world marks the International Day of Peace.

On Monday, September 21st will held at United Nations Headquarters, a ceremony under the theme ''Invest in Peace - For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day '' to observe the International Day of Peace 2026. This year's theme focuses on honoring local community builders and everyday people who create stability and cooperation. Peace is more than the absence of war. It is a daily practice of safety, dignity, and inclusion. Several events are being held throughout the world to observe the Day. The Peace Bell Ceremony will be Held at the UN headquarters in New York, where leaders ring the bell and observe a minute of silence. The United Nations calls on all combatants worldwide to observe a 24-hour cessation of hostilities and violence. Communities, schools, and youth groups host "Peace Circles" and educational events. Register to participate!

Statement of the United Nations Secretary-General on International Day of Peace 2026; September 21st.

As we mark the International Day of Peace, we face a world where this vital asset is in dangerously short supply.

Communities are shaken by violence and division.

Conflicts are growing in scale and complexity, spilling across borders and inflicting enormous suffering.

Dialogue is faltering, solutions are elusive and global solidarity is missing in action.

But around the world, people are showing that we are not powerless.

Volunteers, advocates, civil society leaders, peacekeepers and peacemakers are bridging divides, uniting communities and pushing for dialogue.

Action by action, they are building peace from the ground up.

Like this year’s theme — “Investing in Peace: For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day” — these champions of peace are showing us that achieving peace is not passive or automatic.

It’s an active and deliberate choice to invest in a better future.

By building inclusive communities where peace can take hold.

By investing in sustainable development — in people’s health, education, nutrition and social protection.

By bridging divides and ensuring everyone’s voice is heard.

By safeguarding the human rights and dignity that belong to every person.

And by strengthening the proven tools of peace — diplomacy, dialogue, negotiation and peacekeeping.

On this International Day of Peace, let us all be inspired by the courage of those who champion peace in neighbourhoods, classrooms and communities.

And let’s call on world leaders to invest in a peaceful future for all people.

António Guterres.

Secretary-General's remarks at the UN Peace Bell Ceremony

Each year, the toll of the Peace Bell reminds us of the most important and consequential job we have:

Building peace.

Peace is never a passive achievement.

Peace is hard work.

Peace is action.

But in our world today, action for peace is faltering.

Violence and division are tearing apart communities.

Conflicts are widening and deepening.

People are suffering.

And the dialogue and solidarity that solutions require are missing in action.

But where governments are failing to deliver peace, people are showing another way.

Around the world, volunteers, advocates, civil society leaders, peacekeepers and peacemakers are doing the heavy lifting of peace.

Raising their voices.

Bridging divides.

Healing communities.

Through their actions, large and small, they are bringing to life the theme of this year’s International Day of Peace: “Investing in Peace: For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day.”

As world leaders prepare to gather at the United Nations in the coming weeks, I urge them to follow the lead of these champions of peace.

By investing in sustainable development — in people’s health, education, nutrition and social protection.

By building institutions and systems that people can trust.

By safeguarding the human rights and dignity that belong to every person.

By re-committing to the proven tools of peace — diplomacy, dialogue, negotiation and peacekeeping.

And by ending wars and conflicts. Now.

Today, I call on world leaders to stand with us:

Take action;

Invest in solutions;

And do the hard work of building lasting, sustainable peace.

This is the last time I will ring the Peace Bell.

But I will always stand with the champions of peace around the world.

Thank you.

António Guterres, 9 September 2026.

Secretary-General's 100-day countdown to the International Day of Peace message

In a world rocked by conflict, it is easy to feel overwhelmed and powerless. But all around us are everyday architects of peace – from volunteers to campaigners and civil society leaders – showing us how to take action to reshape our communities for the better.

Over the next 100 days, as we count down to the International Day of Peace, let us honour these changemakers – and take inspiration from their example.

Peace is not just made at conference tables, but in classrooms, neighbourhoods, and everywhere people meet with open minds and open hearts. Together, day by day, we can build a more just world, with compassion, equality and dignity for all.

António Guterres,

13 June 2026.

TAKE ACTION: Everyone, everywhere can do their part for peace. Take one small step for peace every day:

Give your time to help someone else.
Lend your voice to drive positive change.
Host a Peace Circle - an intergeneration youth-led conversation on solutions.
Use your platform to promote a cause or tell a story of peace and hope

Show us how you're building the architecture of peace and justice using #InvestInPeace.

Actions for peace

Here are some activities you can consider and help raise awareness about peace and global goals.

1. Act Now for Our Common Future through social media.

Promote and participate in the Act Now 1 Million Actions for Our Common Future campaign. Download the app, select the campaign, and log your action to Speak up for Peace.

2. Launch a digital awareness campaign for peace.

3. Organize a peace walk or run.

4. Hold a “Sports Day for Peace”.

5. Host a peace-themed film night.

6. Volunteer for a peace organization.

7. Tend to a community garden for peace.

8. Host a peace concert in your community.

9. Organize an exhibit of art for peace.

10. Spearhead an environmental clean up effort.

11. Write a poem for peace.


Definitions from the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace

Cultivating a Culture of Peace:

A culture of peace is a set of values, attitudes, traditions and modes of behaviour and ways of life based on:

(a) Respect for life, ending of violence and promotion and practice of non-violence through education, dialogue and cooperation;

(b) Full respect for the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of States and non-intervention in matters which are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any State, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and international law;

(c) Full respect for and promotion of all human rights and fundamental freedoms;

(d) Commitment to peaceful settlement of conflicts;

(e) Efforts to meet the developmental and environmental needs of present and future generations;

(f) Respect for and promotion of the right to development;

(g) Respect for and promotion of equal rights and opportunities for women and men;

(h) Respect for and promotion of the right of everyone to freedom of expression, opinion and information;

(i) Adherence to the principles of freedom, justice, democracy, tolerance, solidarity, cooperation, pluralism, cultural diversity, dialogue and understanding at all levels of society and among nations; and fostered by an enabling national and international environment conducive to peace.

COMMUNICATION ASSETS: Download International Day of Peace 2026 promotional material on Trello

ActNow for A Peaceful World

Explore what you can do for peace.

Join the 1 Million Actions for Our Common Future campaign.
Find out how you can be part of the UN Summit of the Future.
Download the UN ActNow app and log your actions for peace!

LIVESTREAM: Watch the United Nations Peace Bell Ceremony on the occasion of the International Day of Peace 2026.

Each year the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on 21 September. The General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples. The Secretary-General and the President of the General Assembly will celebrate the International Day of Peace in the Peace Garden at United Nations Headquarters by ringing the Peace Bell and observing a minute of silence.