Below is a list of days, years and decades that have been recognized as international observances by the United Nations, or by some other organizations that declare international observances but are not as widely recognized.
Day |
Name |
Recognized by |
January
|
January 1 |
New Year's Day |
Users of the Gregorian calendar |
January 27 |
International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust |
UN[2] |
January 31 |
Street Children's Day |
|
February
|
February 2 |
World Wetlands Day |
|
February 4 |
World Cancer Day |
UN, WHO[2][3] |
February 6 |
International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation |
WHO[2][4] |
February 11 |
World Day of the Sick |
Instituted by Pope John Paul II |
February 13 |
World Radio Day |
UN, UNESCO[2][5] |
February 14 |
World Valentine Day |
|
February 20 |
World Day of Social Justice |
UN[2] |
February 21 |
International Mother Language Day |
UN, UNESCO[2] |
February 22 |
A Day Without News[6] |
|
March
|
March 1 |
World Civil Defence Day[7] |
|
March 3 |
World Wildlife Day |
UN[8] |
March 8 |
International Women's Day |
UN[9] |
March 11 |
World Day of Muslim Culture, Peace, Dialogue and Film, 311 Day (Band) |
|
March 13/20 |
World Sleep Day (at Friday of the second full week of March) |
|
March 14 |
Pi Day |
March 15 |
World Consumer Rights Day World Contact Day |
|
March 20 |
International Day of the Francophonie[10] |
March 20 |
International Day of Happiness |
UN[2][11] |
March 20 |
World Sparrow Day[12] |
March 21 |
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination |
UN[2] |
March 21 |
World Poetry Day |
UN, UNESCO[2][13] |
March 21 |
International Day of Nowruz |
UN[2][14] |
March 21 |
World Down Syndrome Day |
UN[2][15] |
March 21 |
World Puppetry Day |
UNIMA |
March 21 |
International Day of Forests |
UN[2][16] |
March 22 |
World Water Day |
UN[2][17] |
March 23 |
World Meteorological Day |
UN, WHO[2][18] |
March 24 |
World Tuberculosis Day[19] |
UN, WHO[2][20] |
March 25 |
International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade |
UN[2][21] |
March 26 |
Purple Day to raise awareness of epilepsy |
March 27 |
World Theatre Day |
|
March 31 |
International Transgender Day of Visibility |
|
April
|
April 1 |
April Fools' Day Most of the Western World (except most of Spain), Iran and the island of Minorca (within Spain) |
|
April 2 |
World Autism Awareness Day |
UN[2][22] |
April 2 |
International Children's Book Day |
|
April 4 |
International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action |
|
April 6 |
International Day of Sport for Development and Peace |
April 7 |
Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the Rwanda Genocide |
UN[2][23] |
April 7 |
World Health Day[19] |
UN, WHO[2][24] |
April 8 |
International Romani Day |
|
April 17 |
World Hemophilia Day[citation needed] |
|
April 22 |
International Mother Earth Day |
UN[2][25] |
April 23 |
World Book and Copyright Day |
UN, UNESCO[2][26] |
April 23 |
English Language Day[2] |
|
April 24 |
World Day for Laboratory Animals |
|
April 25 |
World Malaria Day[19] |
UN, WHO[2][27] |
April 26 |
World Intellectual Property Day |
UN, WIPO[2][28] |
April 28 |
World Day for Safety and Health at Work |
UN, ILO[2][29] |
April 29 |
Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare |
UN[2][30] |
April 29 |
International Dance Day |
UNESCO[31] |
April 30 |
International Jazz Day |
UN[2][32] |
May
|
May 1 |
May Day, International Workers' Day |
|
May 3 |
World Press Freedom Day |
UN[2][33] |
May 4 |
International Firefighters' Day, Star Wars Day |
|
May 5 |
International Midwives Day |
|
May 8 |
World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day |
|
May 8–9 |
Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives during the Second World War |
UN[2][34] |
May 9 |
Europe Day |
|
May 10 |
International Migratory Bird Day |
North America |
May 12 |
International Nurses Day |
|
May 15 |
International Day of Families |
UN[2][35] |
May 17 |
World Telecommunication and Information Society Day |
UN, ITU[2][36] |
May 17 |
International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia |
|
May 18 |
World AIDS Vaccine Day |
|
May 18 |
International AIDS Candlelight Memorial |
|
May 18 |
International Museum Day |
|
May 21 |
World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development |
UN[2][37] |
May 22 |
International Day for Biological Diversity |
UN[2][38] |
May 22 |
World Goth Day |
|
May 23 |
World Turtle Day |
|
May 25 |
Geek Pride Day, Towel Day |
|
May 29 |
International Day of UN Peacekeepers |
UN[39] |
May 31 |
World No-Tobacco Day[19] |
UN, WHO[2][40] |
1st Tue in May |
World Asthma Day |
|
2nd Sat in May |
World Fair Trade Day |
|
2nd Sun in May |
Mother's Day |
|
Full moon in May |
Vesak[2] |
|
A weekend in May |
World Migratory Bird Day |
UN, UNEP[2][41] |
June
|
June 1 |
Global Day of Parents |
UN[2][42] |
June 1 |
International Children's Day |
|
June 4 |
International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression |
UN[2][43] |
June 5 |
World Environment Day |
UN, UNEP[2][44] |
June 8 |
World Oceans Day |
UN[2][45] |
June 12 |
World Day Against Child Labour[2][46] |
|
June 14 |
World Blood Donor Day[19] |
UN, WHO[2][47] |
June 17 |
World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought |
UN[2][48] |
June 18 |
Autistic Pride Day |
|
June 20 |
World Refugee Day |
UN[2][49] |
June 21 |
World Music Day, International Day of Yoga |
|
June 23 |
International Widow's Day |
UN[2][50] |
June 24 |
|
|
June 26 |
International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking |
UN[2][51] |
June 26 |
United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture |
UN[2][52] |
3rd Sun in Jun |
Fathers' Day in some countries |
|
July
|
1st Sat in Jul |
International Day of Cooperatives |
UN[2][53] |
July 2 |
World UFO Day |
|
July 11 |
World Population Day |
UN[2][54] |
July 12 |
Malala Day |
UN |
July 13 |
Rock Worldwide Day |
July 17 |
World Day for International Justice |
|
July 18 |
Nelson Mandela International Day |
UN[2][55] |
July 28 |
World Hepatitis Day[19] |
UN, WHO[2][56] |
July 29 |
International Tiger Day |
|
July 30 |
International Day of Friendship |
UN[2][57] |
August
|
1st Fri in Aug |
International Beer Day |
August 9 |
International Day of the World's Indigenous People |
UN[2][58] |
August 12 |
International Youth Day |
UN[2][59] |
August 13 |
International Lefthanders Day |
|
August 19 |
World Humanitarian Day |
UN[2][60] |
August 21 |
|
August 23 |
International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition |
UN, UNESCO[2][61] |
August 29 |
International Day against Nuclear Tests |
UN[2][62] |
August 30 |
International Day of the Disappeared |
|
September
|
September 5 |
International Day of Charity[2] |
|
September 6 |
|
|
September 8 |
International Literacy Day |
UN, UNESCO[2][63] |
September 8 |
|
|
September 10 |
World Suicide Prevention Day |
UN, WHO[2][64] |
September 15 |
International Day of Democracy |
UN[2][65] |
September 16 |
International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer |
UN[2][66] |
September 18 |
World Water Monitoring Day |
September 19 |
International Talk Like a Pirate Day |
September 21 |
International Day of Peace |
UN[2][67] |
September 26 |
European Day of Languages |
September 27 |
World Tourism Day |
UN, UNWTO[2][68] |
September 28 |
World Rabies Day |
UN, WHO[2][69] |
September 28 |
International Right to Know Day[70] |
September 29 |
World Heart Day |
UN, WHO[2][71] |
September 29 |
International Coffee Day |
|
September 30 |
Blasphemy Day |
October
|
October 1 |
International Day of Older Persons |
UN[2][72] |
October 1 |
World Vegetarian Day |
|
October 1 |
World Sake Day |
|
October 2 |
International Day of Non-Violence |
UN[2][73] |
October 2 |
World Cerebral Palsy Day |
|
October 4 |
World Animal Day |
|
October 5 |
World Teachers' Day |
UN, UNESCO[2][74] |
October 9 |
World Post Day |
UN[2][75] |
October 10 |
World Mental Health Day |
UN, WHO[2][76] |
October 11 |
International Day of the Girl Child |
UN[2][77] |
October 13 |
World Thrombosis Day[78] |
|
October 13 |
International Day for Disaster Reduction |
UN[2][79] |
October 14 |
World Standards Day |
|
October 15 |
Global Handwashing Day |
|
October 16 |
World Food Day |
UN, FAO[2][80] |
October 16 |
National Boss Day (Boss's Day) |
|
October 17 |
International Day for the Eradication of Poverty |
UN[2][81] |
October 18 |
World Vasectomy Day[82] |
|
October 20 |
World Osteoporosis Day[83] |
|
October 20 |
World Statistics Day |
|
October 22 |
International Stuttering Awareness Day |
|
October 24 |
United Nations Day |
UN[2][84] |
October 24 |
World Development Information Day |
UN[2][85] |
October 27 |
World Day for Audiovisual Heritage |
UN, UNESCO[2][86] |
October 28 |
International Animation Day |
|
October 29 |
World Stroke Day |
|
1st Mon in Oct |
World Habitat Day |
UN[2][87] |
2nd Thu in Oct |
World Sight Day |
UN, WHO[2][88] |
1st Fri in Oct |
World Smile Day[89] |
|
2nd Sat in Oct |
International Migratory Bird Day |
South America |
November
|
November 1 |
World Vegan Day |
|
November 6 |
International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict |
UN, WHO[2][90] |
November 8 |
International Day of Radiology |
|
November 12 |
World Pneumonia Day |
UN, WHO[2][91] |
November 13 |
World Kindness Day |
|
November 14 |
World Diabetes Day |
UN, WHO[2][92] |
November 15 |
Day of the Imprisoned Writer |
|
November 16 |
International Day for Tolerance |
UN[2][93] |
November 17 |
International Students Day |
|
November 17 |
World Prematurity Day |
|
November 19 |
International Men's Day (Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Australia, India, United States, Singapore, Malta, United Kingdom, South Africa, Hungary, Ireland, Ghana, Canada, Denmark, Austria, France, Pakistan, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis and Grenada) |
November 20 |
Universal Children's Day |
UN[2][94] |
November 20 |
Transgender Day of Remembrance |
|
November 20 |
Africa Industrialization Day |
UN[2][95] |
November 21 |
World Television Day |
UN[2][96] |
November 21 |
World Hello Day |
|
November 25 |
International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women |
UN[2][97] |
November 29 |
International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People |
UN[2][98] |
3rd Thu in Nov |
World Philosophy Day |
UN, UNESCO[2][99] |
3rd Sun in Nov |
World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims |
UN, WHO[2][100] |
December
|
December 1 |
World AIDS Day[19] |
UN[2][101] |
December 2 |
International Day for the Abolition of Slavery |
UN[2][102] |
December 3 |
International Day of Persons with Disabilities |
UN[2][103] |
December 5 |
World Soil Day |
UN: A/RES/68/232 |
December 5 |
International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development |
UN[2][104] |
December 7 |
International Civil Aviation Day |
UN, ICAO[2][105] |
December 9 |
International Anti-Corruption Day |
UN[2][106] |
December 10 |
Human Rights Day |
UN[2][107] |
December 11 |
International Mountain Day |
UN[2][108] |
December 18 |
International Migrants Day |
UN[2][109] |
December 18 |
UN Arabic Language Day |
UN |
December 25 |
Christmas Day |
Christian & Western World |