2026 International Day of Peace
The United Nation’s International Day of Peace was established in 1981 by a unanimous United Nations General Assembly resolution to promote and strengthen the ideals of peace both within and among all nations and peoples. Every year, on September 21st, this Day of Peace encourages the global community to focus on peace, reminding the whole world that conflict destroys human life, destabilizes societies, and interferes with global cooperation to address challenges. Women and children are especially vulnerable to the consequences of conflicts including destabilizing health care, education, and economic stability.
The resolution creating the Day of Peace, also declared the Day as a global period of non-violence and cease-fire, inviting all nations to honor a 24-hour of cessation of hostilities. This global ceasefire mandate has allowed humanitarian groups to safely enter active conflict zones to provide care for people caught in these zones.
Each year, the Day of Peace begins at the United Nations with the Secretary-General ringing the United Nations Peace Bell. This bell was a gift from the united Nations Association of Japan and was cast using coins donated by children and people from all continents except Africa to serve as a stark reminder of the human cost of war. Its inscription reads: “Long live absolute world peace.” The theme for the 2026 International Day of Peace is: Invest in Peace—For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day.
Each year, the United Nations requests that individuals globally observe a Minute of Silence at noon across all time zones to collectively manifest peace. The 2026 Day of Peace brings attention to the urgency of the matter, amidst staggering global volatility that makes the search for peace feel nearly elusive.
This year’s theme honors the ‘everyday makers of peace’— people who work on local actions, laying the foundation for a stability that brings a lasting peace. In the spirit of this year’s theme, we invite each of you to take one small step for peace by participating in the Minute of Silence yourself and by encouraging your communities, schools, and organizations worldwide to participate. Pause all daily activities at 12 pm for 60 seconds to join the global “Peace Wave” across time zones.
Click here to find out more about 10 actions for a more peaceful world: https://www.un.org/en/actnow/ten-actions-peaceful-world
