Curated authority collection

Major Global Observance Guides

A reviewed starting set of major global observance guides with strong institutional provenance, useful history and durable explanatory content.

This collection is a deliberately small editorial starting point for readers who want prominent global observances before exploring the full authority library.

Selection is not a legal ranking and does not make one observance more official than another. Every included page keeps its own source-defined scope, designation basis and date rules.

101 selected records

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Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

International Women's Day

8 March · United Nations-recognized international observance

United Nations observance

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

World Water Day

22 March · United Nations international observance

A/RES/47/193

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

World Health Day

7 April · World Health Organization global health observance

WHA/A.2/Res.35

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

Earth Day

22 April · Worldwide / EARTHDAY.ORG campaign

EARTHDAY.ORG’s current 2026 page identifies Earth Day 2026 as Wednesday, 22 April.

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

World Press Freedom Day

3 May · UNESCO / United Nations international observance

UNESCO 26 C/Resolution 4.3

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

World Environment Day

5 June · United Nations Environment Programme global observance

A/RES/2994 (XXVII)

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

World Refugee Day

20 June · United Nations / UNHCR international observance

A/RES/55/76

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

World Population Day

11 July · United Nations / international observance

A/RES/45/216

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

International Youth Day

12 August · United Nations / international observance

A/RES/54/120

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples

9 August · United Nations international observance

A/RES/49/214

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer

16 September · United Nations / international observance

A/RES/49/114

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

International Day of Peace

21 September · United Nations / international observance

A/RES/36/67

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

International Day of Non-Violence

2 October · United Nations international observance

A/RES/61/271

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction

13 October · United Nations / international observance

A/RES/64/200

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

International Day of Rural Women

15 October · United Nations international observance

A/RES/62/136

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

17 October · United Nations / international observance

A/RES/47/196

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

International Day for Tolerance

16 November · UN / UNESCO international observance

UNESCO 28 C/Resolution 5.61

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

World Children’s Day

20 November · United Nations / UNICEF global child-rights observance

UNICEF identifies World Children’s Day as its global day of action marking the Convention on the Rights of the Child on 20 November; United Nations background material links 20 November to…

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

World AIDS Day

1 December · Global health observance

United Nations observance

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development

5 December · United Nations international observance

A/RES/40/212

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

Human Rights Day

10 December · United Nations international observance

A/RES/423 (V)

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

International Mountain Day

11 December · United Nations international observance

A/RES/57/245

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

International Migrants Day

18 December · United Nations international observance

A/RES/55/93

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

World Food Day

16 October · Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations observance

A/RES/35/70

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

World Braille Day

4 January · United Nations / international observance

A/RES/73/161

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

World Day of Social Justice

20 February · United Nations international observance

A/RES/62/10

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

World Radio Day

13 February · UNESCO / United Nations / international observance

A/RES/67/124

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

World Tuberculosis Day

24 March · World Health Organization global health observance

WHO observance

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

World Malaria Day

25 April · World Health Organization global health observance

WHO observance

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

World No Tobacco Day

31 May · WHO / international observance

WHA42.19

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

World Humanitarian Day

19 August · United Nations / international observance

A/RES/63/139

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

World Science Day for Peace and Development

10 November · UNESCO / international observance

UNESCO 31 C/Resolution 20

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

21 March · United Nations international observance

A/RES/2142 (XXI)

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

25 November · United Nations / international observance

A/RES/54/134

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

International Anti-Corruption Day

9 December · United Nations / international observance

A/RES/58/4

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

World Food Safety Day

7 June · FAO / WHO / United Nations / international observance

A/RES/73/250

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

World Diabetes Day

14 November · WHO / United Nations-recognized global health observance

A/RES/61/225

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

World Down Syndrome Day

21 March · United Nations international observance

A/RES/66/149

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

World Patient Safety Day

17 September · World Health Organization global health observance

WHO observance

Source-backedRule Based AnnualIn-depth guide

World Habitat Day

First Monday of October · United Nations international observance

A/RES/40/202 A

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

World Wetlands Day

2 February · United Nations / international observance

A/RES/75/317

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

International Day of Clean Energy

26 January · United Nations / international observance

A/RES/77/327

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

International Day of Light

16 May · UNESCO international observance

UNESCO 39 C/Resolution 16

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

World Book and Copyright Day

23 April · UNESCO international observance

UNESCO 28 C/Resolution 3.18

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

World Tsunami Awareness Day

5 November · United Nations / international observance

A/RES/70/203

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

World Autism Awareness Day

2 April · United Nations / international observance

A/RES/62/139

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

World Toilet Day

19 November · United Nations / international observance

A/RES/67/291

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought

17 June · United Nations / international observance

A/RES/49/115

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

International Day for Universal Access to Information

28 September · UNESCO / United Nations / international observance

A/RES/74/5

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

International Day of Human Space Flight

12 April · United Nations / international observance

A/RES/65/271

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

United Nations Day

24 October · United Nations / international observance

A/RES/168 (II)

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

International Day of Yoga

21 June · United Nations international observance

A/RES/69/131

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

World Bicycle Day

3 June · United Nations / international observance

A/RES/72/272

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

International Day of UN Peacekeepers

29 May · United Nations / international observance

A/RES/57/129

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

International Day of the Girl Child

11 October · United Nations / international observance

A/RES/66/170

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

International Day of Sign Languages

23 September · United Nations / international observance

A/RES/72/161

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

International Translation Day

30 September · United Nations international observance

A/RES/71/288

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

International Civil Aviation Day

7 December · ICAO / United Nations / international observance

A/RES/51/33

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

World Telecommunication and Information Society Day

17 May · ITU / United Nations / international observance

A/RES/60/252

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

International Jazz Day

30 April · UNESCO / international observance

UNESCO 36 C/Resolution 39

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace

24 April · United Nations / international observance

A/RES/73/127

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

International Day of Mathematics

14 March · UNESCO international observance

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

International Day of Women and Girls in Science

11 February · United Nations international observance

A/RES/70/212

Source-backedRule Based AnnualIn-depth guide

International Day of Cooperatives

First Saturday of July · United Nations international observance

Source-backedRule Based AnnualIn-depth guide

World Philosophy Day

Third Thursday of November · UNESCO international day

Proclaimed by UNESCO General Conference in 2005

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

World Day for Glaciers

21 March · United Nations / international observance

A/RES/77/158

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade

25 March · United Nations international remembrance observance

A/RES/62/122

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

International Moon Day

20 July · United Nations / international observance

A/RES/76/76

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

Nelson Mandela International Day

18 July · United Nations / international observance

A/RES/64/13

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

World Art Day

15 April · UNESCO world day

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

International Day of Families

15 May · United Nations / international observance

A/RES/47/237

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

Global Day of Parents

1 June · United Nations / international observance

A/RES/66/292

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

World Post Day

9 October · UPU / United Nations / international observance

UPU/1969/Res.C.11

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

World Day for African and Afrodescendant Culture

24 January · UNESCO world day

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

World Metrology Day

20 May · UNESCO international day

UNESCO international day

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

World Intellectual Property Day

26 April · WIPO / United Nations / international observance

WIPO observance

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

International Day of Parliamentarism

30 June · United Nations / international observance

A/RES/72/278

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

World Creativity and Innovation Day

21 April · United Nations / international observance

A/RES/71/284

Source-backedRule Based AnnualIn-depth guide

World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims

Third Sunday of November · United Nations / WHO global observance

UN endorsement in 2005; A/RES/60/5

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action

4 April · United Nations / international observance

A/RES/60/97

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

World Youth Skills Day

15 July · United Nations international observance

A/RES/69/145

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

International Day of Epidemic Preparedness

27 December · United Nations international observance

A/RES/75/27

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

International Day of Care and Support

29 October · United Nations / international observance

A/RES/77/317

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

Arabic Language Day

18 December · United Nations / international observance

United Nations language observance

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

International Day against Nuclear Tests

29 August · United Nations / international observance

A/RES/64/35

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict

19 June · United Nations / international observance

A/RES/69/293

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and Its Abolition

23 August · UNESCO / international observance

UNESCO 29 C/Resolution 40

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

World Television Day

21 November · United Nations / international observance

A/RES/51/205

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

United Nations Public Service Day

23 June · United Nations / international observance

A/RES/57/277

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare

30 November · OPCW / United Nations / international observance

OPCW C-20/DEC.10

Source-backedRule Based AnnualIn-depth guide

World Maritime Day

Last Thursday of September · United Nations / IMO international observance

IMO / UN observance

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

World Cities Day

31 October · United Nations / international observance

A/RES/68/239

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

International Day for the Abolition of Slavery

2 December · United Nations international observance

A/RES/317(IV)

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

International Mother Earth Day

22 April · United Nations international environmental observance

A/RES/63/278

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

World Poetry Day

21 March · UNESCO international observance

UNESCO 30 C/Resolution 29

Source-backedVariable CustomIn-depth guide

World Statistics Day

20 October every five years · United Nations international statistics observance

United Nations General Assembly resolutions 64/267 and 69/282

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

International Day of Plant Health

12 May · United Nations / FAO international observance

A/RES/76/256

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

International Day to Protect Education from Attack

9 September · United Nations international observance

A/RES/74/275

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict

6 November · United Nations / international observance

A/RES/56/4

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

International Day for the Right to the Truth concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims

24 March · United Nations international remembrance and human-rights observance

A/RES/65/196

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

International Day of Conscience

5 April · United Nations international observance

A/RES/73/329