World Teachers' Day 2026 Observed on 5 October, Marking 60 Years of the ILO/UNESCO Teacher Status Recommendation
World Teachers' Day was observed on 5 October 2026 under the theme 'Standing with teachers: 60 years of protecting the profession, advancing its status and shaping our futures', marking six decades of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers. The day has been observed since 1994, when UNESCO instituted it, and is co-convened by UNESCO, the ILO, UNICEF and Education International; the main 2026 event was held at UNESCO headquarters in Paris. India marks its own National Teachers' Day on 5 September, the birth anniversary of Dr S. Radhakrishnan, when the National Teachers' Awards were conferred last month.
UNESCO was founded in 1945 and is headquartered in Paris | The ILO, founded in 1919, is the oldest UN specialised agency and is headquartered in Geneva | A companion 1997 Recommendation extends these standards to higher-education teaching personnel