How you can join the International Day of Education 2026

Youth under 30 make up more than half the world’s population, yet they remain underrepresented in education decision-making. By participating in the International Day of Education, you help build a global movement advocating for inclusive, relevant and youth-centered education systems.

Across regions, communities are organizing events that showcase meaningful youth participation, from school dialogues and workshops to intergenerational roundtables.

You can contribute by hosting an event centered on youth as co-creators of education, encouraging conversations between young people, educators and policymakers.

When you share your activities online, please use #EducationDay and tag @UNESCO, @Education2030UN and @GEMReport to maximize global visibility.

This year, we invite everyone, especially young people, to reflect on a key question: “If you were Minister of Education for a day, what would be the first change you would make?”

Encourage your networks, youth groups, schools and partners to post their answers on social media.

To help these voices resonate globally, please use #EducationDay and tag @UNESCO, @Education2030UN and @GEMReport in all posts.

Help spread the message of the International Day of Education  2026 by sharing stories, visuals, and examples of youth leadership in education. You can:

• Use the official  campaign assets
• Highlight insights from the UNESCO 2026 Gobal Education Monitoring Report forthcoming publication, Lead with Youth.
• Promote youth-led innovations and community initiatives.

When posting, remember to use #EducationDay and tag @UNESCO, @Education2030UN and @GEMReport so your contributions can be amplified and connected to the global campaign.

Have you led an initiative that meaningfully engages youth in co-creating education? UNESCO is seeking proven good practices that demonstrate effective, impactful approaches to youth participation in shaping education systems.

Submit a description of an initiative where young people have influenced education policies, programmes, or learning spaces - your example can inspire cross-country learning and help accelerate progress toward SDG 4.