UNESCO celebrates 60th International Literacy Day in Chiapas, Mexico

UNESCO will bring together ministers of education, experts, teachers and students on International Literacy Day (8 September) in collaboration with the Government of Mexico, to discuss progress and challenges in global literacy, and to identify concrete policies and solutions to improve and monitor literacy around the world. Despite progress, at least 739 million people in the world still lack basic literacy skills according to UNESCO data.

• When? 8 and 9 September 2026
• Where? Chiapas, Mexico - Please register here by 1 September.
• Who? UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany, Ministers of education, experts, teachers and students.
• Languages: English, French and Spanish.
• The event will be webcast on the UNESCO website .

The 2026 International Literacy Day global event will take place on 8 and 9 September in Mexico, under the theme: “Literacy for People, Planet and Prosperity,” marking the 60 ^th anniversary of the day’s proclamation.

The event will be opened by UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany, marking his first official mission to Mexico. Participation will include representatives of the Mexican government, including Secretary of Public Education Mario Delgado, as well as Ministers, experts, teachers and students from around the world.

The programme includes the award ceremony for the six International Literacy Prizes, which recognize outstanding initiatives around the world, and the annual meeting of the Global Alliance for Literacy, that will discuss the draft Action Plan of the UNESCO’s Global Alliance for Literacy Strategy (2026-2029).

Great progress has been made in literacy with more than 88 per cent of the world’s adult population knowing how to read and write today, compared to 65 per cent in 1975 (UNESCO ). However, an estimated 739 million youth and adults worldwide still lack basic literacy skills, and 4 in 10 children in low- and middle-income countries are not reaching minimum proficiency in reading.

UNESCO works through its global network of field offices and institutes  and with its Member States  and partners to advance literacy, including by leading the Global Alliance for Literacy for countries with lower literacy rates.

Tuesday 8 September – San Juan Chamula (Chiapas, Mexico)

1 PM CST – Opening Ceremony of the World Conference and awarding of UNESCO International Literacy Prizes to 2026 laureates, in the presence of UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany and representatives of the Mexican government.

Wednesday 9 September – Casa Mazariegos, San Cristobal de las Casas (Chiapas, Mexico)

8 AM CST – Annual Meeting of the Global Alliance for Literacy.

10 AM CST – Special session on 60th International Literacy Day Anniversary

11 AM CST – Session “Deep look at Literacy, Language and Multilingualism”.