Calendar

World Press Freedom Day 3 May

Global Conference 4-5 May 2026 (Lusaka, Zambia)

3 May acts as a reminder to governments of the need to respect their commitment to press freedom and is also a day of reflection among media professionals about issues of press freedom and professional ethics. Just as importantly, this Day is a day of support for media which are targets for the restraint, or abolition, of press freedom. It is also a day of remembrance for those journalists who lost their lives in the exercise of their profession.

A Global Conference will be co-hosted by UNESCO with the Government of Zambia on 4-5 May in Lusaka. The purpose is to bring together press freedom advocates and digital rights communities at a time when the boundaries between journalism, technology, civic space, and human rights are increasingly intertwined. The laureate of the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize was announced ahead of World Press Freedom Day.

Commemoration of the International Day of Vesak 

4 May 2026 (UNESCO HQ-Paris, France)

The Delegation of Sri Lanka will celebrate this International Day at UNESCO, Room II from 6 to 8pm, followed by a reception in the Pas Perdus Hall. Vesak, commemorating the birth, enlightenment and Parinirvana (passing) of the Buddha, serves as a profound symbol of tolerance, understanding and mutual respect that transcends all boundaries, encompassing people and cultures across the universe. Vesak commemorates the Buddha’s teachings of peace, compassion, humility and wisdom, which remain as relevant today as they were 2,500 years ago. Falling on the day of the full moon in the month of May, Vesak is the most sacred day of the year for millions of Buddhists worldwide. Commemorating Vesak helps preserve associated rituals, customs and arts, which are promoted as intangible cultural heritage.

Thought Leaders Series with Lê Nguyên Hoang

5 May 2026 (UNESCO HQ-Paris, France)

This session of the Thought Leaders series will welcome Lê Nguyên Hoang, artificial intelligence expert and CEO of Tournesol and Science4All. The Thought Leaders series aims to provide a platform for the brightest minds in the social sciences and humanities to share their reflections on major societal issues and propose innovative ideas for addressing them.

Europe Day

11 May 2026 (UNESCO HQ-Paris, France)

Europe Day celebrates the anniversary of the signing of the declaration by Robert Schuman on 9 May 1950. This declaration, which called for the organization of Europe as an essential structure for maintaining peace, is a founding act and a symbol of the European Union.  Europe Day, celebrated on 5 May by the Council of Europe and on 9 May by the European Union, is an opportunity to celebrate the values that characterize Europe. This Day will be celebrated by the European Delegation at UNESCO on 11 May 2026, starting with a meeting by Member States or institutions in Room IV, followed by food stands in Ségur Hall.

Campus UNESCO XL "The Living Ocean: Exploring Marine Connections"

12 May 2026 (UNESCO HQ- Paris, France)

As part of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030), this Campus will bring together young people (aged 13 to 18) around a programme dedicated to understanding marine balances, the threats affecting them, and the actions that can help preserve them. Through exchanges and reflection, participants will be invited to explore the links between the ocean, biodiversity, and human societies, and to better understand the contemporary issues related to the preservation of life.

3rd Global MAB Youth Forum

18-22 May 2026 (Rosolina Mare-Rovigo, Italy) 

The third Global Man and Biosphere Youth Forum, under the theme “Committed to the Future We Want”, marks a key milestone for strengthening youth participation in UNESCO's MAB Programme. Aligned with the Hangzhou Strategic Action Plan (2026–2035), it reflects MAB Youth’s strengthened commitment to addressing biodiversity loss, climate change, and sustainable development.

Exhibition opening - Heritage in Resistance, from Timbuktu to Odessa

19 May 2026 (Cité de l’architecture et du patrimoine-Paris, France)
The culture in emergency team is supporting the exhibition, entitled « Patrimoines en résistance, de Tombouctou à Odessa » (20 May 2026-3 January 2027) under the patronage of the French National Commission for UNESCO. The exhibition will showcase the destruction of cultural heritage in conflicts and explore recovery and rebuilding. 

Africa Week 2026

19-22 May 2026 (UNESCO HQ- Paris, France)

The 2026 edition of Africa Week highlights the importance of sustained engagement around the theme "Ensuring sustainable availability of safe water and sanitation systems to achieve the goals of Agenda 2063." The programme features conferences, high-level panels, youth activities, meetings with civil society, exhibitions, film screenings, gastronomy, a book fair, a fashion show, and a gala. Through these activities, UNESCO and the Africa Group will showcase the challenges related to water, youth, culture, and sustainable development on the African continent. 

UNESCO Culture and Arts Education Week, 25-31 May 2026

Concert by the Princeton High School Orchestra, 26 May 2026 (Madeleine Church-Paris, France)

Culture and arts education play a vital role in building inclusive, peaceful, and sustainable societies. Celebrated each year, this week highlights the power of culture and the arts to inspire creativity, foster empathy, and support lifelong learning. 

In a world marked by complexity, uncertainty, and profound transformation, the integration of culture and education is more critical than ever. Together, they equip individuals with the creativity, critical thinking, resilience, and social awareness needed to navigate change and contribute meaningfully to the common good. This inaugural UNESCO Culture and Arts Education Week will be held under the theme: Culture and arts education for lasting peace.

There will be a number of events across the globe to celebrate this day, and notably a Concert by the Princeton High School Orchestra at the Madeleine Church in Paris, France, with the participation of UNESCO, on 26 May (4-5pm).