Purpose: The English Language Day at the UN is celebrated on April 23rd, the date traditionally observed as both the birthday and date of death of William Shakespeare. The Day is the result of a 2010 initiative by the Department of Global Communications, establishing Languages days for each of the Organization's six Official languages. The early modern English language was less than 100 years old in 1590 when Shakespeare was writing. No dictionaries had yet been written and most documents were still written in Latin. He contributed 1,700 words to the English language because he was the first author to write them down. As well as inventing completely new words, he used existing words in inventive ways, for example he was the first person to use 'friend' as a verb, as well as 'unfriended’ (Twelfth Night) and from 'gloom' he invented the word 'gloomy' (Titus Andronicus).

FORUM: “Promote the use of English.” English language Day 2026; William Shakespeare played a major role in the transformation of the English language. Many words and phrases were first written down in his plays. 'Elbow room' (King John), 'heart of gold' (Henry V), 'tower of strength' (Richard III) and 'Wild-goose chase' (Romeo and Juliet) - just a handful of the many well-known English phrases that we've learnt from Shakespeare and use in our day to day lives more than 400 years later. Shakespeare’s literature is more than mere words on a page. It is a mirror held up to the values and aspirations of our shared humanity, echoing the very essence of the United Nations. It resonates across languages and cultures. Shakespeare can connect us all: therefore, the excerpts will be performed through a multilingual and multicultural lens - featuring performances in some of the UN's official languages. The English Language Day at the UN is celebrated annually on April 23rd, the date traditionally observed as both the birthday and date of death of William Shakespeare. As well as being the most famous playwright, who wrote in English, Shakespeare also had a huge impact on modern-day English. Today, every one in four people in the world uses English. At the United Nations, English is one of the six official languages of the Organization. As we embark on an extraordinary journey into the heart of Shakespeare’s timeless wisdom, the performances in “Shakespeare at the UN” aims to spark reflection, healing, and a renewed commitment to the noble ideals that bind us together as nations under the banner of the United Nations. Founded at the United Nations Headquarters by Brenda Vongova, the UN Movie Society is committed to championing the goals and values of the United Nations through the universal language of motion pictures.Follow the conversation with the hashtags, #EnglishLanguageDay; #23April; #WilliamShakespeare.

EVENTS: On Thursday, April 23rd, 2026; At UNHQ in New York, The Celebration of the 408th Anniversary of William Shakespearse will be held. Because the United Nations has only six official languages, many delegates must speak in a language other than their main language, and this poses a special challenge. The history of the UN’s official languages, presented by the Dag Hammarskjöld Library, gives the history of when each of the six official languages of the United Nations became official, beginning in 1946. The English language Day 2026 event will be co-hosted by the United Nations General Assembly, the United Nations Security Council, The Permanent Mission of the United Kingdom to the U.N.; The Permanent Mission of Canada to the U.N.; The Permanent Mission of United States to the U.N.; The Permanent Mission of Australia to the U.N.; The Permanent Mission of New Zealand to the U.N.;The Permanent Mission of Ghana to the U.N.; The Permanent Mission of Liberia to the U.N.; The Permanent Mission of Nigeria to the U.N.; The Permanent Mission of South Africa to the U.N.; The Permanent Mission of Angola to the U.N.; The Permanent Mission of Malawi to the U.N., The Permanent Mission of Zimbabwe to the U.N.; The Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Lesotho to the U.N; The Department of Public Information, the United Nations Department of General Assembly Conferences and Meetings (UNDGACM); The United Nations Interpreters, the United Nations Multimedia, the United Nations Radio wIth the participation of the Member states, Specialized agencies, translators and academics. Register to participate!

At UNESCO HQ, The UK Délégation will organize a Meeting with Member States and Institutions for the Celebration of the English Language Day 2025. Register to participate!

On saturday April 20th, The Shakespeare Birthday Luncheon will be held. Pragnell is delighted to announce that the Shakespeare Birthday Lunch and presentation of the Pragnell Shakespeare Birthday Award will take place on Saturday April 20th, 2025 as part of the annual Shakespeare Birthday Celebrations in Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of Shakespeare. Hosted by actor and presenter Alexander Armstrong, attendees will enjoy a three-course lunch with wine pairing and the event will feature performances from the Royal Shakespeare Company. The Pragnell Shakespeare Birthday Award, which will be given at the lunch, celebrates individuals who have significantly furthered society’s understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment of the Bard’s work. The illustrious roster of winners includes Sir Ian McKellen, Dame Judi Dench and Sir Kenneth Branagh. Pragnell is pleased to reveal that this year’s winner of the Pragnell Shakespeare Birthday Award is globally renowned actor Dame Vanessa Redgrave DBE. Book ticket!

In Stratford-upon-Avon, UK ; This year's the Shakespeare's Birthday Celebrations will be held on Saturday 25th  - Sunday 26th April at. Explore the full programme of the activities.

On Saturday, Apr 18, 2026, from 11am to 4pm at the Folger Shakespeare Library; Join us for stage combat demonstrations, dancing, and craft stations for making ruffs, crowns, and shields. Practice writing with a quill, compose a sonnet, try on some costumes, and see our 17th-century replica printing press in action. Meet WETA Classical on-air personality Nicole Lacroix and enter giveaways for PBS and WETA Classical merch. Plus, get your face painted with a Shakespearean mustache and beard. Doors open at 11am for visitors to explore the exhibition galleries and Reading Room, where docents will be on hand to answer questions about the collection and the history of the Folger. Around 3:30pm we’ll sing “Happy Birthday” to Shakespeare and serve birthday cupcakes to all.

CONCERT: On April 23rd, 2026, in commemoration of the English Language Day 2026 at the United Nations, the UN Movie Society of the United Nations Staff Recreation Council will present the 3rd Annual “Shakespeare at the UN”– an exploration of how the timeless works of Shakespeare, in reflecting the human experience, can resonate with the core values of the UN, such as promoting understanding of humanity and strengthening global connections. On this occasion, opening remarks will be delivered by H.E. Mr. Archie Young CMG, Deputy Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the United Nations & Ambassador to the UN General Assembly. The programme brings together the UN’s core pillars — including Human Rights and Peace & Security — illuminated through carefully chosen Shakespeare works. Under Human Rights, Shakespeare’s Globe — led by its Artistic Director Michelle Terry — presents Shylock’s landmark speech from The Merchant of Venice (Act III, Scene 1), a profound meditation on human dignity and the universal demand to be seen as fully human — performed by the late Adrian Schiller, one of Britain's most distinguished classical stage actors. Under Peace and Security, performers from The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama — led by its Principal and CEO, Josette Bushell-Mingo OBE - bring monologues from Henry V (Chinese), Titus Andronicus (French), Macbeth (English), and Richard II (Spanish and Sign Language), reflecting on conflict, leadership, and the cost of war. We will also present performances delivered by Japanese actors Yamato Kochi and Maimi, Ukrainian actor Petro Ninovskyi, and the brilliant Richard Keith, the BA in Acting Course Leader at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA). The programme will also feature reflections by Daniel Evans and Tamara Harvey, Co-Artistic Directors of the Royal Shakespeare Company, with closing remarks by Professor Michael Dobson, Director of The Shakespeare Institute. In honor the legacy of William Shakespeare on his birth/death anniversary. The "Shakespeare at the UN" event will focus on the language's role in global connection, culture, and diplomacy. Watch The UN Movie Society Shakespeare at the UN in celebrating the United Nations English Language Day. 

PODCASTS: At meetings and conferences of Charter or mandated bodies, participants may speak in any of the six official languages. Their words are simultaneously rendered into the other five languages by conference interpreters, who interpret into their main language, with the exception of Arabic and Chinese interpreters, who work both from and into their language. Listen to the audio-podcasts!

CAMPAIGN MATERIALS: With the development of global economy, the demand for communication between China and the world has increased. As a common language of the world and basic tool of communication, English plays an important role in exchange between China and other countries. Thus, effective improvement of English language teaching has a positive influence on economic development. This work will analyze the current situation of English language teaching, with suggestions for reference. Promoting the use of English language. Get the campaign materials!