PURPOSE: By the resolution 14 C/Resolutions; Since 1967, International Literacy Day (ILD) is observed on 8 September. The celebrations have taken place annually around the world to remind the public of the importance of literacy as a matter of dignity and human rights, and to advance the literacy agenda towards a more literate and sustainable society. Despite progress made, literacy challenges persist with at least 773 million young people and adults lacking basic literacy skills today. Literacy is central to a person’s lifelong learning journey. It is also fundamental to the empowerment of refugees, migrants and internally displaced persons (IDPs). Literacy contributes to resilience building, improved self-confidence and self-esteem, greater prospects for employment, better health outcomes, a stronger sense of agency, and motivation to learn and to socially integrate.
FORUM: ‘’Promoting literacy in the digital era.” International Literacy Day 2025. The ILD2025 will be an opportunity for critical reflection on what literacy is and how literacy teaching and learning, programmes and policies are designed, managed and monitored in this digital era. In addition, ILD2025 will spotlight effective policies and interventions to promote literacy as a common good and a right, and as a lever for empowerment and transformation to build more inclusive, just and sustainable societies. It will also provide a space for collective discussion on the futures of literacy. The ILD 2025 Objectives aim at: • Celebrating literacy achievements and raising awareness of the need to address remaining and emerging challenges in the rapidly evolving digital landscapes. • Reflecting on the transformative power of literacy as a key factor for improving education and lifelong learning in the digital era. • Exploring both potential and risks of digitalization for literacy teaching and learning, programmes, policies and lifelong learning ecosystems. • Identifying effective strategies and programmes for developing literacy and digital skills • Identifying digital programmes and initiatives that effectively support the development of literacy skills of diverse learners and target groups • Fostering multistakeholder dialogue and partnerships in support of enhanced literacy efforts. The increasing integration of AI into education presents both transformative opportunities and complex challenges, reshaping pedagogies, curricula and education governance while raising critical questions about equity, ethics and human agency. As debates swirl over AI's disruptive potential — ranging from hyperbolic promises to more cautionary approaches — education systems must navigate dilemmas, including the implications of digital surveillance, systemic biases and the potential erosion of human accountability in education decision-making to recalibrate positive new directions for education futures. Under the theme "AI and the future of education: Disruptions, dilemmas and directions", The UNESCO's 2025 Digital Learning Week will assist in charting pathways for equitable, ethical and human-driven AI integration in education, ensuring technology serves as a force for inclusive progress.. Follow the conversation with the hashtags #LiteracyDay; #LiteracyLearningSpaces; #8september.
EVENTS: On and around September 8th, 2025; The ILD will be celebrated across the world at global, regional, country, community levels in person and online. At the global level, a global conference will be organized by UNESCO at its Headquarters in Paris, France, on 8 September 2025. Several national governments are planning national celebrations, while many events are being organized by other partners. To participate in the Global celebration of the International Literacy Day 2025. Read the agenda programme and Register to participate. For further information please visit the webpages of International Literacy Day 2025 and the UNESCO International Literacy Prizes. For specific inquiries, please contact: • International Literacy Day and the global celebration: ILD2025 Secretariat (Section of Youth, Literacy and Skills Development, Division of Policies and Lifelong Learning Systems) at literacy@unesco.org • International Literacy Prizes 2025: ILP Secretariat (Section of Youth, Literacy and Skills Development, Division of Policies and Lifelong Learning Systems) at literacyprizes@unesco.org.
On September 9th, 2025; In the context of the global International Literacy Day celebration at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) will host the Annual General Meeting of the Global Alliance for Literacy (GAL) and the Action Research on Measuring Literacy Learning and Educational Alternatives (RAMAED) online. Aligned with the objectives of the Marrakech Framework for Action and the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 4, the meeting will promote literacy as a foundation for lifelong learning and emphasize its importance as a policy priority. Participants will share updates and identify national priorities in GAL and RAMAED countries. The meeting will also reflect on key findings from the evaluation of the GAL Strategy and engage members in discussions to identify lessons learned, gaps, and areas for improvement. A strategic dialogue will be facilitated to address the governance and future direction of the Global Alliance for Literacy, laying the groundwork for the development of the GAL Strategy 2030. Representatives of GAL and RAMAED countries, GAL Associate Members, GEC members, invited speakers, and other interested partners will participate in this invitation-only event. The meeting will be conducted in English, French, and Arabic with simultaneous interpretation. Learn more about this event.
From September 2nd to 5th, 2025; The Third edition of Digital Learning Week will take place at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris in the Room IX and Room II. The UNESCO's Digital Learning Week presents a unique opportunity to participate in dynamic and thought-provoking discussions, dialogue and the sharing of groundbreaking ideas, and to foster meaningful co-creation and collaborative efforts to advance the digital transformation of education and to “reimagine our futures together.”The event aims to foster critical reflection, peer learning and policy dialogue, addressing today’s pressing challenges while shaping the future of education in an era of rapid technological change. It is expected to gather up to 1,000 participants, including 30 Ministers of Education, alongside digital education leaders, policy-makers, researchers and practitioners from various organizations, including UN agencies, governments, academia, NGOs and the private sector. Discussions will explore whether and how AI is disrupting education, navigate the complex dilemmas it presents, and identify strategic directions to harness its potential responsibly. The Digital Learning Week 2025 event spans four engaging days, including:
Ministerial panels, multistakeholder dialogues and public lectures from global opinion leaders
Parallel sessions, foresight workshops and open ideas labs for knowledge exchange and co-creation
Launch of UNESCO-led knowledge products and tools, including think pieces on AI and learning futures
Exhibition of digital learning solutions and innovations
Networking opportunities with policy-makers, educators and innovators driving change
The Digital Learning Week 2025 will take place in person at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France. All plenary sessions will be livestreamed in English and French to a global audience. Register to participate, explore the Day 1 - Day 2 - Day 3 Photos of the event and get Access the webcast for plenary sessions!
WEBINARS: These one-hour online professional learning events organized by the International Literacy Association (ILA) deliver insight and practical resources from experts in the field of literacy. You'll gain dependable, research-supported ideas you can apply in your classroom, school, and district. Explore the ILA digital events!
PUBLICATIONS: AI and the future of education. Disruptions, dilemmas and directions; This new UNESCO publication explores the philosophical, ethical and pedagogical dilemmas posed by disruptive influence of AI in education. Read the full publication.
REPORTS: AI and education: protecting the rights of learners; This report argues for a human-centred, rights-based approach that ensures innovations strengthen learning opportunities for all. Read the full report.
STATEMENTS: Statement from the UNESCO Director-General on International Literacy Day 2025; September 8th.
PODCASTS: Teachers, librarians, readers, educators, parents, authors and illustrators, and book lovers in general not only like to read books but they like to talk about books and share opinions and reactions. Literacy learning spaces include the physical environment, learning materials, and activities required to facilitate the creation of the space, while the socio-cultural environment, political environment, partnerships, and the assessment of literacy activities is crucial for the sustenance of these spaces. Listen to the Audio Podcasts!
CAMPAIGN MATERIALS: ‘’Promoting literacy in the digital era.” These challenges highlight the importance of developing more solid and higher levels of literacy skills, while ensuring linguistic, cultural, and epistemic diversity, through enhancing holistic lifelong learning ecosystems, and embracing policies, programmes, practices, monitoring, governance, financing and partnerships.The Ideas generated through ILD2025 discussions to address issues in these areas are expected to chart future actions at the global, system, programme and practice levels. join the campaign, Get the ILD2025 Poster and other communication materials!
WHY WE CELEBRATE THE DAY?
Celebrated on September 8 each year, ILD was created by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) in 1967 to remind the public of the importance of literacy as a matter of dignity and human rights, and to advance the literacy agenda towards a more literate and sustainable society. Despite progress made, literacy challenges persist with 771 million illiterate people around the world, most of whom women, who still lack basic reading and writing skills and are faced with increased vulnerability. aligned with your core values and interests. Having adequate literacy skills means being able to understand, evaluate, use and engage with written texts. It also means being able to participate in society, achieve your goals, and develop your knowledge and potential. Research shows that adults who have inadequate literacy skills are more likely to have poorer overall health, lower salaries, and lower levels of participation in their community.
We wish you a safe, happy, and healthy International Literacy Day and look forward to hearing the different ways you bring readers together around the globe both today and throughout the year.
ACTIONS
If reimagining literacy through a global lens is new to the work that you do, or if you are looking to transform literacy in global ways in the aftermath of the pandemic, we share a few tips that have helped to bring our work into perspective:
Connect with a colleague from across the globe. Consider attending an international literacy conference (virtually, or in person!).
Evaluate your local/school/classroom libraries to inventory representation of voices and diverse experiences from around the world.
Explore possible literacy networking opportunities to Identify a global affiliate participating in initiatives and projects
Increase awareness of diverse literacy learning spaces centred on needs of youth and adults based on new knowledge and evidence related to effective policies, systems, governance, programmes, teaching and learning practice, and monitoring of learning spaces.
Leverage the existing progress and transformation in the development of literacy learning spaces while setting the stage for lifelong learning.
Adapt the existing and the upcoming transformation in the literacy learning spaces to ensure quality, equitable, and inclusive education for all.
Connect the learning pathways between informal, non-formal and formal education systems and account for the literacy learning outcomes taking place in the unconventional spaces.
PARTNERSHIPS
The International Literacy Day is organized by the UNESCO and the UNESCO Regional Offices; the International Literacy Association (ILA); The Literacy and lifelong learning (UIL); The Global Alliance for Literacy (GAL) and the UNESCO Global literacy statistics (UIS).
With the collaboration of the Federation of European Literacy Associations (FELA) Conference the Literacy Association of Ireland (LAI), the International Reading Association, the The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), the American Literary Association (ALA), The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), the EDUCATION COUNTS, the Australian Literacy Educators' Association., the Australian Council for Adult Literacy, the Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation (ALNF), the Reading Association of Russia (Русская Ассоциация Чтения), the Russian Association for Film and Media Education, the Canadian Children's Literacy Foundation, the ABC Life Literacy Canada and the National Literacy Trust.
With the participation of Civil society organizations, Public and Private sectors, Non-Governmental Organizations; Teachers and Educators, Librarians and writters and academics.