International Youth Day, observed annually on August 12th, was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1999 to raise awareness of the issues affecting youth and celebrate their contributions to society. The idea for the day was first proposed during the 1998 World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth in Lisbon. Following this recommendation, the UN officially declared August 12th as International Youth Day in 1999, with the first celebration taking place in 2000.
The day aims to highlight both the challenges and opportunities faced by young people, while also promoting their active involvement in shaping society. Every year, a specific theme is chosen to focus on key areas of youth development, empowerment, and engagement. International Youth Day is an important reminder of the critical role youth play in driving positive change around the world.
To learn more, the following video explains the origins and aims of International Youth Day, the United Nations’ definition of youth, and the annual themes and activities associated with the day.
When is International Youth Day?
International Youth Day always takes place on August 12th. Here’s a table for International Youth Day dates up to the year 2030, including the weekday:
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Tuesday, August 12 |
| 2026 | Wednesday, August 12 |
| 2027 | Thursday, August 12 |
| 2028 | Saturday, August 12 |
| 2029 | Sunday, August 12 |
| 2030 | Monday, August 12 |
Related Observances
There are several similar observances focus on youth, their rights, and their contributions to society. Here are just a few:
- Global Youth Service Day (April 20-22): This day encourages young people to participate in community service projects, making a positive impact on their communities and raising awareness about youth contributions.
- International Day for the Elimination of Child Labour (June 12): A day to raise awareness about child labor and encourage actions to eliminate it, highlighting the rights of children to a safe and healthy childhood.
- World Youth Skills Day (July 15): Established by the UN to recognize the importance of equipping young people with skills for employment, entrepreneurship, and social development. It promotes opportunities for skills development and vocational training.
- International Day of the Girl Child (October 11): Focused on addressing the challenges girls face around the world and promoting gender equality. It also raises awareness about the importance of empowering girls through education, health, and equal opportunities.
- World Children’s Day (November 20): Celebrated to promote the welfare and rights of children. It marks the anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1959 and the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989.
These observances, along with International Youth Day, work together to raise awareness, advocate for youth rights, and empower young people worldwide.
Before You Go:
We have many more national days lists for you to explore.
- Food-related national days: complete list of national food days, pasta & noodles days, vegan & vegetarian days, ice-cream days, pizza days, coffee days, chocolate days, wine days, alcohol & drinking days.
- Non-food national days: National Days Calendars 2024-2025 (check out the printable calendars in my Etsy shop), National Days for Teachers, and a wide array of special lists such as cat days, dog days, animal days, book days, music days, family & relationships days, national days for women, stationery days and even Harry Potter days.
- Country-specific national days: Australian national days, more coming soon.
📝 This article was originally published on July 19th, 2024. It has been thoroughly updated, and the publishing date has been changed to reflect the new version.
