International Mother Language Day | 21st February 2026

A global celebration that promotes linguistic and cultural diversity and reminds us why preserving our mother languages matters.   

This day is all about valuing languages we speak at home! 

They help us share stories, express ourselves, and keep our heritage alive.

You can celebrate by exploring languages in your community, using your mother tongue to read, write, and speak, and sharing traditions through songs, stories, and fun cultural activities.  

The year 2025 marked the Silver (25th) Anniversary of International Mother Language Day. This milestone highlighted a quarter-century of dedicated efforts to preserve linguistic diversity and promote the use of mother tongues. It served as a significant opportunity to reflect on achievements, renew commitments, and emphasise the critical role of language preservation in safeguarding cultural heritage, improving education outcomes and creating more peaceful, sustainable societies.

See the short video from United Nations highlighting that multilingual and multicultural societies exist through their languages, which transmit and preserve traditional knowledge and cultures in a sustainable way.

Download our poster to use in your setting  

Use the links in our side bar, from UNESCO and the UNITED NATIONS for more information and resource packs to use for this event in your setting.