Global Media and Information Literacy Week 2026

Dates and common questions

Global Media and Information Literacy Week is observed on 24 October each year.

Does the week end on 30 or 31 October?

The global annual observance is 24–31 October. Individual conferences and local activities may use shorter dates, so check their separate programmes before booking.

Can a small organisation take part?

Yes. A short library session, classroom exercise or workplace discussion can fit the purpose of the week. Check UNESCO’s current information for any event registration options and the conditions for using its materials.

Ideas for taking part

• Follow a claim to its source. Choose a non-sensitive example, such as a claim about a local public service. Trace it from a social post to the original announcement or dataset. Compare the date, wording and context, then discuss what changed as the message travelled.
• Compare news and advertising. Collect clearly labelled examples of reporting, opinion, sponsored content and advertising. Ask participants to identify who made each item and what it asks the reader to believe or do. Discuss why an attractive design is not evidence of reliability.
• Check an AI answer. Give a suitable AI tool a simple factual question and inspect its answer together. Verify any citations independently and record missing context. Use the exercise to practise verification, keeping personal or confidential information out of the demonstration.
• Create a family sharing agreement. Invite participants to write a short set of habits for group chats: check dates, read beyond headlines, ask before sharing photographs and correct mistakes clearly. Make the agreement collaborative so that younger and older participants can contribute their experience.

Why this observance matters

Information arrives through search results, social feeds, messages and increasingly AI tools. People need time to examine the source behind a claim, recognise persuasive techniques and decide when to pause before sharing. Practical exercises make those habits easier to apply outside a workshop.

The 2026 campaign

UNESCO’s published 2026 theme is “We All Play a Part – Media and Information Literacy for the People”. Use it to involve different age groups and professions, while choosing an activity that meets the needs of your own community.

Turn an activity into a useful project

Ask each group to produce a one-page checking guide illustrated with an example they have verified. Test the guide with someone who did not attend the session: can they follow it without help? Revise unclear wording and provide a printed or accessible digital version. A useful outcome is a repeatable skill, not simply a count of social media posts.

Official information

Check the official Global Media and Information Literacy Week information for campaign resources and organiser announcements. Local activities have their own booking arrangements; the awareness date itself does not register you for an event.

Related awareness events

Continue planning with Safer Internet Day, Human Rights Day. Choose the observance that best fits your audience and the change you want to make.