International Anti-Corruption Day 2026
Wednesday 9 December 2026
The UN campaign page names the focus as Connecting the Dots: Exposing the Links Between Corruption and Crime. It links resources from UNODC and other bodies and uses the hashtag #UnitedAgainstCorruption.
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On this page
Dates and event details
Wednesday 9 December 2026. Held every year on 9 December.
| Date status | Date source-confirmed for 2026 |
|---|---|
| Date-check source | UN 2026–2027 anti-corruption campaign |
| Where | International |
What is the current campaign?
The UN campaign page names the focus as Connecting the Dots: Exposing the Links Between Corruption and Crime. It links resources from UNODC and other bodies and uses the hashtag #UnitedAgainstCorruption.
Use those official materials for the campaign’s explanation. Avoid converting a general awareness message into an allegation about a named person or organisation without reliable evidence.
International Anti-Corruption Day is on Wednesday 9 December 2026. The UN observance highlights corruption and the work needed to prevent it, with a 2026–2027 campaign examining the links between corruption and other forms of crime.
A practical integrity exercise
Choose a fictional situation: a supplier offers a gift while a purchasing decision is under way. Ask a small group to work through the process using your organisation’s actual policies.
- Find the rule. Where would someone look for the gifts, hospitality or conflicts-of-interest policy?
- Identify the decision-maker. Who can explain the requirements or approve a next step?
- Check the record. What information should be documented, and who should have access to it?
- Find the reporting route. Can someone locate an appropriate way to raise a concern without discussing a real case in the group?
Be careful with reporting advice
Whistleblowing rules and protections depend on jurisdiction, employment status, the type of concern and how it is disclosed. A general awareness article cannot promise protection for every report. UK readers can start with government guidance for employees and seek advice appropriate to their circumstances.
Use fictional examples for a public session and avoid asking participants to disclose suspected wrongdoing. End with one practical improvement, such as making the relevant policy easier to find, and give it an owner and a review date.
Getting the history right
The UN General Assembly adopted the United Nations Convention against Corruption on 31 October 2003. It opened for signature in Mérida, Mexico, from 9–11 December 2003, and entered into force on 14 December 2005. The UN treaty record sets out that chronology.
The 9 December awareness day was designated through General Assembly resolution 58/4. It should not be described as the anniversary of the Convention’s adoption on 9 December; that confuses separate dates.
