International Day of Sign Languages
September 23 @ 12:00 am - 11:59 pm
About International Day of Sign Languages
The International Day of Sign Languages falls on Wednesday, 23 September 2026, as part of the International Week of the Deaf (21 to 27 September). The United Nations proclaimed 23 September as the International Day of Sign Languages in December 2017, choosing the date to mark the founding of the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) in 1951. The first observance was held in 2018.
The day raises awareness of sign languages as fully independent, natural human languages and promotes the rights of deaf and hard-of-hearing people to access education, healthcare, and public life through their own language.
Dates
- 2026: Wednesday, 23 September 2026 (International Week of the Deaf: 21 to 27 September)
- 2027: Thursday, 23 September 2027
- 2028: Saturday, 23 September 2028
The 2026 Theme: Declaring Deaf People’s Human Rights
The World Federation of the Deaf has set “Declaring Deaf People’s Human Rights” as the theme for International Week of the Deaf 2026, with the International Day of Sign Languages carrying the same message. The week’s daily themes build on each other: from the 20-year legacy of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, through the right to quality multilingual education and healthcare in sign language, to the call of “Nothing About Us Without Us.” Three global campaigns run alongside: Shine a Blue Light on Sign Languages, the Global Leaders Challenge, and the Global Deaf Flag Raising.
Sign Languages and Deaf Communities in the UK
The United Kingdom has its own sign language: British Sign Language (BSL). The British Deaf Association estimates that around 87,000 deaf people use BSL as their first or preferred language, with roughly 151,000 people across the UK using BSL in total. There are also at least 50,000 deaf children in the UK, many of whom rely on BSL as their primary means of communication.
Access to BSL interpretation remains severely stretched. The BDA estimates there is only one registered interpreter for every 60 deaf BSL users, a shortfall that affects hospital appointments, legal proceedings, job interviews, and everyday public services.
A landmark shift came in July 2022, when the British Sign Language Act 2022 received Royal Assent, making BSL an official recognised language of Great Britain, after decades of campaigning by the Deaf community. Implementation of the Act, including regular reporting from government departments on their use of BSL, continues to be monitored by the BDA and advocacy groups.
How Employers, Schools, and NHS Trusts Mark the Day
Workplaces and schools increasingly use the International Day of Sign Languages to build awareness and commit to better access:
- Invite a deaf awareness trainer or a BSL interpreter to deliver a short session for staff or pupils
- Share BSL learning resources from the British Deaf Association or Signature, the UK’s awarding body for sign language qualifications
- Review whether internal communications, team meetings, and public events are accessible to deaf and hard-of-hearing colleagues or pupils
- Introduce children to BSL fingerspelling and basic signs as a literacy and inclusion activity
NHS Grampian, Universities UK, and many councils mark the week with public-facing pledges and sign language taster sessions. Universities with deaf studies programmes, including Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, often run open events.
Official Resources
- United Nations: International Day of Sign Languages
- World Federation of the Deaf: International Week of the Deaf 2026
- British Deaf Association: International Day of Sign Languages
- RNID (formerly Action on Hearing Loss)
Related Days
- National BSL Day — 28 April
- Deaf Awareness Week — May
- Disability Awareness Day — July
- World Hearing Day — 3 March
Last reviewed: 25 August 2026.
Featured image: Photo by Ronald Felton on Unsplash.
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