International Pronouns Day
October 21
About International Pronouns Day
International Pronouns Day is an annual grassroots campaign that takes place on the third Wednesday of October, falling on Wednesday, 21 October 2026. It seeks to make respecting, sharing, and educating about personal pronouns commonplace, founded on the principle that referring to people by the pronouns they determine for themselves is basic to human dignity.
What is International Pronouns Day?
International Pronouns Day is a decentralised, volunteer-led observance that encourages individuals and organisations to normalise the respectful use of personal pronouns. It is coordinated through the Pronouns.org website and supported by educators, equality campaigners, and LGBTQ+ resource professionals around the world. The day places particular focus on supporting transgender, non-binary, and gender nonconforming people, whose pronouns are most often disregarded or contested. Rather than being run by a single funded body, the campaign invites local organisers to plan their own activities and centre the voices and needs of trans and non-binary communities.
When is International Pronouns Day?
International Pronouns Day is held on the third Wednesday of October each year. In 2026 it falls on Wednesday, 21 October. Because the date is tied to the third Wednesday rather than a fixed calendar date, it shifts slightly from year to year. The table below shows the dates for the next five years so you can plan ahead.
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Wednesday, 21 October |
| 2027 | Wednesday, 20 October |
| 2028 | Wednesday, 18 October |
| 2029 | Wednesday, 17 October |
| 2030 | Wednesday, 16 October |
Why International Pronouns Day Matters
Pronouns are a small but powerful part of everyday language, and using the right ones is a simple way to show people they are seen and respected. For transgender and gender diverse people, the stakes are significant. Being addressed with a name and pronouns consistent with one’s gender identity is closely linked to mental health and wellbeing, while being misgendered can cause discomfort, distress, and a sense of being unsafe.
The evidence on this is striking. Research cited in the 2023 Australian Workplace Equality Index found that using correct pronouns improved the mental health and wellbeing of transgender and gender diverse people by 76.4 per cent. Studies have also shown that when correct names and pronouns are used, suicide rates fall and feelings of trust and belonging rise. International Pronouns Day exists to turn that knowledge into everyday practice, encouraging schools, workplaces, and communities to make pronoun awareness a normal and unremarkable part of how people treat one another.
How to Get Involved in International Pronouns Day
There is no single way to mark the day, which is part of its strength. Here are practical ways to take part:
- Share your own pronouns – Add your pronouns to your email signature, name badge, or social media profile. Doing so signals that you do not assume someone’s pronouns and helps others feel comfortable sharing theirs.
- Learn before you speak – Make a habit of asking rather than guessing, and practise using less familiar pronouns such as they/them so they come naturally in conversation.
- Run a workshop or briefing – Use the day to host a short session at work or in your community explaining what pronouns are, why they matter, and how to respond gracefully if you make a mistake.
- Update your systems – Encourage your organisation to add a pronoun field to forms, directories, and conference badges so that inclusion is built into everyday processes.
- Apologise and move on if you slip up – Misgendering someone happens, even with good intentions. A brief, genuine correction is far more respectful than an over-long apology that centres your own embarrassment.
- Centre trans and non-binary voices – The campaign asks organisers to put the needs and leadership of trans and non-binary people at the heart of any activity, rather than speaking on their behalf.
- Use the official hashtag – Post your support and resources using #PronounsDay to connect with the global conversation and amplify trusted information.
- Signpost to good resources – Direct colleagues and friends to Pronouns.org and other reputable guides so they can keep learning beyond the day itself.
History of International Pronouns Day
International Pronouns Day was founded in 2018 by Shige Sakurai (they/them), an LGBTQ+ rights activist since the 1990s and the creator of the educational Pronouns.org website. The idea grew out of conversations among colleagues in the Consortium of Higher Education LGBT Resource Professionals, with Genny Beemyn of the University of Massachusetts Amherst assisting in developing a day dedicated to recognising and educating people about the use of pronouns.
The first International Pronouns Day was observed on 17 October 2018. From the outset it was conceived as an international effort rather than a national one, and that ambition was quickly realised: the inaugural day drew participants from 25 countries across every continent except Antarctica. The campaign was deliberately built as a grassroots, decentralised project, with no central funding and no single organising body dictating how the day should be marked.
In the years since, International Pronouns Day has been adopted by universities, charities, healthcare providers, and employers worldwide. It has become a recognised fixture in many diversity and inclusion calendars, used as a moment to refresh policies, run education sessions, and renew commitments to respecting how people wish to be addressed. Its founder has framed the campaign as being about more than grammar, describing the respectful use of names and pronouns as a starting point for wider conversations about justice and wellbeing.
Noteworthy Facts About International Pronouns Day
- The first International Pronouns Day took place on 17 October 2018 and reached 25 countries in its very first year.
- The day always falls on the third Wednesday of October, so its date moves each year between roughly 15 and 21 October.
- It was founded by Shige Sakurai, who also created the widely used educational resource Pronouns.org.
- The campaign deliberately has no central funding structure, relying instead on locally organised, grassroots activities.
- Research in the 2023 Australian Workplace Equality Index linked the use of correct pronouns to a 76.4 per cent improvement in the mental health and wellbeing of transgender and gender diverse people.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is International Pronouns Day?
It is an annual grassroots campaign that promotes respect for personal pronouns and aims to make sharing and educating about pronouns commonplace, with a particular focus on supporting transgender and gender nonconforming people.
When is International Pronouns Day in 2026?
International Pronouns Day falls on Wednesday, 21 October 2026, in line with its rule of being held on the third Wednesday of October each year.
Who founded International Pronouns Day?
It was founded in 2018 by Shige Sakurai (they/them), an LGBTQ+ rights activist and the creator of Pronouns.org, with assistance from Genny Beemyn. The first observance was on 17 October 2018.
Spread the Word
Help raise awareness by sharing International Pronouns Day with your friends, family, and followers. Use the hashtags #PronounsDay and #PronounsDay2026 on social media. The more people who know about International Pronouns Day, the bigger the impact.
Related Awareness Days
- International Non-Binary People’s Day – Celebrated in July, this day recognises the experiences of people whose gender sits outside the binary, a community at the heart of pronoun awareness.
- Transgender Day of Remembrance – Held each November, it honours transgender people lost to violence and underlines why respect and inclusion matter every day.
- LGBT History Month – A month-long observance celebrating the history and achievements of LGBTQ+ communities, providing wider context for days like this one.
Links
- Visit the official International Pronouns Day website
- Explore more awareness days at AwarenessDays.com
For more days that champion respect and belonging, you might also explore Transgender Day of Remembrance, another occasion rooted in dignity and recognition.
Featured image: Photo by Alexander Grey on Unsplash.
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