World Radio Day 2027
Saturday 13 February 2027
Dates can vary from year to year, so check the organiser’s website for the latest details.
World Radio Day is 13 February, celebrating broadcasting, listeners and the role of radio in sharing information and diverse voices.
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Dates and event details
Saturday 13 February 2027. Held every year on 13 February.
| Date status | Date calculated from a fixed annual pattern |
|---|---|
| Date-check source | Official UN or UN agency source |
| Where | International |
About World Radio Day
World Radio Day is celebrated annually on 13 February, including Saturday 13 February 2027. This United Nations and UNESCO observance recognises radio, the people who make it and the audiences it serves. It offers a useful occasion for broadcasting, listening and media-literacy activities.
Ideas for schools and colleges
- Make a short audio feature. Agree a topic, check facts, prepare questions and obtain permission before recording or sharing someone’s voice.
- Compare formats. Listen to suitable examples of a news bulletin, an interview and a discussion. Identify the different preparation each requires.
- Interview a broadcaster. Ask about research, editing, corrections and the people whose work supports a programme behind the scenes.
- Create a listening guide. Select appropriate programmes, explain why they were chosen and show learners how to find the original source.
Community and workplace activities
A community station could invite listeners to suggest questions or explain what local information they find useful. Make the invitation specific and provide more than one way to respond. Tell contributors how their material may be used and avoid implying that every submission will be broadcast.
A library or community group can host a listening discussion or a talk about local broadcasting history. Use authorised archive material and check any permissions for public playback. A display might recognise researchers, producers, engineers and volunteers alongside the voices audiences hear.
A workplace may offer an optional session about communicating clearly in audio. Colleagues could practise writing a concise introduction or preparing an interview question. Keep the exercise connected to an actual learning need, and obtain agreement before using recordings beyond the session.
Why 13 February?
The date marks the creation of United Nations Radio on 13 February 1946. UNESCO proclaimed World Radio Day in 2011, and the General Assembly adopted it as a UN international day in 2012. The campaign encourages awareness of radio’s value, access to information and cooperation between broadcasters.
World Radio Day is distinct from national radio occasions held on other dates. The annual February rule supports this 2027 listing. An official 2027 theme has not been verified; material describing radio and artificial intelligence on the campaign website relates to the 2026 edition unless it is updated.
Listen with a question in mind
Radio can be explored as journalism, storytelling, music programming, local conversation and public information. Choose one programme or station and ask what it is trying to do, whom it serves and how its contributors are selected. A focused listening activity can reveal the work behind a familiar broadcast.
Consider the audience as well as the presenter. How do listeners find a programme? Can they contact the station? What information is repeated or explained for someone who joins halfway through? Those questions can lead to useful discussion about clarity and the responsibilities of communication.
Support good information habits
Use the occasion to explain how a listener can find a programme’s original publication, check a quoted source or submit a correction. Distinguish reporting from opinion, advertising and an organisation’s own announcement. Clear labelling helps audiences understand what kind of material they are hearing.
Choose a follow-up that can continue after February, such as a better contributor guide, a checked archive list or a new relationship with a local broadcaster. Give it an owner and invite feedback from the people expected to use it. A small improvement can be more useful than producing a programme solely to fill the date.
Related occasions include World Press Freedom Day and International Day for Universal Access to Information.
Source check: 23 October 2026. The annual date and history were verified against UNESCO’s official campaign and its background resources. No 2027 theme is assumed.
