World Poetry Day

Practiced throughout history – in every culture and on every continent – poetry speaks to our common humanity and our shared values, transforming the simplest of poems into a powerful catalyst for dialogue and peace.

Held every year on 21 March, World Poetry Day celebrates one of humanity’s most treasured forms of cultural and linguistic expression and identity.

UNESCO first adopted 21 March as World Poetry Day during its 30th General Conference in Paris in 1999, with the aim of supporting linguistic diversity through poetic expression and increasing the opportunity for endangered languages to be heard. World Poetry Day is the occasion to honour poets, revive oral traditions of poetry recitals, promote the reading, writing and teaching of poetry, foster the convergence between poetry and other arts such as theatre, dance, music and painting, and raise the visibility of poetry in the media. As poetry continues to bring people together across continents, all are invited to join in.

"Arranged in words, coloured with images, struck with the right meter, the power of poetry has no match. As an intimate form of expression that opens doors to others, poetry enriches the dialogue that catalyses all human progress, and is more necessary than ever in turbulent times."

Audrey AzoulayDirector General of UNESCO

Centenary of the birth of Aco Šopov

“Poetry: The Creativity, Translation and Circulation of Works in Languages of Lesser Diffusion”, with participants from Argentina, Canada, Croatia, France, Italy, Luxembourg, North Macedonia, Mexico, Poland, Senegal, Spain and Tunisia.

What UNESCO does for poetry

Literacy

UNESCO has been at the forefront of global literacy efforts since 1946, advancing the vision of a literate world for all. It views acquiring and improving literacy skills throughout life as an intrinsic part of the right to education.

World Book Capital

Cities designated as UNESCO World Book Capital undertake to carry out activities with the aim of encouraging a culture of reading and diffusing its values in all ages and population groups in and out of the national borders.

World Book and Copyright Day

Books have long embodied the human capacity to conjure up worlds, both real and imagined, giving voice to the diversity of human experience.

UNESCO Creative Cities of Literature join forces to celebrate World Poetry Day 2021

Created in 2004, the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) gathers 246 cities worldwide, that have recognized culture and creativity as strategic enablers for the achievement of sustainable urban development under the 2030 Agenda.

UNESCO decision

Records of the General Conference, 30th session, Paris, 26 October to 17 November 1999, v. 1: Resolutions

UNESCO. Executive Board

4 June 1965

Resources

All international days

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Past Edition 2020

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