When is International Day of Sign Languages?
International Day of Sign Languages 2027 is on Thursday
Thursday, September 23, 2027
September 23 every year. That's in 341 days.
until International Day of Sign Languages begins, in your time zone
The International Day of Sign Languages is a UN day that recognizes sign languages as full natural languages and stresses that access to them is essential for deaf people to enjoy their human rights.
About International Day of Sign Languages
Sign languages are complete natural languages with their own grammar, not signed versions of spoken languages. According to the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD), there are more than 70 million deaf people worldwide, over 80% of them in developing countries, and together they use more than 300 different sign languages. The day promotes early access to sign language, education in sign language and official recognition of national sign languages.
The idea came from the WFD, which today brings together national deaf associations from around the world. The UN General Assembly proclaimed September 23 as the International Day of Sign Languages in resolution 72/161, adopted by consensus on December 19, 2017. Antigua and Barbuda sponsored it, and 97 other member states co-sponsored it. The date marks the founding of the WFD on September 23, 1951, so 2026 is also the federation's 75th anniversary.
The first observance took place in 2018 as part of the International Week of the Deaf, which dates back to September 1958 and is still held around the same time each year. The resolution highlights the principle "nothing about us without us," meaning that deaf communities should help shape the decisions that affect them.
The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities treats sign languages as equal in status to spoken languages and asks countries to make sign language learning possible. For 2026, the UN and WFD chose the theme "Declaring Deaf People's Human Rights," shared with that year's International Week of Deaf People.
Sources: United Nations: International Day of Sign Languages, General Assembly resolution 72/161 (2017), World Federation of the Deaf. How we check dates.
How to mark International Day of Sign Languages
- Learn to fingerspell your name or a few everyday greetings in your country's national sign language, ideally from a deaf teacher or a course run by a deaf organization.
- Find out whether your country legally recognizes its national sign language, and what that recognition covers.
- Watch a performance, film or video made by deaf creators in sign language.
- Ask your school, workplace or local government whether it offers qualified sign language interpreting for meetings and events.
- Support or volunteer with your national association of the deaf.
International Day of Sign Languages dates
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Tuesday, September 23, 2025 |
| 2026 | Wednesday, September 23, 2026 |
| 2027 | Thursday, September 23, 2027 |
| 2028 | Saturday, September 23, 2028 |
| 2029 | Sunday, September 23, 2029 |
| 2030 | Monday, September 23, 2030 |
| 2031 | Tuesday, September 23, 2031 |
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Frequently asked questions
When is International Day of Sign Languages 2027?
International Day of Sign Languages 2027 is on Thursday, September 23, 2027. It falls on September 23 every year. In 2028, it is on Saturday, September 23, 2028.
Is there one universal sign language?
No. Deaf communities use more than 300 different sign languages, such as American Sign Language and British Sign Language, which are not mutually intelligible. International Sign is used at global meetings, but it is a contact form with a limited vocabulary rather than a full natural language.
Why is the day on September 23?
It marks the founding of the World Federation of the Deaf on September 23, 1951. The federation proposed the day to the UN.
Is International Day of Sign Languages a public holiday?
No. International Day of Sign Languages is an observance, not a public holiday, so schools, banks, government offices and most businesses keep their normal hours.