International Day of Peace - September 21, the UN-recognised annual observance for peace and non-violence

International Day of Peace on September 21 is the UN-recognised annual observance for peace and non-violence, established in 1981 by the UN General Assembly and observed worldwide with a one-minute silent pause at noon local time.

The one-line summary

UN-proclaimed international day on September 21, established 1981. Anchored by the Peace Bell ringing and global minute of silence at noon local time. Not a public holiday. Oldest and largest of the UN peace-themed days.

Origin

The International Day of Peace was established by the UN General Assembly in 1981 (Resolution 36/67), originally to coincide with the opening of the UN General Assembly annual session in September. The Assembly had been debating the establishment of a peace day since 1979, when the proposal was put forward by Costa Rica and supported by 60+ member states.

In 2001 the Assembly moved the date to a fixed September 21 (Resolution 55/282), partly to detach it from the political calendar of the General Assembly opening. The fixed-date observance also aligned with the UN Secretary-General decision to ring the Peace Bell at the same time each year.

The Peace Bell and minute of silence

The Peace Bell is a bell cast from coins donated by children from every continent, displayed at UN headquarters in New York since 1951. The bell was a gift from Japan to the UN and was cast from coins collected by children organisations. It is inscribed with the Japanese character for peace and the English inscription Long Live Absolute World Peace.

The UN Secretary-General rings the Peace Bell at the International Day of Peace ceremony each year. The ceremony marks the start of a global minute of silence at noon local time on September 21, observed in UN offices and member- state institutions worldwide.

UN peace architecture

The International Day of Peace sits within a broader UN peace architecture. The UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs coordinates peace-and-security policy. The UN Peacebuilding Commission was established in 2005 to coordinate post-conflict peacebuilding. The UN 17 Sustainable Development Goals include SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions - which the day directly supports.

The day is distinct from International Day of Non-Violence (October 2), which is the UN observance of Mahatma Gandhi birthday, and from the Nelson Mandela International Day (July 18), which honours Mandela contributions to peace and reconciliation.

How it is observed

The International Day of Peace is observed through UN events, peace-education programming, school assemblies, and the global minute of silence at noon local time on September 21. Peace organisations including Peace One Day, the International Peace Institute, and Search for Common Ground run campaigns aligned to the day. Schools in 100+ countries run peace-themed curricula in the lead-up to September 21.

Legal status

The International Day of Peace carries no legal status. No country lists September 21 as a public holiday on the basis of the UN observance. The day is an awareness and advocacy day observed through UN, governmental, educational, and civil-society events.

Where it is contested

The International Day of Peace is broadly uncontested as a peace-and-non-violence moment. The most frequent critique is that the day reliance on ceremonial moments can substitute for sustained peace-and-security policy work. UN member states and peace organisations have addressed these critiques by tying the day annual theme to specific policy deliverables and by running the day alongside peace-education curricula that extend beyond a single calendar moment.

International Day of Peace by the numbers

Sources

• UN International Day of Peace: un.org/en/observances/international-day-peace
• Peace One Day: peaceoneday.org
• UN Peace Bell: un.org/en/about-us/peace-bell

Key facts at a glance

A quick reference list for International Day Of Peace 2026:

• Date: September 21, fixed Gregorian date
• Category: International
• Country: UN member states
• Public holiday: No
• Established: 1981, UN General Assembly
• Originally: Third Tuesday of September; fixed to 21 September 2001
• Related: International Day of Non-Violence (October 2)
• Symbol: UN Peace Bell in New York

UN International Day of Peace

The International Day of Peace was established by the UN General Assembly in 1981. Originally observed on the third Tuesday of September, the date was fixed to September 21 in 2001 to coincide with the opening of the annual session of the UN General Assembly. The day's promotion is led by the UN with support from civil society and member states.

The Peace Bell ceremony

The International Day of Peace is marked at UN headquarters in New York by the ringing of the UN Peace Bell. The bell, made from coins donated by children around the world, was presented to the UN by Japan in 1951. The ceremony features a moment of silence observed by UN officials, diplomats, and visitors.

International Day of Peace FAQs

• When is the International Day of Peace? September 21, fixed Gregorian date.
• Who established it? The UN General Assembly in 1981.
• What is the Peace Bell? A bell made from donated coins, located at UN headquarters in New York.
• How is it observed? UN ceremony in New York, peace-themed events worldwide.

Activities around the day

Many organisations mark the International Day of Peace with educational programmes, peace vigils, and community events. The UN publishes educational resources and organises events around the theme. Schools worldwide host peace-themed educational activities on or around September 21.

Each year the UN Secretary- General issues a message for the day, calling for a 24-hour ceasefire in conflict zones and emphasising the importance of peace, human rights, and sustainable development. Related international days include World Refugee Day (June 20) and World Humanitarian Day (August 19).