Celebration of the International Day of Peace 2026
“Creativity in the Service of PEACE”
Strengthening the culture of peace* is more necessary than ever in societies in
polycrisis where armed conflicts, poverty, the crisis of democracies,
inequalities, discrimination, climate change, and forced migration of entire
populations lead to the denial of human rights, including education for girls
and women, and tend to create societies in perpetual conflict.
Today's fractured world urgently needs to reconsider peace as an embodied
dynamic living culture. Reconsidering peace requires respecting linguistic
and cultural differences and the equal dignity of all human beings; it means
developing curiosity and critical thinking starting at an early age, to combat
stereotypes and prejudices and to be truthful, resolving conflicts in a non-
violent manner. Hence, it means imagining a different world, where
creativity and otherness contribute to a common language and to building
bridges among diversities. Considering peace requires establishing inter-
generational, inter-religious, and intercultural dialogue, mutual respect, and
promoting non violence.
UNESCO's NGO partners, rich in their diversity, contribute specifically to
encouraging dialogue at local community levels.
The events that have been organized since 2012 by the collective for
celebrating the International Day of Peace are part of UNESCO's primary mandate to build peace in the minds of men and women, and are based on
creativity as a lever for dialogue and inclusion. The last two events were
granted the patronage of the French National Commission to UNESCO and
the usual support of the Liaison Committee of UNESCO's NGO partners.
In the wake of the 80th anniversary of the United Nations and at a time when
the Organization is under serious threat, we choose to anchor our event in
UNESCO's global priorities, namely Gender Equality, Youth and Africa, and
celebrate the recognition of the Three Cultures Foundation.
During this 2026 event, in Spain, located so close to Africa, Creativity and Art
will be considered as powerful levers for individual and collective
emancipation, for equality, inclusion, and citizen participation. Using various
artistic and cultural practices, individuals—especially young people, women,
and often invisible audiences—can rediscover their capacity for expression,
recognition, and affirmation of their dignity. Art then functions as a space for
freedom, dialogue, and social transformation.
This event will highlight creativity’s essential role in transmitting values,
memories, and knowledge to strengthen social cohesion and a sense of
belonging to a peaceful, open, dynamic, and pluralistic community. In the
context of current world tensions, culture appears as a vector of resilience,
enabling us to strengthen and rebuild social ties and promote education for
peace.
The experience of UNESCO's Creative Cities Network illustrates how
investing in creativity—whether in the visual arts, music, design, literature,
or cultural industries—helps strengthen intercultural dialogue, regional
attractiveness, and social cohesion.
The 2026 event thus aims to affirm that promoting art and creation is both
about supporting forms of aesthetic expression, and also about working
concretely to build a culture of peace based on equal opportunities, the
recognition of diversity, and participation in cultural and democratic life.
According to the conclusions of the 2025 event, “art is not just entertainment,
it is a political act, a soft force and unshakable force for the Culture of Peace.”
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