The International Day of Sign Languages is observed each year on 23 September. The United Nations treats sign languages as natural languages, needed for identity, education, information and public participation.

The 2026 theme, announced by the UN, is “Declaring Deaf People’s Human Rights” — recognising, protecting and promoting the rights of deaf people, including access through national sign languages. The International Week of Deaf People runs from 21 to 27 September 2026, with daily sub-themes.

The year marks two milestones: 75 years since the World Federation of the Deaf was founded on 23 September 1951, and 20 years since the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The date of the Day commemorates the federation’s founding.

The federation, cited by the UN, speaks of more than 70 million deaf people and more than 300 sign languages. There is no universal system: communities use distinct languages. International Sign, used at meetings, is described as a simplified form, not a substitute for national languages.

Early access to language and to education in sign language matters for development. Interpretation, captioning and visual communication also matter in public services and emergencies. The Convention recognises equal status for sign languages and spoken languages.

Institutions announcing local activities should specify the language used, accessibility and how to take part. In Romania, terminology and events should be checked with organisations of deaf people, not through a “universal sign language.”

Image: sign-language interpreter, University of Education Winneba, 21 August 2022 / Uprising Man, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. A professional setting, not the UN observance of 23 September 2026. Cropped to 16:9.

Source consulted: International Day of Sign Languages | United Nations; International Week of Deaf People 2026 | World Federation of the Deaf.