International Day of Peace 2026 - celebrate with your Roots & Shoots group
Every year, on the 21st of September, Roots & Shoots groups from around the world celebrate Roots & Shoots Peace Day and honour the UN International Day of Peace.
Dr Jane has been a UN Messenger of Peace since 2002, and she inspires us all to live in harmony with nature and each other. Each Roots & Shoots project is a step towards a future in which humans can live in peace in an environmentally sustainable way—a step towards achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
2026 Theme: Invest in Peace - For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day
Peace is more than the absence of war; it is the foundation necessary to collectively tackle humanity’s challenges. It is the lived experience of safety, dignity, opportunities and cooperation in our daily lives.
Under the theme Invest in Peace: For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day, this year’s International Day of Peace honours the 'everyday architects of peace' - people driving local action, laying the groundwork for stability, and building a lasting peace from the ground up.
Remember, peace isn’t just built in conference rooms—it is shaped by everyone, everywhere, every day.
Everyone, everywhere can do their part for peace. Take one small step for peace every day.
Dr Jane’s 2025 Peace Day message still holds a strong message and a call to action.
In a time of turbulence, tumult, and uncertainty, it is critical for everyone to take concrete action to mobilise for peace.
From peacekeepers on the front lines of conflict, to community members to students in classrooms around the world, everyone has a role to play. We must speak up against violence, hate, discrimination, and inequality; practice respect; and embrace the diversity of our world.
Here are a few ways you can celebrate Peace Day 2026:
Sing the Peace Day Song
Share ideas – what is Peace? How can you contribute to a World of compassion and empathy?
Create a Peace Day poster/mural/ pole. Write ‘Peace’ in different languages, and/ or peace-inspiring messages
Talk about all the things that unite us, and how we are much stronger when working together
Host a Peace Day Parade. Make a Giant Peace Dove (get the whole class/ school involved) and Small Peace Day Doves (colour each dove in a different colour (like skin colours), write peace pledges and fly them together)
Write a pledge on your dove – what can you do to bring Peace and harmony?
And of course, share your pledges and photos with us! We will create a gallery and inspire even more people! E-mail Jasmina Georgovska at jasmina@janegoodall.org.uk
