This year, International Literacy Day (ILD) marks a special milestone: its 60th anniversary. First proclaimed by UNESCO in 1966 during the 14th session of its General Conference, the day has grown into a global moment for reflecting on literacy as a fundamental human right and a driver of peace and sustainable development.
Celebrated in 2026 under the theme "Literacy for people, the planet and prosperity," this year's ILD is an opportunity to take stock of six decades of progress, examine the persistent and emerging challenges that remain, and help shape literacy agendas fit for a rapidly changing world that's shaped by digital technologies.
Over recent years, countries and partners have made real progress in advancing literacy for all. ILD 2026 is a chance to celebrate those achievements while spotlighting the policies, practices and partnerships still needed to close remaining gaps, especially for the millions of people who still lack basic reading and writing skills globally.
Why literacy matters in the digital sphere
On the Better Internet for Kids (BIK) portal, literacy is never just about reading and writing on paper: it's also about the skills children and young people need to navigate, question and create in online spaces. Media and digital literacy are the foundation on which safe, confident and empowered internet use is built. Without them, children are more exposed to disinformation, manipulation and other online risks; with them, they become capable, critical digital citizens.
This is precisely the ambition behind the Better Internet for Kids (BIK+) strategy, adopted by the European Commission, which places media literacy at the heart of efforts to ensure every child is protected, empowered and respected online - including through the exchange of good practices on national curricula and awareness-raising campaigns for children, teachers, parents and carers.
Explore BIK's Learning corner
To mark International Literacy Day, we encourage educators, parents and carers to explore the BIK Learning corner, the portal's dedicated eLearning space. It brings together age-appropriate resources, courses, and activities designed to build digital literacy skills. These resources are for everyone: from the youngest internet users just discovering tablets and smartphones, to teenagers learning to spot disinformation and navigate online content critically.
Building strong digital literacy skills early on doesn't just protect children online - it equips them to participate fully and confidently in a world where being literate increasingly means being digitally literate too. It's fitting that ILD falls right as most of Europe heads back to school, a moment when digital habits and online friendships are freshly renewed alongside classroom routines. This "back to school" spirit is exactly what BIK's #NotOnOurFeed campaign taps into, encouraging young people, educators and parents to build a kinder, more critical online culture together from the very start of the year.
Learn more:
This year, International Literacy Day (ILD) marks a special milestone: its 60th anniversary. First proclaimed by UNESCO in 1966 during the 14th session of its General Conference, the day has grown into a global moment for reflecting on literacy as a fundamental human right and a driver of peace and sustainable development.
Celebrated in 2026 under the theme "Literacy for people, the planet and prosperity," this year's ILD is an opportunity to take stock of six decades of progress, examine the persistent and emerging challenges that remain, and help shape literacy agendas fit for a rapidly changing world that's shaped by digital technologies.
Over recent years, countries and partners have made real progress in advancing literacy for all. ILD 2026 is a chance to celebrate those achievements while spotlighting the policies, practices and partnerships still needed to close remaining gaps, especially for the millions of people who still lack basic reading and writing skills globally.
Why literacy matters in the digital sphere
On the Better Internet for Kids (BIK) portal, literacy is never just about reading and writing on paper: it's also about the skills children and young people need to navigate, question and create in online spaces. Media and digital literacy are the foundation on which safe, confident and empowered internet use is built. Without them, children are more exposed to disinformation, manipulation and other online risks; with them, they become capable, critical digital citizens.
This is precisely the ambition behind the Better Internet for Kids (BIK+) strategy, adopted by the European Commission, which places media literacy at the heart of efforts to ensure every child is protected, empowered and respected online - including through the exchange of good practices on national curricula and awareness-raising campaigns for children, teachers, parents and carers.
Explore BIK's Learning corner
To mark International Literacy Day, we encourage educators, parents and carers to explore the BIK Learning corner, the portal's dedicated eLearning space. It brings together age-appropriate resources, courses, and activities designed to build digital literacy skills. These resources are for everyone: from the youngest internet users just discovering tablets and smartphones, to teenagers learning to spot disinformation and navigate online content critically.
Building strong digital literacy skills early on doesn't just protect children online - it equips them to participate fully and confidently in a world where being literate increasingly means being digitally literate too. It's fitting that ILD falls right as most of Europe heads back to school, a moment when digital habits and online friendships are freshly renewed alongside classroom routines. This "back to school" spirit is exactly what BIK's #NotOnOurFeed campaign taps into, encouraging young people, educators and parents to build a kinder, more critical online culture together from the very start of the year.
Learn more:
- < Previous article
- Next article >
- < Previous
- Next >
