UNESCO and ICANN Call for Proposals in Promoting Universal Acceptance (UA) Day 2026

UNESCO is supporting this fourth annual UA Day series. Interested organizers are invited to submit their event proposals by 9 November 2025 through the UA Day Event Proposal Form .

UA Day 2026 will feature a mix of in-person, virtual, and hybrid sessions organized by ICANN, UNESCO, and other global, regional, and local partners. Event proposals are encouraged by a wide range of organizations, including academia, technology companies, open-source communities, standards bodies, email service providers, and language communities. Events can focus on UA awareness, academic curricula development, UA adoption and demonstration exercises, or regional strategy reviews. Special preference will be given to proposals from countries and organizations that have not previously organized UA Day events.

The selected list of UA Day events will be announced by mid-December 2025. For more information on Universal Acceptance and UA Day, please visit https://universalacceptance.day

First introduced in 2023, Universal Acceptance (UA) Day mobilizes local, national, regional, and global communities to champion a more inclusive and multilingual Internet. Universal Acceptance ensures that all valid domain names and email addresses-regardless of script, language, or character length- work seamlessly across all Internet-enabled applications, devices, and systems. By enabling users to choose online identities in the language or script of their choice, UA plays a key role in building a truly multilingual and accessible digital world.

In line with UNESCO's 2003 Recommendation on the Promotion and Use of Multilingualism and Universal Access to Cyberspace, as well as the International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022-2032), UNESCO's engagement in UA Day highlights its commitment to fostering multilingualism, digital inclusion, and equitable access to information.

In 2025, Universal Acceptance Day was celebrated across 59 events worldwide gathering 7,695 participants all over the world. These included the flagship event in Hanoi, Viet Nam, as well as regional and national celebrations. The 2025 edition highlighted the growing global commitment to building an internet that is truly inclusive, reflecting the linguistic and cultural diversity of its users. Building on this momentum, UNESCO invites all stakeholders to join and contribute to an even more engaging and inclusive celebration for Universal Acceptance Day 2026.

UNESCO encourages all stakeholders-including governments, academic institutions, private sector partners, and civil society-to submit proposals and join forces in advancing Universal Acceptance. Together, we can help ensure that every language and script has an equal place on the Internet.

For any inquiries or further information, please kindly contact David Castillo at [email protected]