International Volunteer Day 2025 Launches International Volunteer Year 2026
United Nations Volunteers (UNV) marked International Volunteer Day (IVD) 2025 with the theme “Every contribution matters”, announcing the official launch of the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development 2026 (IVY 2026).
The launch was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly through Resolution 78/127. At the same time, UNV released the 2026 State of the World’s Volunteerism Report (SWVR), highlighting the growing role of volunteers in supporting sustainable development worldwide.
According to UNV, more than 2.1 billion people volunteer globally every month, contributing to humanitarian response, community resilience, and progress towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. IVY 2026 aims to strengthen global understanding of volunteerism and encourage governments and institutions to include volunteering in national development plans.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on people everywhere to get involved. He said that volunteering is a powerful way to make a difference, especially during times of crisis and uncertainty.
The official opening of IVY 2026 was held on December 5, 2025, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The event was co-organised by the Permanent Missions of Germany and Kazakhstan, along with UNV, and included high-level speeches, a global call to action, and the presentation of the new volunteerism report.
Across the world, countries marked International Volunteer Day and the launch of IVY 2026 with various activities during the first week of December. Events were held in cities such as Bangkok, Moscow, Shanghai, Nantong, Nairobi, and locations in Uzbekistan and Kenya, reflecting the global spirit of volunteering.
The International Volunteer Year 2026 encourages governments, civil society, academic institutions, the private sector, and individuals to work together to create inclusive and safe volunteering environments, recognise volunteer contributions, and explore new ways to engage volunteers worldwide.
Related Posts