Literacy for People, the Planet and Prosperity

What does literacy look like in everyday life?  It can be reading a workplace safety document with confidence. Helping a child with homework. Applying for a job online. Managing household finances. Preparing for an apprenticeship exam or another credential. Understanding important health information. Or simply taking the next step toward a goal that once felt out of reach.  Literacy is woven into almost everything we do.

On September 8, International Literacy Day gives us an opportunity to recognize just how important those skills are – and in 2026, there is even more reason to celebrate. This year marks the 60th anniversary of International Literacy Day, first proclaimed by UNESCO in 1966 and celebrated around the world since 1967.

The theme for International Literacy Day 2026 is “Literacy for people, the planet and prosperity.” It is a reminder that literacy is about much more than reading and writing. It helps people participate in their communities, respond to change, pursue education and employment, and build better futures for themselves and their families.

A global milestone with local meaning

UNESCO will mark International Literacy Day 2026 with a global celebration on September 8 and 9 in Mexico, in collaboration with the Government of Mexico. The celebration will also include the UNESCO International Literacy Prizes, recognizing outstanding literacy programs from around the world.

Sixty years is an important milestone – but it is also an opportunity to look ahead.  Millions of people around the world continue to experience barriers to developing the literacy, numeracy, digital and foundational skills they need. Those barriers can affect employment, education, access to information, participation in community life and social inclusion.

Here in Ontario, adult literacy and foundational skills programs are helping to change that.  Through Get SET – Skills, Education and Training, adults can strengthen reading, writing, math, digital and other essential skills in supportive learning environments. Programs meet learners where they are and help them move toward where they want to go.

Literacy for people

Literacy starts with people – and every learner’s story is different.

Some adults come to Get SET wanting to improve their reading or writing. Others want to strengthen their math skills, become more comfortable with technology, prepare for employment, enter an apprenticeship or move on to further education.

For many, returning to learning takes courage.  Adult learners may be balancing work, family responsibilities, transportation challenges, financial pressures and many other demands while working toward their goals. That is why adult learning needs to be flexible, welcoming and responsive to the person sitting in front of us.

When adults strengthen their foundational skills, they gain more than knowledge. They can gain confidence, independence, choice and new possibilities.

Literacy for the planet

The world around us is changing quickly.  New technologies, changing workplaces, environmental challenges and evolving communities increasingly require people to understand information, evaluate sources, solve problems and make informed decisions.  Literacy helps make that possible.

Digital literacy is an important part of this picture. As more services, employment opportunities, learning resources and community supports move online, access to technology alone is not enough. People also need the skills and confidence to use technology safely, effectively and critically.

Strong foundational skills help people adapt to change and participate in the decisions affecting their workplaces, families, communities and future.

Literacy for prosperity

Literacy also opens doors to opportunity.  Strong foundational skills support workplace safety, employment, training, productivity and career mobility. For one learner, that may mean preparing for a better job. For another, it may mean entering an apprenticeship, completing further education or finding greater stability.

And the benefits extend beyond the individual.  When adults have the skills they need to participate fully in the workforce, employers gain capable workers and communities become stronger and more resilient.

But prosperity is about more than economics. It is also about belonging, well-being, participation and having the ability to make choices about your own future.

Celebrating Ontario’s literacy community

International Literacy Day is also an opportunity to recognize the people who make adult learning possible across Ontario.

We celebrate the learners who decide to take that first – and sometimes difficult – step back into learning.

We celebrate the practitioners who encourage them, teach them and help them recognize what they are capable of achieving.

And we celebrate the Get SET programs, Learning Networks and community, education, employment and workforce partners that work together so adults can find the programs and supports that fit their goals.

This work matters.

How can you take part?

International Literacy Day is more than a date on the calendar. It is an invitation to help make learning more visible and accessible.

• learn more about Get SET programs in your community;
• share information about Get SET with someone who may benefit;
• celebrate and share adult learner success stories;
• support a local literacy organization or learning initiative;
• create opportunities for reading, learning and digital skill development; and
• speak up for inclusive access to lifelong learning.

As we celebrate the 60th anniversary of International Literacy Day, we can be proud of how far literacy education has come – while recognizing that the work continues.

Because behind every conversation about literacy is a person.

A person trying something new. Preparing for an opportunity. Building confidence. Helping their family. Changing careers. Finding their voice. Or imagining a future that suddenly feels a little more possible.

That is the power of literacy – for people, for our communities and for the future we are building together.

International Literacy Day | UNESCO