World Peace and Understanding Day 2026 – 23 February

• World Peace and Understanding Day 2026 will be observed on 23 February, commemorating the first meeting of Rotary International held in Chicago in 1905 by Paul P. Harris. Celebrated during World Understanding Month, the day promotes global peace, ethical leadership, and international cooperation.
• Rotary began as a small professional gathering in 1905 in Chicago and later evolved into a global humanitarian network operating in over 200 countries and regions. It expanded across American cities before forming the International Association of Rotary Clubs, eventually becoming Rotary International.

Key Features of 2026 Observance

• Marks Rotary’s founding anniversary (1905)
• Observed annually on 23 February
• Promotes dialogue, empathy, and cross-cultural cooperation
• Highlights humanitarian service and ethical leadership
• Strengthens collaboration with the United Nations
• Each year, Rotary selects around 75 scholars under its Peace and Conflict Resolution graduate programme to advance global peacebuilding efforts.