The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) celebrated International Volunteer Day (IVD) 2025 under the theme ""Every contribution matters"", announcing two major milestones: The global launch of the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development (IVY) 2026, as proclaimed by the UN General Assembly through resolution 78/127; and the release of the 2026 State of the World’s Volunteerism Report (SWVR), which sets the tone for an initiative to recognize and advance volunteer contributions to sustainable development.

More than 2.1 billion volunteers worldwide act every month to foster solidarity and humanity. Their efforts are vital for achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, responding to humanitarian emergencies, and building resilient communities. IVY 2026 calls on governments, United Nations entities, civil society, academia and the private sector to deepen global understanding of volunteerism, promote knowledge-sharing, and integrate volunteering into national development strategies.

The official opening of IVY 2026 took place on 5 December at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, co-organized by the Permanent Missions of Germany, Kazakhstan and UNV. The event featured high-level remarks by the President of the General Assembly, the co-hosts, a multi-stakeholder Global Call to Action for the Future of Volunteering, and the unveiling of the 2026 SWVR.

Around the world, events marking International Volunteer Day and the launch of the International Volunteer Year were held last week; from a running activity and parade in Bangkok, to the International Forum of Civil Participation in Moscow, celebrations in Nantong and Shanghai in China, a regional launch in Uzbekistan and Kenya’s national launch at the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7) in Nairobi, among many others.