World Television Day 2026

World Television Day is a United Nations observance on 21 November. In 2026 it falls on Saturday, November 21. The UN General Assembly proclaimed the day in 1996 (resolution 51/205), marking the first World Television Forum at UN Headquarters on 21–22 November 1996. It recognizes television’s role in public information and globalization — not a commercial TV-shopping holiday.

That distinction matters. Thin pages treat the day like cable marketing. This page treats it like a media-literacy date with a real UN paper trail. See the November 21 hub, November national days, or the Today page.

When and what

Fixed date: November 21 each year. This is an official UN observance, not an informal food calendar day. Unlike many national-day food observances on this site, World Television Day has a General Assembly resolution behind it.

A short UN timeline

21–22 November 1996. The first World Television Forum meets at UN Headquarters. The gathering puts television on the agenda as a force in public information, not only as entertainment hardware.

17 December 1996. The General Assembly proclaims 21 November as World Television Day through resolution A/RES/51/205. The date commemorates the Forum rather than inventing a fictional “birthday of television.”

Purpose (paraphrased from UN framing): the day highlights television’s impact on decision-making and public attention to peace, security, and economic and social issues.

Why it still matters in a streaming world

Television and streaming still shape news, culture, and public debate. World Television Day is about media’s civic role — who gets heard, what gets framed as urgent — not a prompt to watch more ads.

How to observe World Television Day

1. Watch one news or documentary program from outside your usual bubble.
2. Compare how two outlets cover the same story — a basic media-literacy drill you can finish in an evening.
3. Support or learn about public broadcasting in your country.
4. Talk with family or class: what does television (or streaming news) still do that social feeds don’t?
5. Share a clip or reflection about television’s role in a public issue — not only a favorite sitcom list.

Facts

• The first World Television Forum was held at UN Headquarters on 21–22 November 1996
• The General Assembly proclaimed 21 November as World Television Day on 17 December 1996 in resolution 51/205
• The UN frames the day around communication and globalization, not the birthday of the television set
• World Television Day is a fixed date: 21 November every year
• World Radio Day is a separate UNESCO media observance and should not be confused with 21 November

Upcoming dates

• Saturday, November 21, 2026
• Sunday, November 21, 2027
• Tuesday, November 21, 2028
• Wednesday, November 21, 2029
• Thursday, November 21, 2030