World Portuguese Language Day
The date of 5 May was officially established in 2009 by the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries (CPLP) - an intergovernmental organization that has been in official partnership with UNESCO since 2000, and which brings together peoples with the Portuguese language as one of the foundations of their specific identity - to celebrate the Portuguese language and Lusophone cultures. In 2019, the 40th session of UNESCO's General Conference decided to proclaim 5 May of each year as "World Portuguese Language Day".
The Portuguese language is not only one of the most widespread languages in the world, with more than 265 million speakers spread through all continents, but it is also the most widely spoken language in the southern hemisphere. Portuguese remains, today, a major language of international communication and a language with a strong geographical projection, destined to increase.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres message on World Portuguese Language Day
On the occasion of the International Day of the Portuguese Language, the Secretary-General of the United Nations extended a message to commemorate the celebration of the Portuguese language and to all Portuguese speakers.
Message of the Assistant Director General for Culture of UNESCO
“A language of encounters. On land and on the ocean.”
— Ernesto Ottone, Assitant Director-General for Culture of UNESCO on the occasion of World Portuguese Language Day 2021
Message of the Executive Secretary of CPLP
World Portuguese Day Celebrations in 2022
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Timor-Leste
Live Streams and Webinars 2022
and IILP and CPLP groups in several cities around the world.
In collaboration with the academies of portuguese speaking countries - livestream 4 p.m.
for the promotion of the Portuguese Language internationally.