International Day of Peace

The International Day of Peace, also officially known as World Peace Day, is a United Nations-sanctioned holiday observed annually on 21 September. It is dedicated to world peace, and specifically the absence of war and violence, such as might be occasioned by a temporary ceasefire in a combat zone for humanitarian aid access. The day was first established in 1981 and first observed in September 1982 and is kept by many nations, political groups, military groups, and people.

To inaugurate the day, the United Nations Peace Bell is rung at UN Headquarters (in New York City). The bell is cast from coins donated by people from all continents except Africa, and was a gift from the United Nations Association of Japan, as "a reminder of the human cost of war"; the inscription on its side reads, "Long live absolute world peace".

In 2018, a searchable map of events has been published at un.org.

Quotes

• The International Peace Day invites reflection on the connection between peace, justice, and spirituality. The Bianchi believed that reconciliation among citizens and fairness in public life were part of a spiritual journey. Their white robes expressed purity of intention, and their processions created a sense of shared responsibility. They showed that peaceful protest can open paths to reform and that ordinary people can influence political decisions when they act with conviction. Their movement was short-lived, yet it demonstrated that peace is not only the absence of war. It is also the presence of justice, including [taxational] justice, compassion, and mutual respect.
  … The Bianchi walked across Italy with a belief that peace and justice were possible. Their story reminds us that societies can change when citizens act together with sincerity and courage.
  • Massimo Introvigne, "White Robes Across Italy: A Medieval Call for Peace and the Tai Ji Men Case", Bitter Winter (September 21, 2026)

• Tai Ji Men’s global peace activity, particularly its events with the Bell of World Peace and Love, has parallels to other international peace efforts. Almost immediately after the end of the Second World War, a “resonant” peace initiative paved the path for the Bell of World Peace and Love’s success today. This initiative creates a parallel and links Tai Ji Men to today’s UN International Day of Peace in both shape and form, as well as in goals and in a sense of “resonance.”
  • Márk Nemes, "Two Bells and a Resonant Connection—Tai Ji Men and the UN International Day of Peace", Bitter Winter (September 23, 2026)