International Education Week
International Education Week celebrates the value of learning across borders and cultures. It is observed each year during a week in November. The observance highlights international education and exchange, including opportunities to study, teach, and connect with people around the world.
How International Education Week started
International Education Week is a joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education. According to NAFSA: Association of International Educators, the departments established the observance to give U.S. institutions an opportunity to showcase global connections among students, faculty, and staff. The exact year and circumstances of its beginning are not well documented.
Its purpose is to recognize the benefits of learning about other countries and cultures, as well as the value of sharing knowledge across national boundaries. Activities can focus on international students and scholars, study-abroad experiences, language learning, or global topics in the classroom.
What the week celebrates
International education can take many forms. A student might attend school in another country, join an exchange program, or study a language at home. Teachers may bring global perspectives into lessons, while libraries and community groups can introduce visitors to books, art, food, and ideas from different places.
The week also draws attention to the connections made through educational exchange. Meeting people with different experiences can encourage curiosity, broaden perspectives, and help learners see how communities around the world are linked. Taking part does not require travel: a thoughtful conversation, a new book, or a local cultural event can be a starting point.
Many schools and campuses mark the observance with events such as international fairs, guest talks, language activities, film screenings, or displays created by students. There is no single required way to celebrate, so organizers can tailor activities to their community and its interests.
Ways to celebrate International Education Week
- Explore a new perspective: Read a novel, memoir, or children’s book by an author from another country, or choose a documentary that introduces a place you know little about.
- Try a language activity: Learn a few greetings, practice writing your name in another script, or use a language-learning resource to begin a new habit.
- Attend a local event: Check with a nearby school, college, library, or cultural organization for talks, performances, exhibitions, or international celebrations.
- Invite someone to share: If a friend, classmate, or colleague is comfortable doing so, ask about a tradition, place, or learning experience that matters to them. Listen with curiosity rather than expecting anyone to represent an entire culture.
- Bring the world into a classroom: Choose a global topic, compare how it is understood in different places, or explore maps, music, and stories together.
- Look into exchange opportunities: Students and educators can ask their school or institution about study-abroad programs, visiting scholars, language partnerships, or virtual exchanges.
Whether you join a campus event or simply learn something new at home, International Education Week is a chance to make curiosity part of everyday life.
When is International Education Week?
International Education Week: Every year on the third Monday of November.
| Year | Date | Day of the week |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | November 16 – November 20 | Monday – Friday |
| 2027 | November 15 – November 19 | Monday – Friday |
| 2028 | November 20 – November 24 | Monday – Friday |
| 2029 | November 19 – November 23 | Monday – Friday |
| 2030 | November 18 – November 22 | Monday – Friday |
Reviewed by the Holiday List editorial team on November 4, 2026 · Last updated November 4, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
When is International Education Week in 2026?
International Education Week is on Monday, November 16, 2026. After that, it falls on Monday, November 15, 2027. Every year on the third Monday of November.
Is International Education Week a public holiday?
No. International Education Week is an observance, not an official public holiday, so schools and businesses stay open as usual.
How did International Education Week start?
It is a joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education, established to let U.S. institutions showcase global connections. The exact year and circumstances of its beginning are not well documented.
What does International Education Week celebrate?
It celebrates learning across borders and cultures, including study, teaching, and educational exchange. The week highlights the benefits of learning about other countries and sharing knowledge across national boundaries.
How can I celebrate International Education Week?
You can attend a local international fair, talk, film screening, or cultural event, or explore a book, language, or global topic at home. There is no single required way to take part.
Sources
✓ Date verified against NAFSA: NAFSA and Partners Continue International Education Week Tradition on November 4, 2026.
