International Translation Day

Submitted: 30th September 2026

International Translation Day

International Translation Day is celebrated every year on 30 September. It is one day set aside in order to celebrate language professionals, translators, and interpreters who , in the book world, connect stories across borders.

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Translation day

How did it all start?

September 30 is the feast day of Saint Jerome, a Christian scholar who translated the Bible into Latin.

He is known as the patron saint of translators.

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Key Dates

The International Federation of Translators first launched the idea in 1991 to unite the global translation community.

UN Recognition: The United Nations officially recognized the day in 2017

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Why It Matters – What languages and translations do:

Helps different cultures share knowledge, literature, and good stories.

Celebrates the difficult skill of changing text from one language to another.

Showcases the magic of spreading stories to those who don’t read the story in the original language to access that story.

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Themes of International Translation Day in the past :

2026: “Linguistic Diversity and Language Rights: The Power of Being Understood”
2025: “Translation, Shaping a Future You Can Trust”
2024: “Translation, an Art Worth Protecting”
2023: “Translation Unveils the Many Faces of Humanity”
2022: “A World Without Barriers…

This is the amazing world you are all taking part in when you read a book in translation. What a treasure trove!

What is true wealth to me? Being able to access and experience new cultures and new places via translated fiction. If there were more days in the week, I would translate those I read in the original language myself. There are so many undiscovered gems out there!!!

Susan x