World Day of Theatre & Performance for Children & Young People
Introduction
ASSITEJ World Day of Theatre for Children and Young People is an ASSITEJ International campaign promoted and celebrated through the message ‘Staging the rights of children. Today. Everyday’.
This focus enables National Centres, Affiliates, companies, arts organisations, academics, teachers, artists, practitioners and others interested in Theatre & Performing Arts for young audiences to connect with the idea of World Day and make the case for children and young people’s right to access culture and the arts, wherever they are.
All members of ASSITEJ International are invited to promote the annual World Day message, share the 2026 logo and poster, circulate the advocacy letter and press materials, and consider additional activities — large or small. Each year, Centres and Networks around the globe organize initiatives ranging from conferences and performances to workshops and media events. This toolkit is designed to support planning for World Day 2026, which happens on March 20th.
Logo & Poster
The official 2026 World Day visual materials are available for download and use by all members and partners of ASSITEJ International. All materials are editable for translation. The logo is also available in different colour versions and in multiple file formats (PNG and JPG) to suit your design needs.
The logo may be used across digital platforms, printed materials, websites, social media, programmes and promotional campaigns connected to World Day.
The 2026 World Day poster may also be displayed and shared to promote activities in your region, including in theatres, schools, cultural venues, offices and online spaces.
We have also created a series of animated GIFs of the logo, perfect for use in digital communications and social media to make your posts even more engaging and dynamic.
Video
The 2026 World Day Video has been created in collaboration with various members of ASSITEJ International.
In this video, we hear the voices of children and young people, sharing how the performing arts support them in their daily lives — how they inspire, educate, motivate, and shape their experiences.
The video may be:
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Shared on social media
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Screened before performances
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Used in schools and workshops
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Included in public events and conferences
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Circulated through newsletters and digital platforms
We sincerely thank all members who contributed to this video and encourage everyone to share it widely to amplify these important voices and messages.
Social Media
We have prepared a range of materials that members can use to promote World Day 2026 on their social media channels. These include graphics, banners, templates, and the official video.
Members are encouraged not only to share these materials but also to create their own content inspired by the campaign — for example:
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Short videos or clips of performances and workshops
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Photos from events or rehearsals
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Creative posts featuring children and young people engaging with theatre
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Testimonials or reflections from young audiences
Please use the official hashtags:
#ASSITEJWorldDay2026
#TodayEveryday
#StagingTheRightsOfChildren
We also encourage members to tag @assitejofficial so that we can see and share your posts across ASSITEJ International’s social media accounts. Sharing your activities in this way helps to raise awareness, inspire others, and celebrate World Day with the global community.
Message, Advocacy Letter & Press Release
President’s Message
Each year, World Day features a message from the President of ASSITEJ International, highlighting the importance of children and young people’s access to theatre and the performing arts.
This message serves as both an inspiration and a call to action, encouraging members and partners worldwide to celebrate, advocate, and create opportunities for young audiences to engage with the arts.
Members are encouraged to share the President’s message through websites, newsletters, events, social media, and press releases, helping to amplify the voice of World Day 2026 and foster a global conversation about children’s cultural rights.
”Children’s cultural rights must be visible, present and practised — today and everyday.
Advocacy Letter
The Advocacy Letter has been prepared by ASSITEJ International to support members in promoting children and young people’s access to theatre and the performing arts.
This letter can be downloaded and edited to include the details of your National Centre or organisation, adapting it to your local context while maintaining the overall structure and message. It serves as an example to inspire and guide members in communicating with cultural agencies, funding bodies, schools, local authorities, or national governments.
Members are encouraged to use this resource to highlight the value of performing arts for young audiences, the impact on their daily lives, and the importance of providing opportunities for cultural participation.
Press Release
A press release template is available for members to download and use to connect with local and national media.
This template can be edited to include information about your National Centre, local events or activities, and any regional context relevant to World Day 2026. It is designed as an example to guide members in promoting the campaign and generating visibility for children and young people’s engagement with theatre.
Members are encouraged to share their adapted press releases with media outlets, cultural organisations, and stakeholders, helping to raise awareness of the importance of Theatre & Performing Arts for young audiences on a global scale.
Other Events and Activities
ASSITEJ International members are encouraged to connect World Day to activities that are already taking place, as well as to develop new initiatives that reinforce children and young people’s right to access Theatre & Performing Arts.
Possible activities and actions include:
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Performances and artistic events for children and young people, including theatre, dance, circus, puppetry, spoken word, street theatre, script readings, or interdisciplinary formats.
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Festivals or special programming focused on Theatre & Performing Arts for Children & Young People, whether as stand-alone events or as part of existing festivals.
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Workshops, seminars, conferences, round tables, or public discussions addressing children’s cultural rights, access to the arts, participation, education, inclusion, or sector sustainability.
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Drama activities or creative workshops in schools, theatres, community centres, or cultural spaces, connecting artistic practice with children’s everyday environments.
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Award events or ceremonies recognising good practice, innovation, and long-term commitment to Theatre & Performing Arts for Children & Young People.
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Surveys or audience engagement activities aimed at adult audiences, educators, or families, raising awareness of the importance of access to arts and culture for children and young people.
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Distribution of printed or digital materials connected to schools, theatres, and cultural venues, using the World Day slogan and visual identity.
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Media engagement, including interviews, testimonials, and statements from artists, cultural professionals, educators, policymakers, child specialists, or institutional representatives.
In addition, National Centres and organisations are encouraged to activate World Day through small-scale digital actions, designed to be easy to implement and widely shareable:
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Short video testimonies of children and young people (always recorded with prior parental or legal guardian consent), responding to simple questions such as:
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Why do you like going to the theatre?
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How does theatre make you feel?
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What story would you like to see on stage?
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Brief video messages from artists, educators, or practitioners explaining why Theatre & Performing Arts for Children & Young People matter today, in relation to children’s rights and cultural participation.
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Single-image posts or portraits of children and young people engaging with theatre activities.
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Text-based posts or stories sharing quotes, drawings, or short reflections from children and young people about their experience of theatre, without images where consent is not possible.
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Digital activities encouraging children to colour and decorate masks or drawings connected to theatre. Children can take photos with their masks or artwork and share them on social media, allowing participation and visibility without showing children’s faces. (Masks are available here.)
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Re-sharing and amplifying content from other ASSITEJ National Centres to strengthen the sense of a global, collective action.
These actions, whether large public events or small digital activities, contribute to a shared international message: children’s rights to Theatre & Performing Arts must be visible, protected, and enacted in everyday cultural life.
We hope that as many members as possible will get behind the campaign for 2026 so that we can make as big an impact as possible, which supports the rights of children to engage with theatre.
