International Day for Universal Access to Information 2026: Protecting Children from Online Misinformation
The International Day for Universal Access to Information is being observed on 28 September 2026 with a focus on helping people access reliable information in an increasingly digital world.
This year’s theme, “Upholding Information Integrity in the Digital Age: The Role of Access to Information in Addressing Information Disorder,” highlights the importance of timely and credible information in a digital environment where misinformation and disinformation can spread quickly.
For children and young people, access to trustworthy information is particularly important as they increasingly use digital platforms for learning, communication and entertainment. Understanding how to identify reliable information can help children make safer and more informed choices online.
The United Nations says access to information involves the right to seek, receive and share information. It also recognises media and information literacy as important tools for creating healthier information environments.
UNESCO, which monitors global progress on public access to information, reported that 141 countries and territories had legal guarantees for access to information, while 123 participated in its 2025 survey on public access to information.
The 2026 observance also includes the presentation of results from a global “Stress Test” of the right to know. UNESCO and the Centre for Law and Democracy submitted identical information requests to public authorities in 120 countries to examine how access-to-information laws work in practice.
The global conference marking the day is being organised by UNESCO in collaboration with the Government of Sierra Leone.
As children spend more time navigating digital spaces, promoting information and media literacy can help them distinguish credible information from misleading content and participate more safely in the digital world.
