International Day of Yoga2026 · Date · History · Messages · Quotes
A/RES/69/131
About International Day of Yoga
The International Day of Yoga is observed on 21 June. The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the day in 2014 to raise awareness of yoga, an ancient physical, mental and spiritual practice that originated in India.
The page presents yoga as a broad practice with many forms and traditions. It does not treat an international observance as medical advice or as proof that one practice is suitable for every person.
Why International Day of Yoga matters
Yoga has cultural, philosophical, spiritual and physical-practice dimensions, and different schools and communities may understand it differently.
Claims about treating disease, preventing injury or managing an individual health condition require appropriate medical evidence and should not be inferred from the UN observance.
History of International Day of Yoga
On 11 December 2014, the UN General Assembly proclaimed 21 June as the International Day of Yoga through resolution 69/131.
The draft resolution was proposed by India and endorsed by 175 Member States. The reviewed UN source establishes the institutional chain clearly but does not provide a sufficiently explicit historical reason for why 21 June itself was selected, so this guide continues not to infer one.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
India
India proposed the observance at the United Nations, and the draft resolution received exceptionally broad support before General Assembly adoption.
United Nations General Assembly
UN General Assembly resolution 69/131
First documented observance
United Nations records identify 21 June 2015 as the first International Day of Yoga.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
4 fields not established in reviewed sources
Also known as
International Yoga Day
How to Observe International Day of Yoga
Learn about yoga’s history and terminology from credible cultural and educational sources, not only fitness marketing.
If joining a class, choose instruction appropriate to your experience and physical needs.
Compare different yoga traditions without presenting one modern style as the universal form.
Avoid making diagnosis or treatment promises in observance content.
Use current organizer material only for year-specific events and themes.
International Day of Yoga Facts
For International Day of Yoga, the International Day of Yoga is observed on 21 June.
India proposed the draft resolution establishing the day.
The United Nations states that 175 Member States endorsed the draft resolution.
The UN General Assembly proclaimed the observance in 2014 through resolution 69/131.
This guide does not present an unsupported solstice explanation as the official reason for the exact date.
International Day of Yoga Messages
May International Day of Yoga spark fresh ideas, thoughtful conversation and a little more curiosity about the subject behind the day.
International Day of Yoga is a good excuse to slow down, explore the topic and enjoy the people, stories or traditions connected with it.
Wishing everyone marking International Day of Yoga a day filled with curiosity, creativity and meaningful discovery.
Happy International Day of Yoga! May International Day of Yoga invite fresh curiosity about the traditions, ideas and people connected with this occasion.
Celebrate International Day of Yoga by learning something new, sharing what you enjoy and inviting someone else into the experience.
International Day of Yoga Quotes
“Yoga teaches us mindfulness, respect and care: for ourselves, for our planet, and for one another.”
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
United Nations Academic Impact — first International Day of Yoga, 21 June 2015 (opens in a new tab)
United Nations General Assembly — Resolution 69/131 (opens in a new tab)
United Nations — International Day of Yoga (opens in a new tab)
Dedicated Authoritative Page
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is International Day of Yoga?
21 June The documented recurrence rule is: 21 June.
Does International Day of Yoga fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is International Day of Yoga an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: United Nations international observance. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes International Day of Yoga?
The reviewed sources identify United Nations General Assembly as the proclaiming or establishing body. The proposer or originator is recorded separately as India.
Is International Day of Yoga international or country-specific?
The documented scope is international or global: United Nations international observance. That does not mean every country treats the date as a public holiday or observes it in the same way.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-09-05.
Who proposed the International Day of Yoga?
India proposed the draft resolution, which the United Nations says was endorsed by 175 Member States.
Who formally established the observance?
The UN General Assembly proclaimed 21 June as the International Day of Yoga through resolution 69/131 in December 2014.
Why does this guide not give an official historical reason for 21 June?
The reviewed UN source clearly establishes the date and resolution but does not provide a sufficiently explicit institutional explanation for why that exact date was selected.
Does an international observance prove that yoga is medically suitable for everyone?
No. Personal health suitability and treatment claims require appropriate clinical evidence and professional guidance where needed.
Other observances on June 21
These observances are also listed on June 21, 2027.
Año Nuevo Andino Amazónico y del Chaco
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Go Skateboarding Day
IASC press releases describe Go Skateboarding Day as the official annual holiday of skateboarding, observed worldwide on June 21.
International Day of the Celebration of the Solstice
A/RES/73/300
Martyrs’ Day (Togo)
The official Togolese government site states that Togo commemorates Martyrs’ Day every 21 June in memory of those killed in the independence struggle and confirms that the day is a public h…
National Arizona Day
National Day Calendar lists National Arizona Day on 21 June as part of its creator-defined National State Days series, introduced in 2017 to honor states in the order they joined the Union.…
National Daylight Appreciation Day
Published event material identifies Solatube International as creator and Solatube describes itself as sponsor of the annual June 21 observance. NASA/NOAA material is used to separate the f…