World Bee Day2026 · Date · History · Messages · Quotes
A/RES/72/211
About World Bee Day
World Bee Day is the United Nations observance held on 20 May to raise awareness of the importance of bees and other pollinators, the challenges they face and the actions that can support pollinator health and habitats.
The observance is not limited to honey production. Pollination supports wild plant communities as well as agriculture, and many pollinating species other than managed honey bees contribute to ecosystems.
Why World Bee Day matters
Pollinators connect biodiversity, food production and habitat quality. World Bee Day provides a practical opportunity to think about flowering resources, nesting habitat, land management and the ways pesticides or other pressures can affect pollinators.
Actions should be adapted to local ecology. Planting or habitat advice is strongest when it comes from local native-plant, agricultural or conservation guidance rather than a universal species list.
History of World Bee Day
The Government of Slovenia, supported by Apimondia, promoted the proposal that led the UN General Assembly to declare 20 May as World Bee Day. FAO states that the day has been celebrated since 2018.
The date was chosen because 20 May is the birthday of Anton Janša, an 18th-century Slovenian pioneer of modern apiculture.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
Government of Slovenia, supported by Apimondia
The Government of Slovenia, supported by Apimondia, promoted the proposal that led the UN General Assembly to declare 20 May as World Bee Day.
United Nations General Assembly
UN General Assembly resolution A/RES/72/211
First documented observance
FAO states that the day has been celebrated since 2018.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
A/RES/72/211 explicitly invites FAO to facilitate observance of World Bee Day in collaboration with relevant organizations.
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.
2 fields not established in reviewed sources
Also known as
World Honey Bee Day
How to Observe World Bee Day
Plant locally appropriate flowering plants using native-plant or agricultural guidance for your region.
Reduce unnecessary pesticide use and follow label and local expert guidance where pest management is needed.
Leave or create suitable habitat features for native pollinators where this is safe and ecologically appropriate.
Learn about both managed bees and wild pollinators in your area rather than focusing on a single species.
Support responsible beekeeping, pollinator research or habitat-restoration work through credible local organizations.
World Bee Day Facts
World Bee Day is observed on 20 May.
The UN General Assembly declared the observance after a proposal led by Slovenia with support from Apimondia.
FAO states that World Bee Day has been celebrated since 2018.
The date marks the birthday of Anton Janša, a pioneer of modern apiculture.
The observance concerns bees and other pollinators, not honey bees alone.
World Bee Day Messages
May World Bee Day inspire curiosity about the living world and thoughtful action to protect it.
Celebrate World Bee Day by learning from credible conservation sources and choosing one practical way to reduce harm or support protection.
Wishing everyone marking World Bee Day a day of discovery, respect for nature and care that continues beyond today.
On World Bee Day, may appreciation for the natural world lead to informed stewardship and practical care for the places and species around us.
World Bee Day Quotes
“Most importantly, bees play a critical role in our ecosystems.”
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.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations — World Bee Day (opens in a new tab)
United Nations Digital Library — A/RES/72/211 (opens in a new tab)
United Nations — A/RES/72/211, World Bee Day (opens in a new tab)
United Nations — World Bee Day (opens in a new tab)
Un Official
UN General Assembly resolution record (opens in a new tab)
Un Resolution
United Nations — List of International Days and Weeks (opens in a new tab)
United Nations — Observances: who chooses them and how (opens in a new tab)
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 World Bee Day?
20 May The documented recurrence rule is: 20 May.
Does World Bee Day fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is World Bee Day an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: FAO / 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 World Bee Day?
The reviewed sources identify United Nations General Assembly as the proclaiming or establishing body. The proposer or originator is recorded separately as Government of Slovenia, supported by Apimondia. Current facilitation or coordination is recorded as Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
Is World Bee Day international or country-specific?
The documented scope is international or global: FAO / 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.
When is World Bee Day?
World Bee Day is observed every year on 20 May.
Why was 20 May chosen?
The date is the birthday of Anton Janša, a Slovenian pioneer of modern apiculture.
How can I help pollinators responsibly?
Use locally appropriate habitat and planting guidance, avoid unnecessary pesticide use, and support native pollinator habitat and credible conservation or research work.
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