What is Commemorated on 23 July 2026? Here is the List of Observances
Several significant observances fall on 23 July 2026, both nationally and internationally. In Indonesia, the most prominent is National Children’s Day (HAN), an annual reminder of the importance of fulfilling children’s rights and ensuring their protection. The date also marks No TV Day, Worm Awareness Day, and World Sjögren’s Day.
National Children’s Day is commemorated on 23 July based on Presidential Decree No. 44 of 1984. The date coincides with the ratification of Law No. 4 of 1979 concerning Child Welfare. According to the 42nd National Children’s Day 2026 guidelines published by the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (Kemen PPPA), the theme for HAN 2026 is ‘Love Children, Protect and Build Their Future.’ The theme calls on all elements of society to strengthen affection, protection, and the fulfilment of children’s rights so they grow up healthy, intelligent, and competitive. Kemen PPPA stated that the theme is realised through the National Movement for Child-Friendly, Safe, and Comfortable Environments (Gernas #RANA), a collective effort to create safe, comfortable, inclusive, and violence-free environments for all Indonesian children.
In addition to National Children’s Day, 23 July is also observed as No TV Day in Indonesia. According to information from the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI), this observance was first initiated in 2008 by several media watchdog communities. Its aim is to encourage the public to reduce television viewing for one day and instead use the time to interact with family, read books, exercise, or engage in more productive activities. The momentum also serves as a reminder of the importance of selecting quality broadcasts and building a media literacy culture amidst the rapid flow of information.
23 July is also commemorated as Worm Awareness Day in Indonesia. Referring to the Indonesian Ministry of Health, this observance aims to raise public awareness of the dangers of worm infections, which remain a health problem, particularly among school-aged children. Worm infections can affect nutritional status, hinder growth, and reduce children’s learning abilities. Through this observance, the public is encouraged to adopt clean and healthy living behaviours, such as washing hands with soap, wearing footwear, maintaining environmental cleanliness, and participating in deworming programmes as recommended by health workers.
At the international level, 23 July is observed as World Sjögren’s Day. According to National Today, the observance is held to raise awareness of Sjögren’s syndrome, a chronic autoimmune disease that attacks the tear and saliva-producing glands, causing dry eyes and mouth. The disease can also affect other organs and is often difficult to diagnose because its symptoms resemble other illnesses. The date of 23 July was chosen to commemorate the birthday of Henrik Sjögren, the Swedish ophthalmologist who first described the disease in the early 20th century.
These are the observances falling on 23 July 2026. In addition to being a moment for National Children’s Day, the date is filled with various health, education, and awareness campaigns observed in Indonesia and worldwide.