A Day to Celebrate
World Cotton Day was created to raise awareness of cotton’s vital role in the global economy — and in the lives of tens of millions of people around the world. Celebrated annually on October 7, it highlights cotton’s contributions to trade, employment, rural development and sustainable livelihoods while bringing together the many people and organizations working across the cotton and textile value chain. In August 2021, the United Nations reserved October 7 as World Cotton Day on its Permanent Calendar.
The History of World Cotton Day
World Cotton Day was launched on October 7, 2019, in Geneva at WTO headquarters. Every year since then, six organizations work together organize a Partners Conference each year: FAO, ICAC, ITC, UNCTAD, UNIDO, and WTO (IAEA has since joined the group).
In 2026, the Partners Conference will be held in Tashkent (see agenda here). It is free to attend but registration is required.
The efforts of the partner organizations each year certainly helped World Cotton Day become the worldwide phenomenon it is today — but the real break came when the C4+ countries — Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, and Cote d’Ivoire — submitted a proposal to the United Nations to reserve October 7 as World Cotton Day on the Permanent UN Calendar. The resolution passed in August 2021, a mere two years after the event debuted in Geneva.
Today, people across the globe do what they can to support cotton on October 7 however they can.
Cotton does a lot for all of us on a daily basis, and it needs as many people as possible to ensure the world recognizes the tremendous benefits of this amazing natural fiber.
Mission and Objectives
Mission:
To celebrate cotton’s global contribution to people, prosperity and sustainable development — and inspire the world to recognize and support cotton as a force for good.
Objectives:
- Inspire people around the world to participate each October 7 under the permanent theme “Cotton for Good.”
- Promote a better understanding of cotton’s economic, social and environmental importance.
- Highlight the millions of farmers, workers, businesses and communities connected to the cotton and textile value chain.
- Demonstrate cotton’s contribution to employment, rural development, international trade and poverty reduction.
- Encourage innovation, sustainability and responsible practices throughout the cotton and textile sectors.
- Provide a global platform for governments, industry, international organizations, schools and individuals to celebrate cotton and share their own stories and activities.
- Strengthen cooperation across the global cotton community and encourage greater recognition of cotton as a global public good.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is World Cotton Day?
World Cotton Day is a United Nations-recognized observance celebrated every year on October 7. It brings the global cotton and textile community together to recognize cotton’s importance to livelihoods, trade, economic development and communities around the world, under the permanent theme “Cotton for Good.”
Why is World Cotton Day Important?
Cotton is far more than a fiber. It supports the livelihoods of millions of farmers, textile professionals, and families, provides income and employment across a vast global value chain, and plays an important role in trade and economic development, particularly in many developing countries. World Cotton Day was created to ensure that cotton’s contributions to our lives — and the people behind them — are recognized and understood.
What happens on World Cotton Day?
World Cotton Day is celebrated in many different ways around the world. Governments, businesses, industry organizations, schools, farmers, and individuals organize conferences, educational activities, farm and factory visits, photo contests, exhibitions, social media campaigns, and other events that tell cotton’s story. There is no single way to participate: Everyone is encouraged to find their own way to celebrate cotton and show how it is a force for good.