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International Week of the Deaf - Blue September

Updated : 21/09/2026

Symbol of the World Federation of the Deaf's International Week of the Deaf, with the two-handed design embracing a circumference representing the globe. Within it are semicircles and 5 stars, of 5 colors also represented in the logo of the World Federation of the Deaf. In the center is the year 2026. Below it reads: International Week of Deaf People.

The International Week of Deaf People is an international initiative celebrating the identity, culture and rights of the Deaf Community.

In 2026, the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) designated the theme ‘Declaring Deaf People’s Human Rights’.

Find out more at: https://wfdeaf.org/international-week-of-deaf-people-2026/

September is also known as Blue September. The blue color associated with the Deaf Community derives from a symbol inherited from World War II, in which people with disabilities were identified with blue stripes by the Nazis. Currently, the blue associated with the month of September has gained a new meaning for the Deaf Community, representing the defense of rights and full social participation.

Internationally, there are important historical dates during the month of September, which Portugal associates with its own celebrations:

  • 6-11 September: Congress of Milan (1880), which banned the use of sign languages in the education of deaf people.
  • 11 September: The Day of the Oppression of the Languages of the World.
  • 20 September: Day of Constitutional Recognition of the Portuguese Sign Language.
  • 23 September: International Day of the Sign Languages, date of the foundation of the World Federation of the Deaf, WFD.
  • 24 September: National Day of the Deaf, date of the foundation of the Portuguese Association of the Deaf, APS.
  • 26 September, European Day of Languages.
  • 27 September (last Sunday of the month): World Day of the Deaf.

Throughout the week these events are usually marked with different initiatives in various parts of the country, such as:

  • O Deaf Festival 2026, which takes place on September 26 and 27 in the Portuguese Association of the Deaf, in Lisbon, presenting itself as a space for meeting and celebrating the Deaf Community, sharing initiatives of associations, artists, projects and entities, aiming to give visibility to deaf culture, Portuguese Sign Language and the creativity of deaf people.
  • O Festival of Silence, which takes place on 27 September in Algueirão – Mem Martins, organised by Association of the Deaf of the Municipality of Sintra, with the participation of Project Hands Singing, with dynamization of worskshop of Portuguese Sign Language, traditional games and moments of conviviality, intending to celebrate the deaf culture and the Portuguese Sign Language.