World Water Day 2026: Water and Gender

Key facts

• World Water Day 2026 is observed on Sunday, March 22, 2026.
• The official theme for 2026 is 'Water and Gender' with the campaign slogan 'Where water flows, equality grows'.
• World Water Day was first observed on Monday, March 22, 1993, following United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/RES/47/193 adopted on December 22, 1992.
• UN-Water is the coordinating body for World Water Day, with UNICEF and UN Women as the 2026 campaign co-leads.
• The UN World Water Development Report 2026, titled 'Water for all people: Equal rights and opportunities', was launched on Thursday, March 19, 2026, at United Nations Headquarters in New York.
• 2.2 billion people — approximately 27% of the global population — lack access to safely managed drinking water.
• Women and girls spend an estimated 200 million hours per day collectively collecting water.
• Women hold fewer than 20% of leadership roles in the water sector across most regions.
• WASH stands for Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene.
• SDG 6 calls for universal access to safe and affordable drinking water and adequate sanitation for all by 2030.