26 September 2025 will represent a milestone in the celebration of linguistic diversity and cultural exchange – with the European Day of Language reaching its 25th anniversary. The Day was initiated back in 2001 as part of the European Year of Languages – coordinated jointly by the Council of Europe and the European Commission.

For this special edition of EDL we are working closely with the European Commission to highlight the vast range of possibilities now open to everyone for learning languages. With just under 3 months to go until 26 September we are currently generating a host of new resources, features, competitions and initiatives to encourage everyone to get involved in this anniversary EDL!

By popular vote,“Languages open hearts and minds!” has been chosen as this year's EDL motto. This powerful message reflects the deep impact of language learning on both our emotions and intellect. Not only does it enhance cognitive abilities but it also serves as a bridge, connecting people and fostering the exchange of ideas, emotions, and experiences. Learning languages strengthens empathy and respect for diverse ways of life.

A starting point for learning any language is to have the motivation and commitment to do so. The Motivation Manifesto, currently being developed by a joint ECML-European Commission working group, will highlight why language learning is important and how motivation plays a key role in the learning process. It will also outline who and what are the primary actors and factors in influencing motivation in relation to language learning. The Manifesto will be published just prior to the Day.

https://edl.ecml.at/motivationmanifesto (from September)

Unusual place names — from the shortest “Å” in Norway’s Lofoten archipelago and “Ö” in central Sweden to the longest, “Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch” in Wales and some of the most intriguing such as “Namlos” (literally “nameless”) in Austria, Europe has an impressive range of fascinating place names. This new website feature will place a spotlight on a selection of them and seek to really put them on the map!

https://edl.ecml.at/unusualnames (coming in September)

In honour of the Day’s quarter century, a new poster of birthday traditions around the world offers an insight into some of the weird and wonderful ways of celebrating birthdays, not only in Europe but also in other parts of the world. As we couldn’t quite fit 25 traditions in, we have had to limit the poster to 20!

https://edl.ecml.at

An activity pack for the 2025 European Day of Languages, based on a concept produced last year by Luxembourg’s Institut National des Langues.
This practical kit is bursting with ideas for activities for this year’s EDL – no teacher should be without one!

https://edl.ecml.at/EDLkit

The redeveloped “Self-evaluate your language skills” tool helps you to assess your level of proficiency in the languages you know according to six reference levels described in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

https://edl.ecml.at/languageskills

“Linguine” is a fun, educational board game originally created on a pilot basis to celebrate the 2024 European Day of Languages. In a world increasingly dominated by technology, Linguine takes a step in the other direction and offers a game to be played in a deliberately offline format. Taking account of the feedback provided over the past months, the MKII version of the game is available in two levels (Sous-chef and Head chef!) and will be offered in a variety of languages.

https://edl.ecml.at/edlboardgame

On the other hand, there is also the updated version of the Secret agent’s language challenge app, available in 31 languages – developed with the support of the EDL National Relays and the European Commission. The app encourages users, aka secret agents, to take on a range of challenges, to rise up through the ranks and eventually become a “master secret agent”. Newly “qualified” agents are able to reward themselves with a certificate testifying to their advanced skills!

https://edl.ecml.at/app

This feature showcases words from a variety of languages that have been designated as “words of the year” by publishers and other media channels from different European countries. These tend to reflect key events or changes (both positive and negative) which have occurred over the past year.

Visitors to the site will also be invited to propose their “Word of the Year” for 2025.

https://edl.ecml.at/wordoftheyear

Photo credit: www.collinsdictionary.com/woty

In the build up to the Day, we will be running an online poll on “What do you find most challenging about learning a foreign language?” on the homepage of the website – with the results to be announced on the 25th of September.

https://edl.ecml.at/poll

A rich palette of language games is also available. Try out some of the following:

• a brain game to test out your skills and your memory with the Latin and Greek alphabets – 
  https://edl.ecml.at/braingame ;
• “How many languages do you recognize?”, where you can test your ability to correctly identify written texts in up to 40 languages –
  https://edl.ecml.at/languagedetective ;
• a “Where am I?” game, where you need to identify which country is represented in a picture – from the linguistic clues visible –
  https://edl.ecml.at/WhereAmI ;
• the “Which language is it?” game which tests the listener’s ability to identify individual languages through listening to conversations in an everyday setting. This game really certainly sharpens listening skills –
  https://edl.ecml.at/whichlanguage ;
• an updated “famous quotes” section: including a variety of quotations from different languages and their origins –
  https://edl.ecml.at/quotes.

We are suggesting two creative challenges to celebrate this year’s Day of Languages that could be included within almost any event being organised.

A European Day of Languages anthem. Help to create (and perform) a multilingual EDL anthem. With the help of AI, we have generated the text of a song in English entitled “Voices of Europe”. We now invite schools, organisations/associations (and individuals!) to make it a truly multilingual work – either by translating/adapting the text into a language they speak, or to go one step further and develop their own version of an anthem.

For the initiative we invite videos of the anthem being performed – a multilingual version of the song will be developed from the submissions. For those who just want try singing the anthem – there will be a karaoke version!

Deadline for entries: 15 October 2025.

https://edl.ecml.at/EDLanthem

Create a poster illustrating the theme of this year’s European Day of Languages “Languages open hearts and minds!”. You can use artwork, symbols and quotes to reflect how languages involve both emotions and the brain and serve as a vehicle for reaching across linguistic and cultural divides. Send us a photo or pdf of the poster you produce to be showcased on the EDL website. There will be prizes for the top 5 most creative entries and 25 of the posters will proudly decorate the European Centre for Modern Languages!

Deadline for entries: 15 October 2025.

https://edl.ecml.at/heartsandminds

There was a record-breaking response to the poster competition based on the  “Languages for peace” motto for the 2024 Day. A staggering total of 5 238 designs were submitted. The competition encouraged the use of symbols, quotes and artwork to convey messages of unity and understanding across different languages and actively contribute to the use of languages as a vehicle for reaching across linguistic and cultural divides. All the posters can be viewed here: https://edl.ecml.at/languagesforpeace

The “most difficult letter/word/phrase to pronounce” initiative also attracted many entries. Participants were invited to produce a short video demonstrating why and just how difficult their chosen piece of oral dexterity actually is! A compilation of just some of the best is now available: https://edl.ecml.at/difficulttopronounce.

Thanks to everyone who took part!

There was a very impressive response to the contest to design the 2025 EDL t-shirt – with over 2 000 entries submitted. The winning artistic design was created by Naile Begaj, 12 years old, from Greece. T-shirts, tote bags, mugs, magnets and stickers with the same design are now available for sale. Designs can already be submitted here for the 2026 EDL t-shirt design contest (with the contest closing on 31 December 2025).

The 2024 most innovative European Day of Languages’ event was won by France’s Lycée Alfred Mézières de Longwy, with a series of events taking place under the title of “Long live the European Day of Languages / Vive la Journée européenne des langues”. The most innovative European Day of Languages’ event competition for 2025 will be open for voting from 20 September to 20 October.

https://edl.ecml.at/edlevents

The European Day of Languages offers an opportunity to raise awareness of all the languages represented in today’s Europe. It is a celebration of Europe’s unique linguistic context and an impetus for people of all ages and walks of life to also learn to communicate, (and be understood!) in a language in addition to their own. Around the Day thousands of events take place, often dealing with very different topics and audiences but with the same inherent premise – to encourage language learning.

EDL events calendar
We warmly welcome event organisers to enter details of their activities from all around Europe and indeed the world into the EDL calendar. By doing so, they will also be able to download an official event certificate.

Each day, throughout the month of September, a particularly special event will be showcased on the homepage of the EDL website.

An expanded range of promotional items is available this year:

• “Write with me!” paper pens in 9 different language sets and colours;
• EDL wristbands made from fabric – with one design reflecting solidarity with Ukraine;
• “Talk to me!” stickers and EDL language journey sheets of stickers linked to the Lara’s language journey booklet with “Hello”, “How are you?”, “Thank you” in 40 languages;
• “Read with me!” bookmarks produced in 13 different language combinations.

Schools and event organisers can (so long as stocks last) order material from their National relay in the Council of Europe member states.

A very wide selection of promotional materials (such as the brochures, posters, banner stickers and logos) can be downloaded to support the celebrations on and around the Day. These are also available in high-resolution formats which are suitable for printing (see the Downloads page).

On the dedicated EDL Facebook page – there will be a series of posts promoting the Day in the build up to the 26th of September, using the hashtags #coeEDL, #EDL25 and #EDL2025 to publicise activities and initiatives.