The United Nations, U.N, General Assembly formally declared May 21 as International Tea Day and, as a result, FAO was mandated to lead its annual observance.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) will host International Tea Day 2026 on Thursday, May 21, 2026, at its headquarters in Rome, Italy.
The event will begin at 10:00 a.m. (CEST) at the FAO Atrium and the FAO Museum and Network (FAO MuNe) FoodS Lab, while FAO said the programme aims to promote the cultural, economic and environmental importance of tea worldwide.
FAO said the observance will highlight tea’s contribution to livelihoods, cultural heritage and sustainable agrifood systems, noting that tea supports more than 13 million people globally, including smallholder farmers and their families.
The organization also stated that tea cultivation remains concentrated in specific regions and continues to play a major role in rural development, poverty reduction and food security in developing countries. It added that tea’s origin dates back more than 5,000 years, while its relevance in health, culture and economic development remains strong.
FAO also promotes sustainable production, consumption and trade of tea, describing this year’s theme as maintaining benefits “from field to cup,” with a strong focus on sustainability and community development.
FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu will inaugurate the 2026 celebration, which will feature a cultural performance by the Wuzhishan Rainforest Children’s Choir from Hainan Province, China. Organizers said the performance will reflect global tea traditions and cultural diversity.
The event will also include a curated tea tasting session showcasing varieties from different regions of the world.
