The African Academy of Languages (ACALAN), the specialised language agency of the African Union (AU), has announced plans for African Languages Week 2026, a continent-wide celebration scheduled to hold from February 21 to 28, 2026.

ACALAN leads the initiative as part of its mandate to promote, develop and preserve African languages as tools for integration, development and cultural identity.

African Languages Week was first launched by ACALAN in July 2021 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, and has since been observed annually to highlight the relevance of African languages and cultures across the continent and in the diaspora.

The 2026 theme, “Sustainable Waters, Shared Voices: African Languages as the Conduit for Water and Safe Sanitation for the Africa We Want” — draws attention to the role of indigenous languages, oral traditions, and cultural narratives in promoting community awareness about water conservation and sanitation responsibility. The programme emphasises how local languages can help bridge communication gaps in development issues, including public health and environmental sustainability.

According to ACALAN’s mission, African Languages Week provides a platform for member states and language stakeholders to reflect on and promote multilingualism, cultural heritage and the functional use of African languages in government, education, media and everyday life.

The week is designed to increase awareness and enhance appreciation of African linguistic diversity while supporting continental objectives outlined in Agenda 2063, especially around cultural identity and shared values.

Activities during the week typically include policy dialogues, workshops, cultural exhibitions, educational campaigns and community engagements organised by ACALAN’s national structures and partners. These events aim to expand the use of African languages beyond informal contexts into formal domains such as education, governance, science, technology and media.

The official slogan for the 2026 observance, “Our Languages, Our Culture, Our Water: Every Drop Speaks of a Shared Future,” reflects ACALAN’s commitment to leveraging Africa’s linguistic heritage as a catalyst for sustainable development and inclusive communication.

African Languages Week continues to strengthen cultural awareness, foster pan-African unity, and position indigenous languages as essential tools for social cohesion and human development across the continent.