Teachers Day 2026: Date, History, Significance and Key Facts

Teachers’ Day in India in 2026 will be celebrated on Saturday, 5 September as it recognizes the role played by teachers in educating and mentoring young minds. It is also the birthday of Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, philosopher, scholar and the erstwhile President of India. This year, the event will include the awarding of National Teachers’ Awards 2026, wherein President Droupadi Murmu is expected to present awards to 48 excellent teachers of schools in New Delhi. Below is all about Teachers’ Day 2026 – date, history, importance and theme.

Teachers Day 2026 Date

Teachers’ Day is observed annually in India on 5 September, the birth anniversary of Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.

On 5 September 2026, Teachers’ Day shall be celebrated. This day is a chance for students, educational institutions and the society to pay tribute to the contribution made by teachers to education and nation building.

Why Do We Celebrate Teachers Day on September 5?

This tradition goes back to 1962 when Dr Radhakrishnan became the President of India.

When some of his students and friends planned to celebrate his birthday, Radhakrishnan said that instead of celebrating his birthday, it would be better to observe the day as Teachers’ Day.

This helped in diverting attention from celebrating an individual to recognising teachers.

From that time, September 5 is celebrated as Teachers’ Day in India.

Who Was Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan?

Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was an influential philosopher, scholar, teacher and statesman. Education and philosophy formed an important part of his career.

He was the Vice-Chancellor of Andhra University and Banaras Hindu University and taught philosophy at various universities. Later he became India’s first Vice-President and its second President.

Education and philosophy have remained the key areas in the relevance of September 5 due to the ideas expressed by Radhakrishnan.

Radhakrishnan passed away on April 17, 1975. Teachers’ Day 2026 will also be his 51st death anniversary.

National Teachers Awards 2026

Another major highlight of Teachers’ Day 2026 is the conferring of the National Teachers’ Awards.

President Droupadi Murmu will award the awards to 48 distinguished school teachers in a ceremony to be held in New Delhi on September 5.

The awardees have been chosen through a three-stage selection process conducted at the district level, state level, and the national level. They come from 27 states, seven Union Territories, and six Central Government organizations.

The 2026 winners comprise 26 male and 22 female teachers.

The National Teachers’ Awards were instituted in 1958 as a recognition for teachers who have made valuable contributions to education and have left a positive impression on their students.

India’s Teachers Day vs World Teachers Day

India’s Teachers’ Day must not be mistaken for World Teachers’ Day that is celebrated internationally on October 5.

Since 1994, the day has been celebrated as World Teachers’ Day. It is celebrated as the commemoration of the adoption of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers.

The celebration pays attention to the rights, responsibilities, and status of teachers along with their training, recruitment, employment, and working conditions.

Significance of Teachers Day

Teachers’ day is celebrated as a way of showing appreciation for what teachers do apart from teaching in the classroom. The teacher is someone who guides students, stimulates thinking, promotes development, and prepares them for their future roles.

The other significance of Teachers’ Day is that it helps to appreciate teachers with creative ways of teaching as well as those who teach in different social and geographical environments.

The National Teachers’ Award is another example of why the day is marked.