12th International Day of Yoga (IDY) 2026

Date: 21 June 2026
Main Event Venue: Kolkata, West Bengal.
Theme: Yoga for Healthy Ageing
100-Day Countdown: Formally launched on March 13, 2026, at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, marking the official commencement of the celebratory journey.

75-Day Countdown: Organised at Lonar, Maharashtra
50-Day Countdown: Kanha Shanti Vanam, Hyderabad.
25-Day Countdown: Khajuraho Group of Monuments: following initiatives were launched/relaunched at this event by Shri Prataprao Jadhav [Union Minister of State (IC) for Ayush and MoS for Health and Family Welfare] on this day-

Yoga Sangam Portal (Relaunched): A digital platform designed as a flagship initiative of IDY 2026 to connect institutions, organizations, and communities across India through a common yoga practice.
Yoga Park Portal (Newly Launched): Unveiled to deepen the grassroots reach of yoga and create sustainable wellness infrastructure nationwide. It is expected to serve as the backbone of the Yoga Sangam initiative.

Core Objective: Each countdown event mobilized thousands of citizens to perform the Common Yoga Protocol (CYP), fostering a culture of collective community participation.

Developed by: Ministry of Ayush.
The CYP is a standardised 45-minute Yoga practice that serves as the core programme for International Day of Yoga celebrations worldwide, enabling people across countries and cultures to participate in a shared Yoga experience.
The 2026 edition also allows institutions to incorporate an additional 15 minutes of Yogic practices such as Pranayama, Yoga Nidra, Dhyana and Satsang, where appropriate.

The Ministry of Ayush created a new Guinness World Record on 14th June 2026 for the highest viewership (4,35,831) of a live yoga broadcast on YouTube during a special global online yoga session.

Objective: Launched by the Government of India to transition yoga from an event-based practice into a daily lifestyle habit.

It complements existing initiatives such as the Common Yoga Protocol, therapeutic Yoga programmes, and Y-Break(a brief workplace Yoga module designed to help employees de-stress).

a specially designed protocol developed by the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY) for travellers undertaking long journeys.

launch of 10 Yoga Protocols for Non-Communicable Diseases and Target Groups.

Developed by the WHO Collaborating Centre for Traditional Medicine at MDNIY, these protocols address conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, bronchial asthma and mental health concerns.

Note: 'Swadha' Collection: A specialized 'Wellness Wear Collection' (comfortable clothing line) launched by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), Government of India.

Recognising its universal appeal and health benefits, the United Nations officially proclaimed June 21 as the International Day of Yoga (IDY) in 2014.
The Proposal: The resolution was originally introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the 69th session of the UN General Assembly. It received overwhelming global validation, being supported by 175 member states.
1st IYD: 21June 2015.
Yoga: UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2016.

A Civilisational Legacy: History of Yoga

Yoga is among the world's oldest knowledge traditions, with roots tracing back to the Indus-Saraswati Civilisation (c. 2700 BCE). The word 'yoga' derives from Sanskrit, meaning to join or to unite — symbolising the union of body and consciousness.
References to Yogic practices are found across the Vedas, Upanishads, Buddhist and Jain traditions, as well as the Mahabharata and Ramayana.
The Yogic tradition was systematised by Maharishi Patanjali through the Yoga Sutras, laying the foundation for its philosophical and practical framework. Over centuries, sages and Yoga masters have preserved and enriched this knowledge, helping it spread across the world.

Source: PIB