A Wonderful Success!
On 12 November 2025, the General Assembly of UNESCO convened in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, and unanimously ratified a proposal by its Executive Committee to establish an annual World Language Day honouring the Greek language.
This historic decision marked the first time a language was universally recognised for its enduring and exceptional contribution to humanity.
On Monday evening 9 February 2026, at the Capitol Theatre in the heart of Melbourne, the inaugural UNESCO World Greek Language Day celebration—honoring Greek as a world language—was held with outstanding success. More than 600 guests attended this landmark event.
The evening highlighted the immense contribution of the Greek language to global civilization. A number of distinguished speakers traced its history and evolution, underscoring its profound influence on democracy, the arts, education, theatre, philosophy, and medicine.
As the linguistic cradle of foundational cultural and philosophical concepts, the Greek language holds a unique and distinguished place among the world’s languages, based on clear historical and objective criteria.
Greek has been, and continues to be, a vital source of international scientific terminology, particularly in medicine, mathematics, physics, chemistry, engineering, astronomy, quantum mechanics, social sciences, and humanities. This contribution is internationally recognized and well documented through historical evidence.
The evening was further enriched by a performance from the Camerata Chorus, comprising over forty members and conducted by Douglas Heyward. The stage was also filled by performers from the Pegasus Dance Academy and students from Alphington Grammar, who joined in singing the Greek National Anthem alongside all those present, creating a deeply moving moment. The chorus accompanied acclaimed local Greek musicians and singers Stavrina Demetriou and Yiannis Spantsios, who delighted the audience with works by Mikis Theodorakis, Stavros Xarchakos, and Manos Hadjidakis.
The musical director of the concert was the highly respected local musician, Andrew Koikas.
Congratulations to the Australian Institute of Macedonian Studies (AMES), its President Professor Anastasios Tamis, all board members, and everyone involved in delivering a truly memorable and historic world’s first inaugural celebration of the UNESCO World Greek Language Day.
