25th and 26th September, St John’s Smith Square Hall and Europe House

The European Day of Languages (EDL) has been celebrated annually on September 26^th since 2001, dedicated to promoting language learning and linguistic diversity.

To mark this occasion, the EU Delegation to the UK is hosting a series of events over two days to celebrate European languages.

September 25th, St John’s Smith Square Hall

A multilingual fun fair will be held at St John’s Smith Square Hall, Westminster, London. This event, organised by the EU Delegation to the UK and the European Parliament Liaison Office, invites students, junior ambassadors from the European Parliament Ambassador Schools Programme, linguists and language enthusiasts to participate in interactive sessions that highlight the richness of European cultures and languages.

From 12:00 to 17:00, stalls hosted by EU member state embassies, cultural institutes, and diaspora schools will offer learning materials and insights into various languages and cultures. Michael Vidon, a writer, performer and a certified spoken word educator specialising in multilingual creativity, will lead engaging conversations and activities throughout the day.

Click HERE for more information and for registrations.

September 26th, Europe House

EDL celebrations will culminate on September 26^th with a panel discussion titled “The Soft Power of Languages,” reflecting on the role of language as a tool for international diplomacy and soft power, and on the importance of language education, organised in collaboration with the Centre for European Reform (CER) and the European Parliament Liaison Office.

The event will take place at Europe House from 17:00 to 18:30 and it will be followed by a networking reception.

Speakers:

-Alison Graves, Director, Directorate-General for Logistics & Interpretation for Conferences, European Parliament

-Bernardette Holmes, Chair, National Consortium for Languages Education

-Dominic Schroeder, Principal of the International Academy, FCDO.

Chair: Ian Bond, Deputy Director, Centre for European Reform (CER)

Click HERE for more information and for registrations.

These two-day celebrations of European Day of Languages aim to promote diverse and high-quality opportunities for learning European languages across the UK.

These events will raise awareness about the benefits of lifelong language learning, emphasising its importance for career development, employability, and mobility.

Additionally, they will highlight how multilingualism contributes to the competitiveness of the European economy and enriches cultural heritage, linguistic diversity, and intercultural dialogue.

Official Webpage: The EU Delegation to the UK celebrates the European Day of Languages | EEAS (europa.eu)