The Countdown to ID Day 2026 Has Begun

ID4Africa has started the countdown to Identity Day 2026, which will be marked on 16 September under the theme ‘My Identity. My Shadow. Never Apart.’ Campaign materials are now available for organisations and groups wishing to take part in this year’s activities.

The 2026 theme uses the shadow as a metaphor for the lifelong relationship between an individual and their identity. According to the campaign, identity should be inseparable from the individual it represents, providing the basis through which people can be recognised and empowered. A trusted legal identity can provide access to rights, public services and opportunities throughout a person’s life.

Identity Day is observed annually on 16 September, with the date chosen as a reference to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 16.9, which calls for legal identity for all, including birth registration. The wider campaign promotes three core principles: inclusion for those who remain without proof of identity; protection of identity and privacy; and empowerment through the effective use of trusted identity credentials.