UITP announces World Public Transport Day at the United Nations
Today at the launch of the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport in New York, UITP unveiled World Public Transport Day, a new annual global celebration taking place on 17 April to highlight the essential role public transport plays in our lives and in the success of our cities.
The announcement was made live in front of international delegates by Ms. Abimbola Akinajo, CEO of Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority and UITP Vice President. In her remarks, she noted that World Public Transport Day aims to spotlight how public transport moves people and societies every day, connecting them to jobs, education, culture, sport, and countless opportunities.
On 17 April, cities around the world will come together for a global day of local action. UITP’s 2,000 members across 100 countries will help bring the celebration to life on metros, buses, trams, stations, and digital platforms worldwide.
More than 60 global partners have already committed to launching the campaign in their cities and countries, with participation spanning Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Iceland, India, Italy, Latvia, Malaysia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Türkiye, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States, and more joining each day.
Mohamed Mezghani , UITP Secretary General
A Day to Showcase Public Transport’s Benefits
World Public Transport Day will raise awareness among citizens and decision-makers, fostering a deeper understanding of the benefits public transport delivers: cleaner air, healthier cities, increased social inclusion, and a driver for economic growth.
In Europe alone, public transport provides nearly 60 billion passenger journeys every year, with every euro invested generating four euros in wider economic value. Investments in public transport also create significantly more jobs than equivalent spending on road infrastructure.
Joining the Celebration
The celebration on 17 April will feature a rolling 24-hour global launch, a dedicated campaign website, a manifesto video, and opportunities for local activation. A communications pack will include the logo, visual identity, activation ideas, messaging, and all the templates needed to celebrate the day in style.
There will be a wide range of activities and ideas – from the simple to ambitious. Those wanting to join the celebration can choose to share the campaign film and brand, organise pop-up moments, conferences and festivities, and use the Day as a launch pad for local campaigns and advocacy activities.
There will also be a 24-hour rolling launch across global time zones, a central campaign website showing all the global activities, and a manifesto video will also be released. The communications pack with all the materials will be available from 15 December 2025 on the World Public Transport Day website.
World Public Transport Day offers a unique global moment each year for cities and organisations to champion sustainable mobility and inspire people everywhere to choose public transport as an essential part of daily life.
It’s One Day. Millions of Journeys. Join us in celebrating World Public Transport Day on 17 April 2026.
