First-ever Jane Goodall Day Announced Worldwide

March 23, 2026 — The Jane Goodall Institute’s global network of chapters announced today that they will be honouring Dr. Jane Goodall with Jane Goodall Day, on what would have been her 92nd birthday. This annual commemorative day will take place every April 3rd, to celebrate the global icon in true Jane fashion: by resolutely continuing her tradition of turning hope into tangible action.

Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE, Founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and UN Messenger of Peace, inspired millions of people throughout her remarkable lifetime. People of all ages flocked to her message of hope — a message that resonates more than ever as climate change and biodiversity issues intensify. Her enduring relevance and influence has only grown since her passing on October 1st, 2025, with a far-reaching outpouring of support from around the globe. 

On Jane Goodall Day, individuals of all ages are encouraged to mark the day by taking action locally. This initiative is in keeping with the ethos of Jane Goodall's Roots & Shoots, a youth program which inspires people to take on projects that benefit people, other animals, and their shared environment. On Jane Goodall Day, people can plant a tree, participate in community clean-ups, donate to a cause, choose plant-based meals, advocate for animal welfare, and share what Jane meant to them using #JaneGoodallDay on social media. Participants can take action in a way that matters to them, and these individual actions will inspire others to make their own impact and find hope. 

Here in the UAE, Jane Goodall Day is celebrated with an invitation to all our member schools, teachers and students in our network to share their memories and experiences of Jane and how they plan to honour her life and legacy moving forward.  Outstanding entries will be considered for inclusion in a special commemorative book to honour Jane’s life, that will be published in the fall.  

Jane’s legacy will be celebrated annually on April 3rd:

• Her landmark research changed how we understand animals and people, and her conservation activism inspired millions to make a positive difference in their communities and on behalf of our shared planet.
• Dr. Jane’s spirit of compassion lives on through her namesake conservation organization, the Jane Goodall Institute, whose 30 global offices are spearheading Jane Goodall Day. 
• Jane surrounded herself with some of the world’s most respected scientists, conservationists, educators, and community leaders, and she entrusted this work to experienced leaders and supporters who continue to guide it forward today through impact-focused programs. 
• Her belief in the power of young people galvanized hundreds of thousands of youth annually through Roots & Shoots — a global movement that is active in over 75 countries, reaching more than 1.2 million people in 2023 alone.

“Jane’s life was defined by curiosity, courage and an unwavering belief in the power of individuals to shape change. She did not simply study the world; she paid attention to it. She listened deeply - to nature, to communities and to young people.
Jane’s legacy is very much a living one. Roots & Shoots, her youth programme that was very close to her heart, is an ever-growing Global movement, now in 75 countries, a generation who already understand that every action matters.  It demonstrates, daily and globally, that young people are capable of meaningful leadership now—not someday in the future. 

Jane understood that hope is not something we inherit automatically. It is something we choose. It is shaped through action, through responsibility and through the courage to imagine something better than what currently exists. She invited people to see, to question, to connect and gave them confidence to believe that they could make change.” said Tara Golshan, Executive Director,  Jane Goodall Institute UAE.

On April 3, people inspired by Jane can demonstrate once again that her legacy of helping animals, people, and the environment lives on not through memory alone, but through meaningful action.