When is Wikipedia Day?

It is observed on January 15 each year.

How do people celebrate Wikipedia Day?

Read a few Wikipedia articles and explore their sources.

Annual observance

Wikipedia Day

January 15 Cultural / community observance Updated 2026-04-22

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Overview

Celebrated annually on January 15th, Wikipedia Day commemorates the launch of Wikipedia, the free, web-based, collaborative, multilingual encyclopedia, on this date in 2001. It acknowledges the global community of volunteers who contribute to and maintain the world's most comprehensive and accessible open knowledge resource.

Why it matters: Wikipedia Day, observed on January 15, celebrates the launch of Wikipedia in 2001, highlighting the significance of collaborative knowledge-sharing in fostering global education and accessibility. This day honors the dedicated volunteers who ensure that this vital resource remains comprehensive and up-to-date for learners worldwide.

Origin and story

Wikipedia Day commemorates the launch of Wikipedia on January 15, 2001. The site was created by Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger as a free, collaborative online encyclopedia that anyone could edit.

Wikipedia grew rapidly because it allowed volunteers around the world to contribute and improve articles collectively. Its use of a wiki-based editing system made knowledge creation faster and more accessible than traditional reference works.

Today, Wikipedia is one of the largest and most visited reference websites in the world, available in hundreds of languages and maintained by a global community of editors.

Quick facts

DateJanuary 15
TypeCultural / community observance
Great forFriends, Families, Classrooms, Teams

Also on this date

Ways to celebrate

Read articles on new topics.
Follow citation links to original sources.
Learn something unexpected.
Edit articles for clarity or grammar.
Add reliable citations.
Create drafts in the sandbox before publishing.
Learn how collaborative knowledge works.
Discuss media literacy and sourcing.
Support open-access education.

Fun facts

Wikipedia was officially launched by Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger.
The name "Wikipedia" is a blend of "wiki," a Hawaiian word meaning "quick," and "encyclopedia."
As of early 2024, the English Wikipedia contains over 6.8 million articles.
It is consistently ranked among the most visited websites worldwide, providing information across nearly 300 languages.
Wikipedia operates under a model of open collaboration, allowing anyone with internet access to write and edit articles.

Sources and attribution

Wikipedia: How to Edit

External links may lead to third-party websites.

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FAQ

When is Wikipedia Day?: It is observed on January 15 each year.
What is Wikipedia Day?: Celebrated annually on January 15, Wikipedia Day commemorates the launch of Wikipedia, the free, web-based, collaborative, multilingual encyclopedia, on this date in 2001. It acknowledges the global community of volunteers who contribute to and maintain the world's most comprehensive and accessible open knowledge resource.
How do people celebrate Wikipedia Day?: Read a few Wikipedia articles and explore their sources.

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