Sign Language Week commences on Monday 16th March 2026 and is run annually by the British Deaf Association (BDA). The flagship week is celebrated each year in March to coincide with the anniversary of the recognition of BSL as a language by the British Government in 2003.
The theme for Sign Language Week 2026 is: “United in Sign”, a celebration of unity, pride and collective action around sign languages and Deaf culture. The theme emphasises the power that languages possess at bringing people together. The theme reminds us that each member of society is responsible for ensuring people are included, by recognising the importance of sign languages, we can work together to create a more inclusive and accessible world where sign language is both valued and respected.
Sign Language Week is celebrated to raise awareness of the barriers faced by Deaf people in everyday life, whether that’s at school or in work. By championing BSL and encouraging people to learn about the richness of Deaf culture, the awareness week challenges misconceptions and promotes inclusion.
There are many ways to get involved, whether you are an individual, a school or an organisation:
- Learn some BSL at home, such as days of the week or how to greet someone using BSL.
- If you are a school or home educator, sign up to The School of Signs, a free programme of study which is offering a special Sign Language Week lesson on Deaf culture to all schools in the UK. Whether you have taught BSL before or not, this is a great opportunity to learn about the language and the culture behind it.
- Keep up to date with Signature socials as we share useful learning resources!
- Spread the word yourself, for example, by learning and sharing how to fingerspell your name using our fingerspelling generator on social media with the hashtag #SignLanguageWeek
Sign Language Week is a great opportunity to learn about Deaf culture and take action to support sign languages. By learning how to fingerspell your name or sharing resources with friends and family, we can all contribute to breaking down barriers in communication. Through advocacy and awareness, we can help build a more accessible and inclusive society where sign languages are recognised and celebrated daily.