20/05/2026
is celebrated every year on May 20 to recognize the importance of bees and other pollinators in food production, biodiversity, and environmental health. The day was officially declared by the United Nations in 2017 after a proposal from Slovenia, a country known for its strong beekeeping traditions. The first official celebration took place in 2018, and the date honors Anton Janša, a Slovenian beekeeper born on May 20, 1734, who is considered a pioneer of modern beekeeping.
The observance also helps raise awareness about the global decline in bee populations caused by pesticides, habitat loss, climate change, diseases, and parasites. Bees and other pollinators are essential because around 75% of global food crops depend partly on pollination. While many people associate the day only with honey bees, World Bee Day also highlights the importance of wild bees, butterflies, birds, bats, and other pollinators that help maintain ecosystems and food security worldwide.
