International Jazz Day is a yearly event on April 30th, organized by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) to celebrate "the virtues of jazz as an educational tool, and a force for peace, unity, dialogue and enhanced cooperation among people."
The Day was proclaimed during the UNESCO General Conference in November 2011. The first annual International Jazz Day was kicked off in Paris by UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Herbie Hancock.
UNESCO partners with the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz.