The city of Kolkata is set to host the main national celebrations of the International Day of Yoga (IDY) 2026 on June 21, marking another major moment in India’s global yoga diplomacy and wellness movement. The announcement was made by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for AYUSH, Prataprao Jadhav, during the “Yoga Mahotsav 2026” event held at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh.
This year’s theme, “Yoga for Healthy Ageing,” will focus on the role of yoga in promoting physical fitness, mental wellness and holistic health among people of all age groups, especially the elderly. The government aims to highlight yoga as a preventive healthcare practice and an essential part of balanced living.
According to reports, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to participate in the main event in Kolkata, continuing his tradition of personally leading the flagship Yoga Day celebrations across India. Over the years, cities such as Chandigarh, Lucknow, Ranchi, Dehradun and Mysuru have hosted the national event.
The announcement came as the government launched the 25-day countdown to International Day of Yoga 2026. During the Khajuraho event, the Ministry of AYUSH also unveiled several initiatives to increase public participation, including the revamped Yoga Sangam Portal for registrations and the Yoga Park Portal aimed at creating dedicated yoga spaces across institutions and states. A new Yoga-themed T-shirt was also launched during the ceremony.
Addressing the gathering, Minister Prataprao Jadhav described Kolkata as a city deeply rooted in India’s spiritual and cultural traditions, making it a fitting venue for the global yoga celebration. He emphasised that yoga represents India’s ancient wisdom and has become an important tool for preventive healthcare and mental well-being in modern society.
The International Day of Yoga was first proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his address to the United Nations General Assembly in September 2014. Soon after, the United Nations declared June 21 as the International Day of Yoga with overwhelming support from member nations. The first global celebration was held in 2015 at Rajpath in New Delhi and created Guinness World Records for mass yoga participation.
With Kolkata preparing to host the marquee event this year, the celebrations are expected to draw thousands of yoga practitioners, wellness experts, dignitaries and citizens from across the country. The event will further strengthen India’s efforts to position yoga as a global movement for health, harmony and sustainable living.