World Theater Day was established by the International Theatre Institute (ITI) in 1961. Since then, actions and events related to the theatre scene have been celebrated in all languages.

Each year, ITI chooses an outstanding theater figure to deliver the message for the date with reflections on culture and the art of the stage.

The first World Theatre Day was celebrated in 1962. French poet, playwright, and filmmaker Jean Cocteau delivered the famous International Message for World Theatre Day that date.

Other relevant personalities, including Arthur Miller, Laurence Olivier, Pablo Neruda, Richard Burton, Antonio Gala, Humberto Orsini, John Malkovich, and Dario Fo, among others, also delivered the message for the date.

Jon Fosse, Norwegian playwright and novelist and winner of the 2023 Nobel Prize in Literature, is in charge of delivering a World Theater Day message this year.

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