International Organ Day takes place on Saturday 25 April 2026 – a chance for organists everywhere to celebrate the instrument, its music, and the extraordinary role it plays in our musical and cultural life.
Following the success of 2025's Play the Organ campaign, International Organ Day 2026 is an opportunity to keep that momentum going – not just by playing, but by once more looking outwards and finding ways to share the organ with others.
Whether it’s an informal demonstration or ‘play the organ’ session, an open rehearsal, a conversation with someone who has never heard an organ up close, or simply sharing a piece of music online, #InternationalOrganDay is about making the organ visible, welcoming and relevant.
International Organ Day is driven by organists, venues and organisations, and participation can be as simple or as ambitious as you like. You might choose to:
However you take part, we encourage you to share your activity using #InternationalOrganDay, or email details, images or links to internationalorganday@rco.org.uk.
You can also visit our International Organ Day Facebook page to see how organists around the world have marked the day in previous years.
To promote your own events, you can download and use the Interational Organ Day logo in the following formats: jpeg (RGB), jpeg (CMYK), or png
There is also a simple poster template you can use for any International Organ Day events - download here >>
For anyone curious about learning, the RCO’s First Stop! website (visit www.firststoporgan.com) provides an accessible gateway into the organ, including the beginner tutor Fingers and Feet: A Journey to the Organ Bench, designed to help new players get started from scratch.
First Stop! also supports organists who want to reach new audiences. The Engagement section of First Stop! brings together practical resources to help plan and deliver welcoming outreach activity.
International Organ Day is promoted by The Royal College of Organists (RCO) to encourage people around the world to explore and enjoy organ music, seek out performances, and support the development of new generations of musicians and enthusiasts.
Celebrated annually on the last Saturday of April, the day is an opportunity for organists and venues to organise events, create and share films and other social media content, and let the world see everything that is wonderful about our instrument and its music.
The first International Organ Day was announced for April 2020; in the event, the unfolding tragedy of the Covid pandemic put paid to any plans for that year. In April 2021, with the pandemic and lockdown restrictions still affecting everyday life around the world, the RCO was finally able to launch International Organ Day properly via The Organ Show, a full week of programmes allowing tens of thousands of organ enthusiasts around the world to be part of a global celebration on this special day.
The Organ Show came back for a one-off show on International Organ Day 2022, and went live in front of an audience for the first time in 2023 (all episodes of The Organ Show are still available for catch up viewing at www.youtube.com/RCOFilms)
In 2021, at the launch of our very first International Organ Day, His Majesty The King (then HRH The Prince of Wales) wrote: “As Patron of many church conservation charities, I have a great interest in this “Wondrous Machine”, as Henry Purcell described the organ so memorably in his “Hail! Bright Cecilia”.
“Its playing has been central to important national events for longer than any of us can remember. Therefore, I hope the forthcoming broadcasts will prove immensely enjoyable and that they may inspire some to consider taking lessons, as it is vital that we continue to produce the players who can ensure that the many splendid instruments with which this country is blessed can delight us in years to come.”
The real driving force of International Organ Day is the organists who take part around the world, organising their own events, taking to social media or doing whatever else they are able to celebrate our music, reach out to people, and help inspire a new generation to embrace the King of Instruments.
So a huge thank you to everyone who has organised, taken part in, or simply enjoyed, events and activities for International Organ Day. Judging by the sheer volume of social media posts, hundreds of organists around the world have previously marked this occasion with recitals, come-and-play events, sponsored performances, and even a world record attempt! Many simply take the opportunity to share photographs, recordings, and ‘happy International Organ Day’ wishes online.
O the hundreds of messages shared in previous years, this one from @Troyvisitor on Twitter captures nicely the spirit of celebration:
My father was an organist so today is a good day on which to remember him, and to give thanks for all organists, organ builders and organ music, and the joy they’ve brought over the centuries. #internationalorganday
For enquires and questions about International Organ Day, please contact internationalorganday@rco.org.uk