A cultural observance during the third week of March promoting government transparency, access to public records, and open government principles.
Last updated February 26, 2026 · by the
Holiday Calendar Team
ASNE expanded Sunshine Sunday into Sunshine Week in 2005 to promote open government and public records access, timed around James Madison’s birthday.
Get ready to bring out your inner advocate for transparency, because Sunshine Week begins on March 10! This incredible week-long event originated in 2005 by the American Society of News Editors (ASNE), now named the News Leaders Association. It's all in effort to celebrate and encourage the principles of open government and freedom of information. It's a fantastic opportunity to learn about your right to know and how you can play a part in fostering greater transparency in government. So, gear up and shine a light on public discourse because we're embracing this illuminating week full of potential for positive change!
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WHY THIS DAY MATTERS
One of the best things about Sunshine Week is the collective action it encourages. We have the opportunity to come together as a community - whether in person or virtually - promoting accountability, discussing issues that matter, and advocating for more transparent governance, leading to a stronger democracy.
Sunshine Week encourages the principles of an open government where everyone has the right to access public information. This mirrors democratic ideals of transparency and accountability, fostering trust in our institutions and ensuring proper checks and balances.
During Sunshine Week, we educate ourselves and become more aware of our rights to information. This awareness empowers us, as citizens, to engage actively with our governments, ask the right questions, and hold them accountable for their actions.
An awareness observance on March 16 celebrating public access to government information, government transparency, and the birth of James Madison, the Father of the Constitution.
Join us in celebrating International Right To Know Day - let's raise awareness of the importance of freedom of information and access to knowledge!
An awareness observance on March 5 promoting awareness and use of open data through global events including talks, seminars, demonstrations, hackathons, and training.
On International Day for Universal Access to Information, let's empower individuals with knowledge and promote transparency in our global community.
