International Day of Play 2026

Protect Play, Protect Childhood

In March 2024, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution declaring 11 June as the International Day of Play, formalising a global commitment to honour and preserve this essential right. It “marks a significant milestone in efforts to preserve, promote, and prioritize playing so that all people, especially children, can reap the rewards and thrive to their full potential.”

Play is fundamental to our mission of creating transformational arts experiences for children everywhere. As one of our organisational values, it is the basis for our creative exploration, and vital for children’s development, health, and wellbeing.

The 2026 International Day of Play theme is Protect Play, Protect Childhood: “a reminder for all of us – governments, businesses, schools and families – that happy and healthy childhoods are built on play.”

To celebrate, we asked two of our Generator artists to develop creative responses to this year’s theme, accompanied by reflections on play from our Co-CEOs, Artistic Director Cat Sewell, and Executive Director Ally Harvey.

Feature photo: Pram People. Kenny Waite

Light & Shadow

How do you play?

Our free, at-home event Spark Play! invites children and adults to come together and reflect on play and creativity. As part of our International Day of Play 2026 celebration, our Co-CEOs, Cat Sewell, Artistic Director and Ally Harvey, Executive Director, shared their thoughts.

What is a childhood memory of being creative?

Cat: One year I spent hours constructing a marble run from recycled cardboard and paper in my closet. I’m not actually sure anyone else knew it was there! An enduring memory from many years is making up dances with friends and performing them (in the lounge room, in the kitchen, at school… anywhere we could).

Ally: When I was a young child, a regular Christmas gift was the latest ABBA album, and my best friend Mim and I would spend the day making up dance routines to all the songs. On Boxing Day, we’d sell tickets at the neighbourhood party and perform them to roars of laughter and cheers. By the end, everyone was on the floor copying the moves. My sister still makes me do the Waterloo routine whenever it comes on.

Photos L-R: Bees. Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne. Whirlwind. Laura May Grogan.

What sparked a recent burst of creativity?

Cat: Recently, I walked along a beach on a beautiful bit of Bunurong coastline. The colours and shapes seem flooded with creativity – characters in clouds, patterns in rockpools, watching kids squealing running in and out of the waves. Ideas flow when I walk.

Ally: My husband and son bought me watercolours and paper, which was both lovely and mildly terrifying. I hadn’t painted since university, and it took me a while to pick up the brush. It felt so good to just have a go.

Photos L-R: FLOAT. William Hamilton-Coates. Sound of Drawing. Sarah Walker.

How did/do you play?

Cat: I notice play and playfulness all the time. Play is curiosity, and wonder, and appreciating the weird and wonderful things that happen, small and large. One of my favourite ways to play is to look at an object and think, what else could this be?

Ally: People are the heart of play for me. Building, breaking, rebuilding, planning, designing, cooking, eating, laughing, dreaming — all of it is more joyful when it happens with others. That shared energy is where the play begins.

Photos L-R: Forest. Laura May Grogan. Paper Planet. Ai Ueda.

Dreamscapes & seascapes

Spark Child’s Play!

Polyglot is globally recognised for our immersive, child-centred experiences that explode expectations of what theatre can be. Our artistic approach is one of curiosity, rigour and daring.

Our ability to dream, create and tour is made possible by our vibrant community — curious audiences ready to explore, presenting partners who help share our work, and supporters who provide the financial stability for our art and impact to soar.

Learn more and donate today.

Photos: Whirlwind. Laura May Grogan.