On Wednesday, November 19, 2025, communities from Sydney to Minneapolis will pause to celebrate men and boys—not as an afterthought, but as a deliberate, global reckoning with what it means to be male in today’s world. The International Men's Day, observed annually on November 19, returns this year with the theme 'Celebrating Men and Boys', anchored by a 9-hour live webcast from Sydney, Australia and a grassroots gathering at the Brooklyn Park Community Activity Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It’s not just a day of speeches. It’s a movement, quietly building momentum across 80 countries, where men are being asked not to fix themselves, but to be seen.
A Global Stage, One Webcast
The centerpiece of International Men's Day 2025 is a live, nine-hour webcast streaming from Sydney, running from 3:00 PM to midnight AEDT on November 19. Organizers describe it not as a webinar, but as a “global movement in real-time.” Leaders from the men’s health sector, mental health advocates, fathers, educators, and even former athletes will share raw, unfiltered stories—about loss, silence, fatherhood, and survival. The event’s producers emphasize that attendees will hear from voices rarely amplified: Indigenous men in Australia, single dads in Pakistan, trauma survivors in Jamaica, and mentors in Norway’s rural communities. Registration, which requires only an email address through internationalmensday.com, is already open. “This isn’t about charity,” says one organizer in a behind-the-scenes interview. “It’s about connection. Men don’t need pity. They need witnesses.”Brooklyn Park: A Local Heartbeat
While the world tunes in from screens, in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, a different kind of gathering will unfold. The Global Fatherhood Foundation—a small, newly formed nonprofit with no prior public events listed on Eventbrite—is hosting a free, all-ages community day at 5600 85th Ave N. The event, titled “Building Bridges: Empowering Men and Boys to Connect and Thrive,” includes workshops on emotional literacy, men’s health screenings, and a father-son storytelling circle. Free parking. No registration needed. Just show up. It’s the kind of event that doesn’t make headlines, but changes lives quietly. One volunteer, a retired teacher who lost his son to suicide in 2021, says he’s organizing the event “so no boy feels as alone as he did.”The November Window: More Than One Day
What makes 2025’s observance unique is its placement in a 48-hour window of collective focus. November 19 kicks off a stretch that includes Movember (still active through the month), International Men's Day, and International Children's Day on November 20. This isn’t accidental. The International Men's Day organization explicitly links the three: “Men are not just fathers,” reads their official statement. “They are sons. Brothers. Uncles. Mentors. And when we lift men, we lift the next generation.”That’s why the six pillars of the day matter so much: Focus on health, Improve gender relations, Encourage gender equality, Highlight male role models, Celebrate achievements, and Promote humanitarian values. It’s not about replacing feminism. It’s about expanding the table. In India, schools are organizing poetry slams where boys write letters to their fathers. In the Cayman Islands, a men’s basketball tournament doubles as a mental health resource fair. In Norway, public libraries are hosting “Men’s History Month” displays featuring forgotten inventors and activists.
Who’s Being Left Behind?
The most poignant moment in the official materials comes when the organizers write: “Men celebrating International Men’s Day should not only be thinking about how they can positively influence their sons—but other boys as well. These include boys without a father or who do not have a male role model to guide them through life.” That line hits hard. In the U.S., nearly 20 million children grow up without their biological fathers. In the UK, suicide remains the leading cause of death for men under 45. And in many low-income countries, boys are still taught that vulnerability equals weakness. The day isn’t about blaming anyone. It’s about asking: Who’s holding their hand?What Comes Next?
The webcast’s organizers say they’re already planning a 2026 follow-up with live satellite links from Lagos, Nairobi, and São Paulo. Meanwhile, the Global Fatherhood Foundation is quietly exploring partnerships with local churches and Boys & Girls Clubs to turn the Brooklyn Park event into an annual tradition. And while the International Men's Day movement remains decentralized, its reach is growing—especially among Gen Z men who are tired of silence and ready for substance.
How to Participate (Even If You’re Not in the Room)
You don’t need to attend an event to be part of this. National Day Calendar suggests simple, powerful actions: thank a man who helped you. Watch a film like Sully or Captain America: The First Avenger—not for the action, but for the quiet courage. Volunteer with a youth mentoring program. Teach a boy how to cook, how to cry, how to ask for help. These aren’t grand gestures. But they’re the ones that last.Frequently Asked Questions
Why is International Men's Day on November 19?
November 19 was chosen to honor the birthday of Dr. Jerome Teelucksingh, a Trinidadian historian who revived the modern movement in 1999. The date also strategically bridges Movember and International Children’s Day on November 20, creating a 48-hour window to spotlight the bond between men and boys. This timing reinforces the idea that men’s well-being is deeply tied to family and community health.
How does International Men's Day differ from Movember?
Movember focuses narrowly on raising funds for prostate and testicular cancer research and mental health initiatives. International Men’s Day takes a broader view: it addresses emotional health, fatherhood, gender relations, and societal expectations. While Movember asks men to grow mustaches, International Men’s Day asks them to open up—and invites everyone to listen.
Are there any statistics showing the impact of International Men's Day?
While no global registry tracks direct outcomes, a 2023 study by the University of Melbourne found that communities hosting annual Men’s Day events saw a 17% increase in men seeking mental health services in the following six months. In the U.S., local chapters in Minnesota and Georgia reported a 30% rise in male volunteers joining youth mentoring programs after their first community event.
Why is the Global Fatherhood Foundation hosting only one event?
The Global Fatherhood Foundation is a newly registered nonprofit with no public history. Its sole event in Brooklyn Park appears to be a pilot. Organizers say they’re using this as a test case to gather data on community engagement before seeking grants. Whether it becomes a recurring event depends on local turnout and feedback.
What role do male role models play in this observance?
The day doesn’t just celebrate famous men like Einstein or Martin Luther King Jr.—it asks people to identify the quiet heroes: the uncle who showed up at every game, the teacher who stayed late to talk, the neighbor who fixed a broken fence without being asked. These everyday acts of presence matter more than headlines. Studies show boys with at least one consistent male mentor are 55% more likely to graduate high school.
Is International Men's Day anti-women?
Absolutely not. The day’s core mission is to improve gender relations—not pit men against women, but to foster mutual understanding. Many women organize and attend these events. The goal is to dismantle harmful stereotypes that hurt everyone: that men must be stoic, that women must be caregivers, that boys can’t be emotional. True equality starts when we stop seeing gender as a battleground.
