Adult Learners' Week | He Tangata Mātauranga

Adult Learners' Week He Tangata Mātauranga September 7–13, 2026 

Adult Learners' Week He Tangata Mātauranga is a UNESCO initiative celebrated in more than forty countries. We are part of an international movement dedicated to self-determination through learning.

ACE Aotearoa has celebrated this festival across the motu for more than twenty-five years. It’s a chance to showcase the learning on offer in our communities, acknowledge the achievements of learners who have returned to learning, and have fun.

Adult learning can take place in many different spaces and at many different levels of the community. Every week, thousands of adults are learning together in places like libraries, community centres, church halls, schools and marae. Through our annual festival, we want people to know that learning is joyful, directly linked to wellbeing, and even more powerful when we learn with others – building relationships and strengthening community as we go.

The aims of Adult Learners' Week are to:

• Celebrate learner success
• Raise the profile of community education and its benefits
• Encourage learning and make it accessible to all

What You Can Do to Get Started
With elections taking place in communities later this year, there is an opportunity to explore the learning needs of your community and the vision for lifelong learning of your local candidates. 

• Start thinking about how you would like to celebrate Adult Learners' Week He Tangata Mātauranga 
• Talk to your team about how you can participate in the festival
• Think about spaces in your community that would work for events
• Let us know what you are planning.

marygavigan5@gmail.com 

Funding for Festival Events in 2026
Funding applications for festival events open in February.
 

Adult Learners' Week Festival events in your region will be added to our event map.

All our promotional resources will be refreshed and available for download. 

Resources to download: 

• Regional Networks and Event Organisers Information Guide
• Printable Certificates
• Editable Certificates
• Digital Collateral
• Media Release
• Funding Application
• History

Information Guide

The Adult Learners' Week He Tangata Mātauranga Regional Networks and Event Organisers Information Guide has been designed to help you in media planning, a style guide for publicity materials, event planning, the awards process, sponsorship and funding, reporting and documenting activities and a sample project plan.

Printable Certificates

Many ACE practitioners like to acknowledge the efforts of their students through local awards. Below are certificates that can be downloaded and presented to students. Organisations and communities are free to develop their own criteria for nominating and presenting awards.

Editable Certificates

Digital Collateral

Download our digital content for the Adult Learners' Week Festival of Adult Learning Ahurei Ākonga 2025.

Media Release