International Microorganism Day 2026: Celebrating the Microbial World Together

Photo credits: MIRRI-RO, MCUB - Microbial Collection of the University of Bucharest, Faculty of Biology

 

Every day, microorganisms sustain life on Earth. They recycle nutrients, support healthy ecosystems, drive innovation in biotechnology, underpin food production, and play an essential role in safeguarding human, animal and environmental health. At MIRRI-ERIC, we celebrate these invisible yet indispensable allies by empowering the research community with access to high-quality microbial resources, expertise and data.

This year's edition of the International Microorganism Day is particularly special for the MIRRI-ERIC community, with two of our partners actively contributing to the international programme of celebrations.

 

Celebrating International Microorganism Day 2026

In Portugal, the Global Health and Tropical Medicine (GHTM) unit at the Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (IHMT), at NOVA University Lisbon, which is home to MIRRI-ERIC partner BIOTROP, is co-organising an International Microorganism Day event that will bring together researchers, students and the wider community to explore the fascinating world of microorganisms and their impact on global health. The University of Coimbra, on behalf of the Portuguese Society of Microbiology (SPM) and in partnership with the Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (IHMT) at NOVA University Lisbon, organises the fully online event "(Luso)Microbial Connections’26-Microbiology Shaping the Future".

Meanwhile, in Romania, the Faculty of Biology of the University of Bucharest, home to MIRRI-ERIC partner MCUB - Microbial Collection of the University of Bucharest, will mark this day through activities organised by its Micrology Club. Designed to engage students and the public alike, the event combines scientific communication with hands-on learning, encouraging participants to discover how microorganisms influence our health, ecosystems and everyday lives while inspiring the next generation of microbiologists.

As we celebrate International Microorganism Day 2026, MIRRI-ERIC proudly joins the global microbiology community in recognising the remarkable contributions of microorganisms and the dedicated people who study, preserve and harness them. We invite everyone to explore the events taking place around the world.

 

About International Microorganism Day

On 17 September, the global microbiology community once again comes together to celebrate International Microorganism Day (IMD), recognising the extraordinary contribution of microorganisms to our planet and our everyday lives.

International Microorganism Day was first launched in 2017 by the Portuguese Society of Microbiology and has been coordinated by the Federation of European Microbiological Societies (FEMS) since 2020. Each year, institutions around the world contribute their own events, demonstrating that microbiology truly knows no borders.