World Intellectual Property Day is celebrated every year on April 26 by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). The day highlights how intellectual property rights such as patents, trademarks and copyrights protect innovations and encourage creativity across the world. The theme for 2026 is ‘IP and Sports: Ready, Set, Innovate’, which puts the spotlight on innovation and IP in the sports sector. WIPO is a specialised agency of the United Nations headquartered in Geneva.