World Watch Day Returns With A Focus On Heritage
Following the success of its inaugural edition, which reached more than six million people worldwide, World Watch Day (WWD) returns on 10th October 2026 for a second international celebration of watchmaking culture, craftsmanship and the passing on of knowledge and skills.
Under the theme Time as Living Heritage, the 2026 edition will explore how horological heritage continues to evolve through craftsmanship, knowledge and creativity, and how it is passed on. World Watch Day brings together museums, watchmakers, manufactures, schools, cultural institutions, collectors, media and enthusiasts around a common ambition: to celebrate the cultural, technical, scientific and artistic dimensions of watchmaking and bring them to the widest possible audience.
Taking place across several countries, the 2026 programme will include exhibitions, talks, workshops, educational initiatives, museum activities, artistic commissions and digital projects. Together, they reflect the many ways in which watchmaking heritage is preserved, reinterpreted and passed on.
At 10:10 on World Watch Day, watch lovers, brands, museums, media, retailers, clubs and institutions around the world are invited to share a wrist shot and encourage their communities to join in, using the #WorldWatchDay hashtag.
Among the many events and initiatives planned for World Watch Day 2026:
CHINA – Hantang Culture will commission a unique work of art entitled “Sundial”, to be unveiled on 10 October 2026 at Bund 33, its historic villa in the heart of Shanghai’s iconic Bund. Inspired by the sundial, one of humanity’s earliest means of measuring time, the work will bring this ancient instrument together with an equally ancient artistic tradition. The result will be a contemporary exploration of the enduring relationship between time, craftsmanship and cultural heritage. Through the commission, Hantang Culture seeks to transform time from something measured by a watch into something experienced, embodied and passed from one generation to the next.
FINLAND – At the Finnish School of Horology, the Montandon Horological Society will present the historic Télémètre Montandon, highlighting both its technical significance and the importance of passing horological knowledge to a new generation of students.
FRANCE – At We Love Watches in Paris, held at the Maison de la Mutualité, a series of talks will explore watchmaking heritage, the role of history as a source of creative inspiration and expert perspectives on contemporary horology.
ITALY – In Florence, the Museo Galileo will present timepieces from its Ruscitti Collection in dedicated digital content for World Watch Day, bringing the collection to a wider international audience.
JAPAN – At the Hanshin Department Store in Osaka, a World Watch Day information hub will invite the public to explore the links between mechanical watchmaking, astronomy and physics. Pim Koeslag, CEO and master watchmaker of Christiaan van der Klaauw, will make a special appearance.
SWITZERLAND – In Geneva, the Musée d’Art et d’Histoire will be one of the day’s focal points. The programme will begin with a morning gathering for a new generation of watch enthusiasts, followed by a series of talks exploring this year’s theme, “Watchmaking as Living Heritage”. In Sainte-Croix, MuMAPS and Association Mec-Art will host a round table on the transmission and future of mechanical arts and crafts. At the Musée d’horlogerie du Locle, visitors will be invited into the restoration workshop to discover the art of watch regulation. WOSTEP will mark the occasion with dedicated content released at 10:10 on 10/10, while the Musée Atelier Audemars Piguet in Le Brassus will host a special visit.
USA – In New York, the Horological Society of New York (HSNY) will open its doors to the public on 10 October for World Watch Day. Visitors will be invited to explore its library and watchmaking classroom, offering a glimpse of how horological knowledge and skills are passed on. Librarians will be on hand to give tours and answer questions.
The full programme of events and participating organisations for World Watch Day 2026 is available on at World Watch Day