World Futures Day 2025: Join the 24-hour global conversation shaping our future

Discover how this worldwide event fosters collaboration and bold visions for humanity’s future—every year on March 1st.

Every year on March 1st, World Futures Day (WFD) brings together people from around the globe to engage in a continuous conversation about the future. What began as an experimental open dialogue in 2014 has grown into a cornerstone event for futurists, thought leaders, and citizens interested in envisioning a better tomorrow. WFD 2025 will mark the twelfth edition of the event.

WFD is a 24-hour, round-the-world global conversation about possible futures and represents a new kind of participatory futures method (Di Berardo, 2022). Futures Day on March 1 was proposed by Humanity+ in 2012 to celebrate the future. Two years later, The Millennium Project launched WFD as a 24-hour worldwide conversation for futurists and the public, providing an open space for discussion. In 2021, UNESCO established a WFD on December 2. However, The Millennium Project and its partners continue to observe March 1 due to its historical significance, its positive reception from the futures community, and the value of multiple celebrations in maintaining focus on future-oriented discussions.

This year’s edition of the event is hosted by The Millennium Project in collaboration with the Association of Professional Futurists (APF), Humanity+, the Lifeboat Foundation, the World Academy of Art and Science (WAAS), and the World Futures Studies Federation (WFSF). Together, they ensure that diverse perspectives are represented.

WFD on March 1st provides a virtual space where self-selected, future-oriented individuals from around the world can discuss humanity’s biggest challenges and opportunities in a relaxed, agenda-free format. The method explores possible and desirable futures and solutions, helps define aspirations and strategies, and contributes to a framework of understanding that supports decision-making on complex problems. It illustrates shared perceptions, disseminates knowledge, and highlights the contributions that the futures community can make, drawing on input from hundreds of people (Di Berardo et al., 2023). It fosters collective intelligence by facilitating debate, gathering ideas, generating new knowledge, encouraging cross-disciplinary exchange, exploring alternatives, and emphasizing global interdependence through diverse perspectives.

Jerome C. Glenn, Executive Director of The Millennium Project, describes the event as an incubator for fresh thinking: “No matter your time zone, you can pull up a virtual chair and join the conversation on Zoom. People come and go as they please. They share their insights with others from all over the world in a relaxed, open conversation that often leads to unexpected ideas, collaborations, and even friendships.”

Abril Chimal and Jeremy Wilken, the new Co-Chairs of APF, highlight the critical role of futures thinking in navigating times of profound uncertainty: “On World Futures Day, we at the Association of Professional Futurists recognize that in times of deep uncertainty, futures thinking is more than a theoretical exercise—it is a necessary practice. As the world faces accelerating change, the ability to anticipate, adapt, and respond to emerging challenges is crucial. Foresight professionals play a key role in turning uncertainty into opportunity, using strategic methodologies to navigate complexity and shape more inclusive, resilient futures. Now more than ever, the practice of futures must move beyond speculation to tangible action. By integrating diverse perspectives, fostering long-term thinking, and challenging dominant narratives, foresight practitioners help communities, organizations, and policymakers make informed decisions. World Futures Day is a reminder that the future is not something we wait for—it is something we actively create.”

Natasha Vita-More, President of Humanity+, emphasizes the importance of proactive engagement with the future: “The future is a mystery. Looking back, we often wish we had seen what was coming—an opportunity missed, a path not taken. Have you ever wanted to rewind time and fix something? If so, why not look ahead instead? That’s why we need Future Day. Future Day offers a moment to pause and ask: What future do we want to build? Future Day is a celebration of imagination, critical thinking, practical optimism, and extraordinary vision that knows no bounds and invites us to be bold and forward-thinking— to make the unachievable become achievable.”

Eric Klien, President of Lifeboat Foundation, highlights the unique forward-looking nature of WFD: “Working with The Millennium Project and others on the important World Futures Day is an honor. Unlike pretty much all holidays which celebrate events that happened in the past, this day celebrates events that are yet to come. It is time for humanity to look forward and not backward.”

Garry Jacobs, President of WAAS, reflects on the challenges we face and the imperative for collective action: “Many of us are exhausted at the seeming regression we witness in all walks of life worldwide and wonder if all our efforts are like the labours of Sisyphus. But the metaphor of the night being darkest before the dawn is valid both in physical nature and human life. Whenever humanity moves close to realizing a greater truth and embracing a higher set of values, all that feels threatened or opposed to the coming transformation rises out of the depths to reassert its outdated claims and the organized privileges of the past which we have not yet fully abandoned. Future beckons us to shake off all forms of fear, complacency, resignation, and self-righteous indignation and move forward with self-determination and self-confidence unshaken by the threats and setbacks that have always characterized humanity's long, slow evolutionary journey. Our main challenge now is of human will, individual and collective, to transform the problems we face into opportunities to build a world that reflects our highest values and aspirations. This round-the-globe round-the-clock conversation on our collective future by The Millennium Project can give voice to those aspirations and catalyze global social transformation.”

Erik F. Øverland, President of WFSF, underscores the critical role of dialogue in navigating increasing global complexities and uncertainties: “Investigating uncertainties is one of the most important characteristics of the Futures Field. So, when the world is getting more complex and the uncertainties about futures options are peaking, the use of foresight and futures research is more needed than ever. These investigations, however, starts with dialogues, dialogues about the futures. And this is exactly what we are aiming at on World Futures Day on March 1st.”

WFD discussions can be framed within four main thematic clusters (e.g. Di Berardo, 2024a), each encompassing a broad array of critical topics that shape humanity's future. These topics are featured in the Global Futures Agenda, a report derived from an in-depth analysis of that year’s discussion (Di Berardo, 2022; Di Berardo et al. 2023; Di Berardo, 2024b), summarizing the most important and urgent issues for the futures community each year.

One key cluster, “Complex solutions for complex problems,” explores some of the most pressing global challenges and opportunities. Recent discussions have revolved around wars and pandemics, environmental and climate change (including the idea of granting rights and personhoods to the living planet), economy and governance systems, urban development and wellbeing, agriculture and food innovation (such as synthetic meat and alternative proteins), transnational organized crime, energy sustainability, and the future of space exploration.

Another major theme, “A hyper-technological humanity,” delves into the societal and ethical implications of emerging technologies. Recent key topics have included the evolution of metaverses and digital security, the dynamic relationship between humans and robots (including debates on robot rights and citizenship), the rise of hybrid human-machine systems and the emergence of a trans-human world, the development of a governance system for the transition toward artificial general intelligence, and the possibility of establishing a Cyber Minister.

This annual event also serves as a key forum for forward-looking reflections on “Education and learning for a better future.” Discussions focus on how education and learning can adapt to future challenges, covering topics such as the future of education, virtual and AI-driven teaching and training, emerging skills and innovative learning methods, and strategies to enhance human intelligence. It also underscores the importance of futures literacy and futures thinking at all levels and highlights speculative fiction as a powerful tool for fostering creativity and visionary thinking.

Additionally, a significant focus is placed on advancing futures studies and foresight methodologies to enhance our ability to anticipate and navigate complex futures, as explored in the “Improving global foresight” cluster. Topics within this cluster examine the evolution of futures research, its methodologies and approaches, including the evaluation of trillions of scenarios, as well as the understanding of randomness and complexity. Discussions also explore innovative decision-making and planning strategies, promoting deeper engagement and driving leadership transformation. Recent key ideas include the creation of a UN Office of Strategic Threats, strategies to develop the UN’s five foresight elements, and the establishment of futures committees and bodies worldwide.

Participating in WFD is simple and open to all. The event kicks off at 12 noon in New Zealand and follows the sun westward, concluding 24 hours later in Hawaii. While participants are typically invited to join at noon in their respective time zones, they are welcome to drop in at any time—and as often as they like—throughout the 24-hour conversation to listen, engage, and share their ideas. Registration is required to attend WFD 2025, as it grants access to the Zoom link and participation in the discussions. These discussions follow the Chatham House Rule, ensuring open and honest dialogue without formal attribution.

Over the years, WFD has featured renowned thought leaders and experts, including Internet pioneer Vint Cerf and futurist pioneer Ted Gordon. Last year's event opened with a tribute to Gordon’s legacy, and there are rumors that Vint Cerf may join again this year for the sixth time. In addition to the main 24-hour event, WFD on March 1 also includes various side events organized by international organizations, offering diverse opportunities for engagement and collaboration.

Teach the Future, in collaboration with The Millennium Project and others, hosts World Futures Day – Young Voices, a side event designed to share younger generations' perspectives. Students and young leaders engage with professional futurists and other participants to discuss their visions for the future. Various side events in different national languages often take place throughout the day, further enriching the global conversation and making futures discussions more accessible to diverse communities. This year, for instance, in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Turkish Futurists Association, a full-day hybrid event will take place on March 1st, featuring esteemed speakers who will engage in discussions on the future.

Participation in WFD has consistently remained high over the years. Through collaborative dialogue, participants exchange ideas, discuss global challenges, and uncover new insights. At times, they also develop follow-up actions—such as in 2021, when over 200 experts signed an open letter shortly after WFD and sent it to the UN Secretary-General, calling for a feasibility study on a UN Office on Strategic Threats. With hundreds of participants joining in, the event brings together a wide range of perspectives, including minority and indigenous voices, fostering the cross-pollination of ideas and highlighting global interdependencies. This commitment to inclusivity offers participants worldwide a unique opportunity to exchange views, gain insights, and connect across diverse backgrounds.

In a world of rapid technological, environmental, and social change, open forums like WFD are more crucial than ever. They provide a rare opportunity to pause, reflect, and collectively envision bold new possibilities for our shared future. As a global meeting ground, WFD brings together diverse voices and experiences, fostering a deeper sense of interconnectedness.

Whether you're a futurist, policymaker, technologist, artist, entrepreneur, scientist, or simply curious about what lies ahead, WFD invites you to be part of the conversation. Together, we can shape a more sustainable, inclusive, and equitable future for all.