In Peru, it is a longstanding tradition for the Executive Branch to assign an official name to each year. Today, 2026 was declared the "Year of Hope and the Strengthening of Democracy."
Learn when this practice was established and its significance.
The history
The decision to assign an official name to each year in Peru dates back to 1962, during President Fernando Belaunde Terry's administration, through a decree issued on December 7 of that year.
However, this provision only took effect in 1963, which became the first year to be given an official name: "Year of Literacy Throughout the National Territory," thereby inaugurating the tradition.
The designation applies from January 1 to December 31 of the respective year.
It is adopted by State-run institutions and, on an optional basis, by private entities.
Importance of the year's name
The official name assigned to each year seeks to highlight the country's objectives and priorities at that particular moment in its history. It also serves as a statement of principles of the government in office.
This tradition remains in force to this day and has been applied in an almost uninterrupted manner for over 60 years since it was first established.
The only exceptions to this practice were 1969, 1975, and 1998, which did not receive an official name.
Process for its designation
Those responsible for assigning a name to the year in Peru are the President of the Republic and the Council of Ministers.
To that end, they take into account national priorities, the geopolitical context, and even commemorative dates of special significance to the country, as was the case in 2021, which was designated the "Year of Peru's Bicentennial: 200 Years of Independence."
Once selected, the name is made official by means of a Supreme Decree published in the Legal Regulations bulletin of the Official Gazette El Peruano in the early days of January.
Year of Hope and the Strengthening of Democracy
The Executive Branch has declared 2026 the "Year of Hope and the Strengthening of Democracy."
The regulation stipulates that the approved phrase will be included in official documents throughout 2026.
Likewise, it indicates that the Ministry of Culture, through a Ministerial Resolution, shall establish the translation of the 2026 designation into the relevant Indigenous or native languages for use in the districts, provinces, and regions where they predominate, in accordance with the Ethnolinguistic Map of Peru.
Official names of the past 10 years
These were the official names during the last 10 years in Peru:
2016: Year of the Consolidation of the Sea of Grau
2017: Year of Good Service to Citizens
2018: Year of Dialogue and National Reconciliation
2019: Year of the Fight Against Corruption and Impunity
2020: Year of Universal Health Care
2021: Year of Peru's Bicentennial: 200 Years of Independence
2022: Year of the Strengthening of National Sovereignty
2023: Year of Unity, Peace, and Development
2024: Year of the Bicentennial, the Consolidation of Our Independence, and the Commemoration of the Heroic Battles of Junin and Ayacucho
2025: Year of the Recovery and Consolidation of the Peruvian Economy
2026: Year of Hope and the Strengthening of Democracy
(END) MCA/CVC/MVB