Cairo: The third edition of the "World Day for Quranic Recitation" kicked off on Sunday, August 30, 2026, under the patronage of Al-Azhar Grand Imam Ahmed el-Tayeb. The event, organized by the General Administration of Quran Affairs at the Al-Azhar Institutes Sector, brings together hundreds of thousands of people to read the Quran across Egypt's governorates and in several countries around the world. According to State Information Service Egypt, Sheikh Ayman Abdel-Ghani, acting Al-Azhar Undersecretary, highlighted that the occasion provides an important opportunity to renew people's connection with the Quran and bring families and generations together around its teachings. He noted that the initiative's expanding local and international reach reflects Al-Azhar's leading role in serving the Quran and its continued efforts to instill its values and preserve its identity in society. This year's activities mark a significant expansion in the scope of participation, with Al-Azhar Mosque opening its doors to rec iters. They are joined by Al-Azhar institutes and districts, Al-Azhar institutes abroad, and branches of the World Organization for Al-Azhar Graduates inside and outside Egypt, with participants coming together to recite and review the Quran simultaneously. The current edition also features active participation and close coordination with the Ministry of Awqaf, the Ministry of Social Solidarity, the Ministry of Education and Technical Education, Dar Al-Ifta Al-Misriyyah, and civil society and community organizations. The initiative reflects the concerted efforts of state institutions to encourage children and young people to memorize the Quran, master its recitation, and reflect on its meanings. The initiative has continued to grow significantly for the third consecutive year. Its first edition attracted around 6,000 participants, while participation exceeded 100,000 in its second year, before reaching its current broad local and international scale, underscoring Al-Azhar's leading role and the Quran's endu ring place in the hearts and minds of the Muslim community.