Until 11 November, paper folds bring enthusiasts together
· BehindLines newsroom
World Origami Days continue until 11 November. This period, which began on 24 October, brings together activities devoted to paper folding. The portal for the 2026 edition includes an exhibition on the Web: participants can photograph their creations and share them, either individually or as a group.
The occasion connects two calendar dates rather than marking just one day. The Japan Origami Academic Society explains that, in September 2005, OrigamiUSA proposed celebrating the practice on 24 October, Lillian Oppenheimer’s birthday. Japan already had another date: 11 November. The shared period makes room for both.
Four digits to suggest a sheet of paper
The Nippon Origami Association says it chose 11 November in 1980. It explains the choice through the four digits 1 in the date: each can represent one side, and together they can suggest the four edges of a square sheet. This is the association’s way of telling the story of its day.
Today, that calendar provides a shared framework for different activities. A photographic exhibition and a folding session need different arrangements, but both can take place within the same period. The Japanese day therefore need not be confused with a single event organised in the same way everywhere.
Showing the result and making the process visible
For the online exhibition, the portal provides a form and a sheet to place beneath the model when taking the photograph. This presentation brings scattered creations together without moving them into one room.
Another way to discover origami is to compare the starting sheet, a few intermediate stages and the resulting shape. It draws attention to the process as well as the finished object. As 11 November approaches, what these activities share is the exchange of a practice, with details of each initiative available from its organiser.