1953
Creation of the Fédération internationale des traducteurs – International Federation of Translators (FIT) in Paris under the auspices of UNESCO. The founder members – six national associations of translators and interpreters – represented Denmark, France, Italy, Norway, the Federal Republic of Germany and Turkey.
1954
Ist FIT World Congress (Paris, 18–22 December).
Theme: Drafting an Activity Plan.
1955
Foundation of BABEL, International Journal of Translation (quarterly journal devoted to information and research in the field of translation), with the assistance of UNESCO.
1956
IInd FIT World Congress (Rome, 27 February–3 March).
Themes: Intellectual property rights of the translator and International co-operation in the field of terminology.
International Round Table of translators from countries in Asia and the Middle East (New Delhi, 21–21 November).
Adoption of an international recommendation to promote translation and the professional status of translators in Asia.
1958
Round Table on issues of the training and qualifying of translators (Luxembourg, 30–31 May) in collaboration with the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community.
Adoption of recommendation to encourage working together in the area of training translators and terminology research.
International Round Table of Translators (Warsaw, 2–8 July).
1959
IIIrd FIT World Congress (Bad Godesberg, 27 July–1 August).
Theme: Quality in Translation..
1963
IVth FIT World Congress (Dubrovnik, 31 August to 7 September).
Themes: Tenth anniversary of FIT – Continued Co-operation with UNESCO.
Recommendation relating to the training of translators and drafting criteria affirming, internationally and nationally, the qualities required to be able to effectively fulfil the task of specialised translator.
Adoption of the Translator’s Charter setting forth general guidelines and recommendations in the area of the translator’s rights and obligations.
1966
Vth FIT World Congress (Lahti, Finland, 7–13 August).
Themes: Recommendations on literary translation, qualification criteria to promote translator training on terminology research and documentation and on the intellectual property rights of the translator.
Establishment of Task Forces.
1969
Foundation of the Nathhorst Prize (literary translation and scientific and technical translation) under the auspices of the Carl Bertil Nathhorst Foundation for Science and Public Utility (Sweden).
1970
VIth FIT World Congress (Stuttgart, 27–31 July).
UNESCO recognises FIT as a category A non-governmental organisation, which ensures that FIT will be consulted on any issue relating to translation discussed by the UNESCO authorities.
1974
VIIth FIT World Congress (Nice, France, 9–13 May).
Theme: Translation, Connecting Nations.
1976
Adoption of the international recommendation on “THE LEGAL PROTECTION OF TRANSLATORS AND TRANSLATIONS AND ON THE PRACTICAL MEANS TO IMPROVE THE STATUS OF TRANSLATORS”, on the occasion of the UNESCO General Conference (Nairobi, 22 November), by 143 member countries of UNESCO.
1977
VIIIth FIT World Congress (Montreal, 12–13 May).
Theme: Translating – a Profession.
1978
Celebration of the 25th Anniversary FIT in Paris.
1979
FIT–UNESCO international colloquium (Sofia, 16–18 October) on Translation and International Cultural Co-operation.
1980
Foundation of the Astrid Lindgren Prize for translation of books for children and young people.
Creation of the FIT commemorative medal in memory of Pierre-François Caillé.
1981
IXth FIT World Congress (Warsaw, 6–13 May).
Theme: The Mission of the Translator Today and Tomorrow.
1982
Round Table (Lomé, 25–27 October) on “Problems of Literary Translation in Africa”, with UNESCO support.
1983
Round Table (Paris, 17–19 March) on “Translation in the System of Foreign Language Training”, with the assistance of UNESCO.
Adoption of an international recommendation on the professional profile of translators and interpreters and guidelines on training and qualifying of translators and interpreters.
1984
Xth FIT World Congress (Vienna, 17–23 August).
Theme: Translators and their Position in Society.
1986
Round Table (Paris, 24–25 March) on “Literary Translation – Practice and Prospects”, with the assistance of UNESCO.
Founding of the FIT North American Regional Centre and First North American Translators’ Congress (Mexico, 25–28 March).
1987
Round Table (Frankfurt, 23–24 January) on the “Status and Profile of the Translator and Interpreter”, with UNESCO support.
XIth FIT World Congress (Maastricht, 20–27 August).
Theme: Translation. Our Future.
1988
Round Table (Seoul, 28 August–2 September) on Literary Translation, with the assistance of PEN Club and UNESCO.
1989
Round Table (Tangiers, Morocco 1–3 June) on “Problems of Professional Translation in the Arab World and the Contribution of Technology”, with support from UNESCO and the École supérieure Roi Fahd de traduction.
Round Table (Dar es Salaam, 28–30 August) on “Problems of Translation in Africa”, with UNESCO support.
Second North American Translators’ Congress (Washington, 9–11 October).
1990
XIIth FIT World Congress (Belgrade, 2–9 August).
Theme: Translation, a Creative Profession.
Creation of prize for Best Periodical.
1991
Round Table (Moscow, 26–27 February) on “Literature and Translation, Theory Problems”, with the assistance of UNESCO and the Literary Council of the Writers’ union of the USSR.
Establishment of International Translation Day on 30 September.
Round Table (Buenos Aires, 1–2 November) on “Translation in Latin America”, with the assistance of ‘UNESCO and the Colegio de Traductores Públicos de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires.
1992
Third North American Translators’ Congress (Montreal, 27–29 May) on “Translating in North America – A Community of Interests”.
Round Table (Dobríš, Czechoslovakia, 25–27 September) on “Literary Translation and Copyright”, with the assistance of various member associations and UNESCO.
International Conference (Moscow, 1–3 October) on “General Theory and Teaching of Translation and Poetry Translation Theory”, with the assistance of Moscow Linguistics University.
1993
XIIIth FIT World Congress (Brighton, 6–13 August).
Theme: Translation – The Vital Link.
1995
Round Table (Strasbourg, 22–24 June) on “Audio Visual Communication and Language Transfer”, with the assistance of the Council of Europe and UNESCO.
1st Asian Translation Forum (Beijing, 31 July–3 August).
1996
XIVth FIT World Congress (Melbourne, 9–16 February).
Theme: New Horizons.
Fourth North American Regional Centre Congress (Colorado Springs, 27–29 October).
Foundation of the FIT Regional Centre Europe.
1998
2nd Asian Translation Forum (Seoul, 31 July–3 August).
Fifth North American Regional Centre Congress (Ottawa, 27–29 September).
1999
XVth FIT World Congress (Mons, 3–10 August).
Theme: Translation – Transition.
2001
3rd Asian Translation Forum (Hong Kong, 4–8 December).
2002
Sixth International Forum on Legal Translation and Court Interpreting (Paris, 12–14 June).
XVIth FIT World Congress (Vancouver, 3–10 August).
Theme: Translation: New Ideas for a New Century.
2003
Foundation of the FIT Regional Centre Latin America in Buenos Aires (2 May).
50th Anniversary of FIT in UNESCO Paris (20–22 November).
2005
XVIIth FIT World Congress (Tampere, Finland 8–10 August).
Theme: Rights On!
2006
First international meeting of the Regional Centre Latin America (CRAL-FIT) on “Translation and Interculturality” (La Antigua, Guatemala, 25–27 May).
2007
4th Asian Translation Forum (Bogor, Indonesia)
2008
XVIIIth FIT World Congress (Shanghai, China, 2–7 August).
Theme: Translation and Cultural Diversity.
2010
5th Asian Translation Forum (Macau)
2011
XIXth FIT World Congress (San Francisco, USA, 1–4 August).
Theme: Bridging Cultures
2013
60th anniversary of FIT
6th Asian Translation Forum (Penang, Malaysia)
2014
XXth FIT World Congress (Berlin, Germany, 4–6 August).
Theme: Man vs. Machine? The Future of Translators, Interpreters and Terminologists
2015
Fit Legal Forum, Lima Peru.
2016
8th Asia Pacific Translation and Interpreting Forum (APTIF8)
Xian, China
2017
XXI World Congress, Brisbane, Australia
Theme: Disruption and Diversification
2018
Legal Translation Forum, Bonn, Germany.
2019
9th Asia Pacific Translation and Interpreting Forum (APTIF9)
Seoul, South Korea
2020
XXII congress postponed due to COVID-19 Pandemic
2022
XXII World Congress, Varadero, Cuba. Theme: A World without barriers – The Role of Language Professionals in Building Culture, Understanding and Lasting Peace.