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Cytokine genes are regulated by multiple regulatory elements that confer tissue-specific and activation-dependent expression. The cis-regulatory elements of the gene encoding IL-9, a cytokine that promotes allergy, autoimmune inflammation and tumor immunity, have not been defined. Here we identify an enhancer (CNS-25) upstream of the ll9 gene that binds most transcription factors (TFs) that promote ll9 gene expression. Deletion of the enhancer in the mouse germline alters transcription factor binding to the remaining ll9 regulatory elements, and results in diminished IL-9 production in multiple cell types including Th9 cells, and attenuates IL-9-dependent immune responses. Moreover, deletion of the homologous enhancer (CNS-18) in primary human Th9 cultures results in significant decrease of IL-9 production. Thus, ll9 CNS-25/IL9 CNS-18 is a critical and conserved regulatory element for IL-9 production.