Launching at the 79th World Health Assembly, the 2026 Global Week for Action on NCDs (GW4A) campaign introduces this year’s theme, Leadership in Focus: From Commitments to Delivery. Running throughout the year and culminating in Global Week from 31 August to 4 September 2026, the campaign will focus on implementation, financing, accountability, and measurable progress on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health.

Over the past two years, advocates, organisations, and communities across the global NCD movement have helped unite more than three million people through the Call to Lead, calling for stronger action on NCDs and mental health. With commitments and political momentum now in place, the challenge is delivery.

Throughout the year, Leadership in Focus will spotlight political, community, and lived experience leadership alongside implementation progress, financing and accountability discussions, national and regional action, and practical examples of action and innovation.

Global Week will bring together organisations, advocates, people living with NCDs, health professionals, and communities across regions and constituencies in a shared moment of mobilisation, visibility, and action.

Timed to coincide with the 3rd International Dialogue on Sustainable Financing for NCDs and Mental Health in the Philippines, this year’s Global Week will connect community advocacy and storytelling with global discussions on financing, implementation, accountability, health system reform, and sustainable investment in the NCD response.

A co-created global effort

Global Week 2026 will continue to be shaped through co-creation with organisations, advocates, and communities across all regions, helping ensure that activities reflect diverse realities, priorities, and experiences.

Planned activities and content streams include:

  • Leadership Dialogues, blogs, and podcasts exploring leadership, accountability, financing, and implementation
  • Leadership in Focus spotlight stories from the community, national, and regional levels
  • Social media mobilisation assets, including leadership capsules, quote cards, and advocacy materials designed for local adaptation and use
  • A Social Media Toolkit to support participation and local campaigning
  • Actions, events, publications, and local initiatives led by organisations, advocates, and communities around the world, showcased through the Map of Impact

Participants are encouraged to share their own activities, events, webinars, publications, and local actions through the Map of Impact

Further details, campaign materials, and opportunities to participate will be shared in the coming weeks.