12 March 2026 will mark 20 years of World Kidney Day, the worldwide campaign dedicated to raising global awareness of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and the importance of kidneys to our health.
Kidney disease affects 1 in 10 people across the world – that's equivalent to more than 7 million people in the UK!
World Kidney Day 2026 arrives at a turning point for kidney health, with global changes being felt in the UK. Find out what's on the way this World Kidney Day, and how you can support the campaign.
Don’t Kid Yourself: busting myths around kidney disease in the UK
This World Kidney Day, Kidney Care UK is working with other kidney charities to bust myths about kidneys and kidney disease through their #DontKidYourself campaign.
Over 7 million people in the UK with kidney disease: it could be your neighbour, parent, colleague, child – or you. Millions of people suffer from poor physical and mental health as a result of their kidney disease, as well as isolation, financial hardship, and poor employment opportunities.
Help us bring the change we're seeing across the globe to the UK by busting these myths. Here's how you can get involved with World Kidney Day UK's #DontKidYourself campaign.
Caring for People, Protecting the Planet
This year’s World Kidney Day theme is Kidney Health For All – Caring for People, Protecting the Planet.
Across the world, climate change is impacting the lives of people with kidney disease. According to World Kidney Day:
Climate-related risks – air pollution, heat stress, dehydration, and extreme weather events – compound the risks of CKD and accelerate its progression.
Treating kidney failure is very resource intensive, especially dialysis, which requires large volumes of water, energy, and single use plastics, and generates greenhouse gas emissions.
A single haemodialysis session can have the same carbon footprint as driving a car for nearly 240 kilometres, or nearly 150 miles. Climate change is impacting kidney disease, and kidney disease is contributing to climate change.
Every person with kidney failure deserves treatment. But by making sure that kidney disease is caught early, we can help save people from undergoing burdensome treatment, helping them protect their health and protect the planet.
Bringing global change to the UK
Last month, leaders from across the world adopted a historic global declaration that vowed to combat noncommunicable disease and mental health challenges including kidney disease. The declaration was approved by 175 nations including the UK.
We want the government to bring the same commitment to supporting kidney health to the UK.
Kidney Care UK is joining forces with other charities to call for a Modern Service Framework for kidney health, which we believe is the best way to get real change for people with kidney disease (and those at risk) in the UK. We want to hear the voices and experiences of people with kidney disease, their families and health professionals to shape what that framework looks like. Find out more about joining us at one of our online and in-person listening events happening across the country this year below:
Your kidneys are bloody amazing
People with kidney disease have told us that the lack of awareness of kidney disease, kidney failure and their treatments leaves them feeling isolated and ignored.
This is why we launched our #BloodyAmazingKidneys awareness campaign – to help celebrate the amazing job our kidneys do to filter our blood, and to help raise awareness of the impact that kidney disease has on the lives of millions of people across the UK.
Join 300,000+ people who have already checked their kidney health and answer a few simple questions to understand more about keeping your kidneys healthy. Knowing your risk can help your doctor diagnose you in the early stages if you do have chronic kidney disease (CKD).
Please share our social media posts, and you can download materials and share the campaign on this page too!