©Pictures by Carina Dantas, Inês Saavedra and Ana Santos
Portugal joined the first international celebration of European Cancer Literacy Day, an initiative aimed at raising public awareness of cancer prevention, early detection, and understanding of cancer. The national celebration took place on 25 September 2026 as part of the European Researchers’ Night in five different cities (Aveiro, Braga, Coimbra, Lisbon and Porto), through an initiative led by CURTAIN partners the University of Aveiro, the Portuguese National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge (INSA), and SHINE 2Europe.
The year 2026 marks a historic milestone, as it is the first time that European Cancer Literacy Day is celebrated internationally. While the official European observance is scheduled for 14 October 2026, Portugal has chosen to mark the occasion earlier in conjunction with European Researchers’ Night. This timing allows the initiative to benefit from one of Europe’s largest science engagement events, fostering closer connections between researchers and citizens through interactive activities and awareness-raising actions.
Through this initiative, the partners aim to highlight the importance of cancer literacy as an essential tool for empowering citizens to make informed decisions about their health and well-being. By improving knowledge and understanding of cancer, the initiative seeks to encourage informed choices regarding prevention, screening, early detection, and access to healthcare services. Strengthening health literacy is widely recognised as a key factor in reducing cancer inequalities across Europe.
More information on Cancer Literacy Day here.