Palliative Care Week is an annual campaign coordinated by the All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care (AIIHPC) to raise public awareness and understanding of palliative care and its benefits.
The 2026 campaign, running from 6–12 September, marks the thirteenth year of the initiative and focuses on challenging common misconceptions about palliative care.
The theme ‘It’s Not What You Think’ encourages people to rethink what palliative care is, who it is for, and how it can support individuals and families living with life-limiting conditions.
The campaign aims to:
- Educate the public about the broad benefits of palliative care, including physical, social, emotional, and spiritual support
- Encourage earlier access to palliative care services to improve quality of life for patients and their families
- Engage health and social care professionals, researchers, educators, students, policymakers, volunteers and community organizations in discussions about living well with serious illnesses
- Correct misconceptions that palliative care is only for end-of-life situations, highlighting that it supports living as well as possible with a life-limiting condition
Information and Events
Please click on the links below for information:
Palliative Care Week Events – interactive map for events in your area
All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care (AIIHPC)
Palliative Care Week 2026 – palliativecareweek.com
Palliative Care Week 2026 Aims to Correct Common Misunderstandings About Palliative Care – AIIHPC
Palliative Care All Island Practice Conference, Newry. Tuesday 8 September 2026
Palliative Care in Partnership
Information for Relatives and Carers – Palliative Care in Partnership
Palliative Care Information & Guidance – Palliative Care in Partnership
Royal College of Nursing
Palliative Care event | Royal College of Nursing
Irish Hospice Foundation
Palliative Care Week 2026 – IHF Events and Activities
Compassionate Communities NI
https://www.compassionatecommunitiesni.com/
Palliative Care Information – Bereaved NI
NEW Booklets
What to Expect When Someone is in the Last Days and Hours of Life
A guide for families and caregivers supporting someone at the end of their life.
Palliative Care and Bereavement in Schools
This digital roadmap is a one-stop guide for school staff supporting children, young people and families through palliative care, end-of-life care, and bereavement. It is a centralised hub that connects staff to advice, training and good practice examples, helping them to find the right information at the right time. It also includes resources for teachers, parents, carers, children and young people, along with links to useful support organisations and helplines. Please click here for booklet: https://northerntrust-hscni.pagetiger.com/bereavement-information