About International Adolescent Health Week 2026 

Observed annually, International Adolescent Health Week (IAHW) is a global initiative dedicated to celebrating adolescents and advancing their health and well-being.

IAHW brings together adolescents and young people, healthcare professionals, educators, parents, advocates, community organizations, policymakers, and other partners to raise awareness of adolescent health needs and inspire action that supports a healthy, confident, and successful transition into adulthood.

You can read the full profile of IAHW here.

Celebrating 10 Years of IAWH 

Today, International Adolescent Health Week is hosted and administered by the International Association for Adolescent Health (IAAH), with young people continuing to play a central role in shaping and leading the initiative.

The 10-year milestone is also a moment to reflect on progress in adolescent health while recognizing the challenges that remain. As IAHW enters its next decade, the campaign continues to emphasize the importance of working with adolescents rather than simply for them, ensuring that young people have meaningful opportunities to influence the policies, programmes, services, and decisions that affect their health and futures.

Theme: Nothing About Us Without Us: Power, Voice and Health Equity for All Adolescents

The theme, “Nothing About Us Without Us: Power, Voice and Health Equity for All Adolescents,” emphasizes that adolescents should not simply be the recipients of health programmes, policies, and services. They should have meaningful opportunities to help shape the decisions that affect their bodies, health, communities, and futures.

Across the world, adolescents experience very different social, economic, cultural, and health realities. Yet all adolescents should have the opportunity to access appropriate health information and services, express their priorities, participate in decisions, and live in environments that support their physical, mental, and social well-being.

IAHW 2026 calls on communities and institutions to move beyond simply listening to young people and toward sharing decision-making power with them.

Why this theme?

Adolescence is a critical period of growth and development. Decisions, opportunities, relationships, environments, and health experiences during these years can influence well-being far into adulthood.

Yet health programmes affecting adolescents are still too often designed for young people rather than with them.

Meaningful adolescent participation can help make health services and programmes more relevant, accessible, trusted, inclusive, and responsive to the realities young people face.

The 2026 theme highlights three closely connected priorities:

• Power: Adolescents should have genuine opportunities to influence priorities, programmes, policies, and decisions that affect their health and well-being.
• Voice: Young people should be able to express their experiences, concerns, ideas, and solutions—and see that their contributions are taken seriously and reflected in action.
• Health Equity: Every adolescent should have a fair opportunity to achieve good health, regardless of geography, gender, disability, socioeconomic circumstances, ethnicity, migration status, or other factors that may create barriers to care and opportunity.

The theme also recognizes that adolescent health challenges do not exist in isolation. Mental health, nutrition, physical health, sexual and reproductive health, digital environments, education, violence, climate-related pressures, social inclusion, and access to quality healthcare can all shape adolescent well-being.

By involving adolescents directly in identifying challenges and designing solutions, communities can build health systems and programmes that better reflect young people’s real needs.

Get Involved 

International Adolescent Health Week is designed to encourage action at local, national, and global levels.

Schools, universities, healthcare facilities, youth organizations, community groups, governments, professional associations, and individuals can participate by organizing activities that reflect the needs and priorities of adolescents in their communities.

Activities can include:

• Youth-led discussions and forums on adolescent health
• School and community health education activities
• Mental health and well-being sessions
• Conversations on nutrition and physical health
• Sexual and reproductive health education
• Youth consultations with healthcare providers and policymakers
• Advocacy and awareness campaigns
• Creative activities, competitions, art, storytelling, and performances
• Social media campaigns highlighting adolescent voices
• Community outreach and health-promotion events
• Training on meaningful adolescent participation
• Events highlighting local adolescent-led health initiatives

IAHW Resources

IAAH provides resources to support organizations, communities, and young people participating in International Adolescent Health Week.

Available materials include:

• Event Kit with ideas and guidance for planning IAHW activities
• Social Media Kit with campaign ideas and ready-to-use content
• IAHW Color Kit
• Campaign and promotional materials
• Activity ideas for schools, healthcare settings, community organizations, educators, advocates, and young people

Lime green is the official color of International Adolescent Health Week, representing health, happiness, freshness, vitality, and the energy and passion of adolescents.

Access all IAHW resources here: IAHW 2026 Resource Hub 

A Global Movement Led With Adolescents

International Adolescent Health Week recognizes adolescents not only as beneficiaries of health initiatives, but as partners and leaders.

IAHW 2026 calls on communities, organizations, and institutions worldwide to create meaningful opportunities for adolescent participation and leadership.

Improving adolescent health means ensuring young people’s voices influence decisions, their ideas lead to action, and every adolescent has the opportunity to be healthy and thrive.

Nothing About Us Without Us.

Power. Voice. Health Equity for All Adolescents.