World Hepatitis Day 2026

From the most recent data available, scientists at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) estimate that almost 850 000 people were diagnosed with liver cancer and more than 730 000 people died of liver cancer worldwide in 2024. Chronic infection with viral hepatitis is a major cause of liver cancer. The five main strains of hepatitis virus are referred to as types A, B, C, D, and E, and the IARC Monographs programme has classified three of these strains – types B, C, and D – as carcinogenic to humans.

The burden of disease and the deaths associated with viral hepatitis continue even though effective prevention and treatment options exist. IARC and the World Health Organization (WHO) are marking World Hepatitis Day 2026 with the theme “Hepatitis: let’s break it down”, a call to remove the barriers that stand between people and the services that can save their lives.

In addition to this campaign, Dr Elisabete Weiderpass, IARC Director, and Dr Isabelle Soerjomataram, Deputy Head of the Cancer Surveillance Branch at IARC, will present during an annual high-level World Hepatitis Day event hosted by the Ministry of Health and Population of Egypt in Cairo on 28 July 2026. Their presentations will include insights into the latest global and regional estimates of liver cancer incidence and mortality from the newly released GLOBOCAN 2024 database. Dr Weiderpass will deliver the keynote address during the closing remarks, alongside His Excellency Professor Khaled Abdelghaffar, Minister of Health and Population of Egypt. Dr Soerjomataram will participate in a panel discussion with other regional and international experts.

Egypt is an important reference case for countries planning hepatitis control programmes. In recent years, Egypt has moved from being a country with one of the world’s highest burdens of hepatitis C to become the first country to attain “gold tier” status on the path towards eliminating hepatitis C. This remarkable success is a testament to what the 2026 campaign calls for: turning proven science into action through stronger political commitment, sustained investment, and efforts to expand equitable access to prevention, testing, treatment, and care.

Visit the WHO World Hepatitis Day 2026 website