World AIDS Day 2026

What is the world aids day national observance?

Each year on December 1st, our community gathers to remember those lost, educate others, and rally to eliminate the devastating stigma and loss associated with the ongoing AIDS crisis.

As our country’s only federally designated memorial for AIDS, the National AIDS Memorial hosts a pivotal observance each year to recognize this internationally dedicated day. Join us in the Grove on Tuesday, December 1st as we gather to heal, hope, and remember.

HOW ARE WE RECOGNIZING WORLD AIDS DAY IN 2026?

By sparking powerful conversations, the National AIDS Memorial will highlight the pressing issues impacting the AIDS crisis today. By sharing the story of the struggle against HIV/AIDS, we fight against stigma, denial, and hate for a just future.

Spotlight

Celebrating a Legacy of National Leadership
Dafina Ward has been a leading voice in advancing equity, visibility, and action in the fight against HIV in the South. For nearly twenty years, she has advanced HIV justice, driven by a deep commitment to the communities most impacted. An attorney turned nonprofit executive and strategist, she has devoted her career to eradicating HIV disparities, particularly across the Southern United States.

Known for her compassionate, community-centered leadership, and her ability to build trust, Dafina has fostered impactful initiatives and led programs that have moved people from intention to action. Her leadership has earned national recognition, including service on the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS, a GLAAD Media Award, and the Treatment Action Group’s Research in Action Award. Her insights have been featured by POZ Magazine, NPR and The Washington Post, and she is a sought-after speaker and facilitator who has led conversations from the White House to communities across the nation.

We are proud to present Dafina Ward with this year’s National Leadership Recognition Award.

Honoring a Lasting Impact in our Community
‍‍For more than 25 years, Roger Doughty has been a driving force in advancing LGBTQ+ equity, philanthropy, and community leadership. At Horizons Foundation, he led the creation of the LGBT Community Endowment Fund and helped bring significant new investment into LGBTQ causes—strengthening organizations and impact across the region and beyond.

Before joining Horizons, Roger led Horizons Community Services in Chicago, helping to establish the Center on Halsted, and previously oversaw more than 40 programs at the Los Angeles LGBT Center. He has also served in national leadership roles, including as Board Chair of OutRight Action International and on the board of Northern California Grantmakers.

We proudly present Roger Doughty with this year’s Community Impact Award.

WHY iS WORLD AIDS DAY IMPORTANT IN 2026?

The AIDS crisis is not over.

According to the World Health Organization, more than one million people acquired HIV in 2024 alone. By sharing the tragic story of AIDS, we make strides toward ensuring that future communities will not be harmed by fear, silence, discrimination, or stigma.