World AIDS Day 2023
World AIDS Day (WAD) takes place annually on 1st December.
2023 marks 35 years of World AIDS Day – a pioneering global health campaign first initiated by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 1988. The global UNAIDS theme for 2023 is Let Communities Lead.
HIV and AIDS has been first reported in Ireland in 1982. HIV remains a significant public health issue in Ireland. If you would like to support our work, please donate today.
Events in Ireland marking World AIDS Day 2023
GLOW RED for World AIDS Day
An annual initiative by HIV Ireland to shine a light on the impact of HIV-related stigma, to stand in solidarity with people living with HIV and to show your support to end HIV-related stigma.
The campaign encompasses the lighting of buildings in red across Ireland, wearing red to show group/individual support, a limited edition enamel pin on sale to raise vital funds for HIV Ireland’s work, and a social media campaign #GLOWRED4WAD.
Order your special limited edition GLOW RED pin today to receive it for World AIDS Day.
Find out more about the GLOW RED for World AIDS Day campaign and how you can get involved.
Monument to a Plague – Memorialising the AIDS pandemic
27.11.2023 – 6 PM – The Foundry, Dublin
As Ireland prepares to unveil its National HIV/AIDS Monument, Dublin Pride and the Irish Queer Archive have collaborated with HIV Ireland, ACET, Queer Culture Ireland, GCN and Google to present an evocative mixed-media event commemorating the important marker that is World AIDS Day.
Involving digital displays of HIV & AIDS archival material, physical AIDS quilts, an illustrated history of the pandemic and a panel dicussion on the role of memory and commemoration, this is a not-to-be missed salute to World AIDS Day and will take place on Monday 27th November from 6pm in the beautiful surroundings of The Foundry Building at Google, Dublin.
The Irish Aid Annual Professor Father Michael Kelly Lecture – 2023
30.11.2023 – 5 PM – Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin
The annual Irish Aid Professor Father Michael Kelly HIV Lecture is held every year to coincide with World AIDS Day. For over 50 years, Tullamore-born Professor Father Michael J. Kelly worked tirelessly in the fight against HIV/AIDS in his naturalised country of Zambia, and internationally, spreading the message of strength, dignity, and hope for those affected and at risk.
Every year, this event gives us an opportunity to come together as a community, to keep ourselves up-to-date in terms of the current priorities for HIV and AIDS and importantly to ensure that we keep HIV high on the agenda.
This year, the event will be held on Thursday 30th November, from 17:00-19:00 Irish Time, at Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin. This years focus was on the important theme of Let Communities Lead.
Annual World AIDS Day Concert
1 December – 8 PM – St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church, Galway
Sexual Health West will once again host the annual World AIDS Day Concert in St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church, Galway. Featuring the Cois Cladaigh and Bel Canto Choirs, the concert will take place at 8pm on Friday 1st December. Admission is free. For queries email info@sexualhealthwest.ie.
A World AIDS Day Celebration
1 December – 8 PM – The George, Dublin
The stunning duo behind the Poz Vibe Podcast is gearing up to “dance away HIV stigma” with an incredible free event at The George this World’s AIDS Day, December 1. Proudly supported by Man2Man, the event promises to be a magical night, featuring amazing performers from Irish talent, as well as RuPaul’s Drag Race UK alumn Charity Kase.
World AIDS Day Run 2023
2 December – 9.30 AM – Cork
Become an ambassador against HIV stigma by joining the 2023 World AIDS Day Run today.
On Saturday 2nd of December, the Sexual Health Centre will host a 5k fun run or 5K walk for World AIDS Day in conjunction with the HSE Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy Programme and parkrun, in a bid to tackle HIV stigma and encourage people to test regularly. Established in 2018, the World AIDS Day run has gone from strength to strength and expanded beyond Cork county, improving people’s understanding of HIV and awareness of services across Ireland.
Host your own event
Do you want to host your own event to raise awareness about HIV in your organisation/workplace?
Host a ‘Wear Red‘ event in your workplace, college or school as part of our GLOW RED for World AIDS Day campaign and help raise the vital funds we need to end HIV-related stigma. We can supply Red Ribbons and posters which you can order through our Free Resources Service. Make it fun by having a best-dressed competition!
We offer educational talks for organisations (in-person or online) who want to learn more about HIV and support our work through fundraising initiatives and/or donations. Discover more about the Global targets to end AIDS and what we are doing in Ireland to get to Zero new HIV transmissions, and Zero Stigma and Discrimination. Limited dates available so early booking is advisable. Contact friederike.jaich@hivireland.ie for more information.