The initial World AIDS Day in 1988 marked the first ever global health day.
The tradition continues, and this year there are several themes that are being promoted.
The UNAIDS’ theme of this year’s World AIDS Day is Overcoming disruption, transforming the AIDS response. An excerpt from this post from UNAIDS drills down to action: “December 1 2025, is an important opportunity to highlight the impact that the funding cuts from international donors have had on the response to AIDS as well as to showcase the resilience of countries and communities stepping up to protect the gains made and drive the HIV response forward.”
PAN and allies have been working on this, advocating for Canada’s recommitment to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB) and Malaria. The world HIV/AIDS community is also advocating for the continuance of UNAIDS, which may be sunset in 2026.
CANFAR’s 2025 World AIDS Day theme and Digital Toolkit
CANFAR is addressing 2025 World AIDS Day with their campaign: Do you see me? CANFAR is sharing advocacy tools via their English and French toolkits. Included in each toolkit is a variety of assets to support your digital engagement efforts! Contact Niko Coady for more information.
International AIDS Society (IAS) theme: Rethink. Rebuild. Rise
The IAS has chosen the same theme for World AIDS Day 2025 and AIDS 2026 to build momentum and a shared global narrative. By uniting behind a single call – to rethink, rebuild and rise – the HIV response can speak with one voice across communities, countries and conferences. Join the global movement by sharing your story, message, photo or video using the hashtag, #RethinkRebuildRise. Access the social media toolkit for resources.
STILL WITH US: A Legacy of HIV/AIDS in the Arts: The Victoria Arts Council, in association with AVI Health & Community Services, is pleased to announce its presentation of STILL WITH US: A Legacy of HIV/AIDS in the Arts. This cross-disciplinary project is anchored by an exhibition in downtown Victoria running from 24 October through 1 December 2025. Featuring archival materials, films, and visual art, the exhibit tells a multi-faceted story of loss, advocacy, and hope emanating from the first waves of the AIDS epidemic (1980s through 1990s) and Victoria’s remarkable response.
We’d like to help support connections, resources, and awareness happening in communities across British Columbia.
Is YOUR organization highlighting World AIDS Day or Indigenous AIDS Awareness Week in some way? We’d love to know about it: it’s important thing to share that HIV/AIDS is still an issue and people living with HIV need support. Send info to [email protected] to have your community added to this page.