Global organizations unite to raise awareness and improve care for more than 1 million people living with bronchiectasis.
RT’s Three Key Takeaways:
- Global Awareness Initiative: Nearly 30 patient advocacy groups and professional societies will recognize the fifth annual World Bronchiectasis Day on July 1, 2026, to raise awareness for the chronic lung disease.
- Increasing Diagnosis Rates: While once considered rare, bronchiectasis is being diagnosed more frequently due to improved imaging, research, and general awareness of the condition.
- Clinical Advocacy Campaign: The “BE the Light” campaign will feature 64 landmarks illuminated in blue across several countries to highlight the need for early diagnosis, specialized care, and research participation.
The Bronchiectasis and NTM Association and nearly 30 patient advocacy organizations and professional societies will recognize the fifth annual World Bronchiectasis Day on Wednesday, July 1, 2026.
Bronchiectasis is a chronic lung disease characterized by thickened or scarred airways. Once viewed as a rare condition, the disease is now diagnosed more frequently due to growing awareness and advances in imaging and research, according to the Bronchiectasis and NTM Association.
The global event serves as a call to action to improve education, research, and care for hundreds of thousands of people in the United States (US) and more than 1 million people worldwide.
“This day is a powerful reminder of how far the bronchiectasis community has come and how much opportunity lies ahead,” said Tim Aksamit, medical director of the Bronchiectasis and NTM Association and a pulmonology and critical care medicine physician at the Mayo Clinic. “In recent years, we’ve seen growth in research, greater recognition of the disease, and new treatment options.”
Throughout July, participating organizations will provide educational resources, expert insights, and community events focused on the importance of early diagnosis, disease management, and access to specialized care.
The 2026 event includes the first “BE the Light” campaign, where 64 landmarks across the US, England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Australia, and New Zealand will illuminate blue to raise awareness, the news release stated.
The international planning committee for the event is co-chaired by Aksamit and James Chalmers, British Lung Foundation chair of respiratory research at the University of Dundee.
