Lung health is built over a lifetime. From before birth through childhood, adulthood and into older age, every stage of life presents opportunities to protect our lungs and reduce the risk of respiratory disease.
To mark World Lung Day on September 25, 2026, the Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS) is inviting healthcare professionals, organizations and communities around the world to support this year’s campaign, A Lifetime of Lung Health.
The campaign highlights a simple but powerful message: the environments we live in, the care we receive and the actions we take all shape our ability to breathe well. By working together, we can help more people enjoy healthier lungs at every age.
Respiratory diseases affect hundreds of millions of people worldwide and remain among the leading causes of illness and death. Yet many factors that influence lung health can be addressed throughout life. From clean air and prevention to early diagnosis and quality care, action at every stage can help protect our ability to breathe well.
This year’s campaign focuses on four key areas across the life course:
- Supporting healthy lung development – giving every child the best possible start.
- Supporting healthy lung growth – helping children and young people reach their full lung health potential.
- Maintaining healthy lungs – encouraging prevention, early action and healthier environments throughout adulthood.
- Promoting healthy lung ageing – supporting respiratory health, independence and quality of life as people grow older.
Share how you are supporting lung health
Protecting lung health requires action across society. From research and healthcare to education, advocacy and community initiatives, people around the world are already making a difference.
FIRS is encouraging organizations and individuals to showcase the work they are already doing to improve lung health. Whether through research, healthcare, education, advocacy, policy or community initiatives, every action contributes to healthier lungs and stronger communities.
Share your World Lung Day activities, stories and initiatives using #WorldLungDay and tag FIRS on social media @FIRS_lungsfirst (Insta) @FIRS_LungsFirst (X) and FIRS (LinkedIn).
To help supporters get involved, a World Lung Day 2026 Supporters’ Toolkit will be available to download from the FIRS website from early September. The toolkit will include campaign messages, social media graphics, suggested posts, activity ideas and key facts linked to the four themes of this year’s campaign.
Throughout September, FIRS will feature selected stories and activities from around the world across its website and social media channels, celebrating the many ways the respiratory community is helping people achieve better lung health throughout life.
Whether you are a healthcare professional, patient organization, school, workplace, community group or individual, your contribution matters.
World Lung Day is an opportunity to demonstrate what can be achieved when the global respiratory community works together. By sharing ideas, celebrating success and inspiring action, we can help make lifelong lung health a priority for everyone, everywhere.
For more information about FIRS or World Lung Day, please contact:
Helen Dugdale
Communications Lead
Helen.Dugdale@firsnet.org
World Lung Day – September 25, 2026
World Lung Day is a global awareness campaign launched by FIRS in 2017, that brings together respiratory organizations, healthcare professionals, patient groups, policymakers, and communities to raise awareness of lung health and inspire action to reduce the burden of respiratory disease worldwide.
About FIRS
The Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS) is an organization comprising the world’s leading international respiratory societies working together to improve lung health globally: American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST), American Thoracic Society (ATS), Asian Pacific Society of Respirology (APSR), Asociación Latinoamericana de Tórax (ALAT), European Respiratory Society (ERS), International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union), Pan African Thoracic Society (PATS), Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA), and the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD).
FIRS aims to unify and strengthen efforts to improve lung health through the combined work of its more than 70,000 members worldwide.