World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day 2026 observed on May 8

Key facts

• World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day 2026 is observed on Friday, May 8, 2026, commemorating the birth anniversary of Henry Dunant, founder of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
• The theme for World Red Cross Day 2026 is 'On the Side of Humanity'.
• The first World Red Cross Day was celebrated in 1948, and it was officially renamed World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day in 1984.
• The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) was established in 1863 in Geneva, Switzerland.
• The Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement operates in more than 190 countries and is guided by seven core principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.