World Cholangiocarcinoma Day2026 · Date · History · Messages
Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation materials state that from 2023 World Cholangiocarcinoma Day is the third Thursday of February; its 2026 materials identify 19 February.
About World Cholangiocarcinoma Day
World Cholangiocarcinoma Day is a global awareness campaign for cholangiocarcinoma, a cancer of the bile ducts. Current campaign materials place the day on the third Thursday in February.
The day raises awareness, supports people affected by the disease and encourages research and informed care. Awareness information cannot diagnose cholangiocarcinoma or determine treatment for an individual.
Why World Cholangiocarcinoma Day matters
The observance helps patient groups, clinicians, researchers and supporters bring attention to a relatively rare cancer and the needs of patients and caregivers.
Symptoms associated with bile-duct cancer can overlap with many other conditions. People should not self-diagnose from an awareness list, and screening or treatment decisions require appropriate clinical evaluation.
History of World Cholangiocarcinoma Day
The Global Cholangiocarcinoma Alliance states that AMMF – The Cholangiocarcinoma Charity set up the inaugural World Cholangiocarcinoma Day in 2016 with partner organizations.
Alliance history says a 2018 international workshop brought advocacy groups and specialists together and helped give rise to the Global Cholangiocarcinoma Alliance.
A 2023 campaign guide states that the day had previously been February 12 and, from 2023, moved to the third Thursday in February.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
AMMF – The Cholangiocarcinoma Charity
Global Cholangiocarcinoma Alliance history says AMMF set up the inaugural World Cholangiocarcinoma Day in 2016, joined by partner organizations.
First documented observance
Global Cholangiocarcinoma Alliance history explicitly identifies the inaugural World Cholangiocarcinoma Day in 2016.
Moved the annual observance from February 12 to the third Thursday in February from 2023.
Global Cholangiocarcinoma Alliance campaign · World Cholangiocarcinoma Day 2023 campaign guide
Global Cholangiocarcinoma Alliance (GCA)
Current alliance campaign material coordinates World Cholangiocarcinoma Day internationally.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
5 fields not established in reviewed sources
Later institutional actions
Later recognition, renaming, mergers or date changes are kept separate from original establishment.
How to Observe World Cholangiocarcinoma Day
Share source-based information from recognized cancer organizations rather than diagnosing from symptoms or social-media posts.
Support a patient or caregiver in the way they request, including practical help, listening or respecting privacy.
Get explicit consent before sharing a person’s diagnosis, treatment details, photo or story in an awareness campaign.
For personal symptoms, screening questions or treatment decisions, use an appropriate qualified medical team.
World Cholangiocarcinoma Day Facts
AMMF set up the inaugural World Cholangiocarcinoma Day in 2016 according to Global Cholangiocarcinoma Alliance history.
The observance is now placed on the third Thursday in February.
Campaign material says the annual date moved from February 12 beginning in 2023.
Cholangiocarcinoma is cancer arising in the bile ducts.
Awareness information is not a diagnosis or an individualized treatment recommendation.
World Cholangiocarcinoma Day Messages
On World Cholangiocarcinoma Day, standing with patients, caregivers, clinicians and researchers working for better awareness and care.
World Cholangiocarcinoma Day is a time to share reliable information, support research and listen to people affected by bile-duct cancer.
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
- Health Information Not Medical Advice.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
National Cancer Institute — clinical background information
Global Cholangiocarcinoma Alliance — alliance history
World CCA Day 2023 campaign guide
Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation — 2026 awareness material (opens in a new tab)
First Party Health
Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation — World CCA Day guide (opens in a new tab)
First Party Health
Global Cholangiocarcinoma Alliance — The Alliance / history (opens in a new tab)
National Cancer Institute — Bile Duct Cancer (Cholangiocarcinoma) information (opens in a new tab)
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is World Cholangiocarcinoma Day?
Third Thursday in February; 19 February 2026 The documented recurrence rule is: Third Thursday in February.
Does World Cholangiocarcinoma Day fall on the same date every year?
It follows a recurring calendar rule, so the Gregorian date can change from year to year.
Is World Cholangiocarcinoma Day an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation / global awareness campaign. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes World Cholangiocarcinoma Day?
The documented basis is: Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation materials state that from 2023 World Cholangiocarcinoma Day is the third Thursday of February; its 2026 materials identify 19 February.. Supporting evidence includes Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation — World CCA Day guide. The site does not infer a separate creator or founder unless reviewed evidence establishes one.
Is World Cholangiocarcinoma Day international or country-specific?
The documented scope is international or global: Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation / global awareness campaign. That does not mean every country treats the date as a public holiday or observes it in the same way.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-09-28.
When is World Cholangiocarcinoma Day?
Current campaign material places it on the third Thursday in February.
When did World Cholangiocarcinoma Day begin?
The Global Cholangiocarcinoma Alliance says AMMF set up the inaugural day in 2016 with partner organizations.
Was it always on the third Thursday in February?
No. A 2023 campaign guide says it was previously February 12 and moved to the third Thursday in February from 2023.
Can an awareness page tell me whether I have cholangiocarcinoma?
No. Symptoms can have many causes and diagnosis requires appropriate medical assessment; individual screening and treatment questions belong with qualified clinicians.
Other observances on February 18
These observances are also listed on February 18, 2027.
Anthropology Day
The American Anthropological Association (AAA) currently presents Anthropology Day on the third Thursday in February. An AAA-issued 2015 press release documents the inaugural National Anthr…
Independence Day
The Government of The Gambia lists Independence Day on February 18, and the Office of the President marked the 61st Independence Day anniversary on February 18, 2026.