World Kidney Day2026 · Date · History
World Kidney Day states that the joint ISN and IFKF-WKA campaign started in 2006 and is celebrated every second Thursday in March; the 2026 campaign page identifies 12 March 2026.
About World Kidney Day
World Kidney Day is a global kidney-health awareness campaign held on the second Thursday in March.
The campaign is a joint initiative of the International Society of Nephrology and the International Federation of Kidney Foundations–World Kidney Alliance and began in 2006.
Why World Kidney Day matters
The campaign raises awareness of kidney health and kidney disease at a population level.
General awareness material cannot diagnose kidney disease or determine an individual person’s need for tests, medication, dialysis or other treatment.
History of World Kidney Day
World Kidney Day says the campaign started in 2006 as a joint initiative of ISN and IFKF-WKA.
The organizers celebrate it every second Thursday in March.
The official 2026 campaign page identifies March 12, 2026 as that year’s date.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
International Society of Nephrology (ISN) and International Federation of Kidney Foundations–World Kidney Alliance (IFKF-WKA)
World Kidney Day identifies the campaign as a joint initiative of these organizations and says it started in 2006.
International Society of Nephrology (ISN) and International Federation of Kidney Foundations–World Kidney Alliance (IFKF-WKA)
Organizer material identifies the campaign as their joint initiative.
First documented observance
World Kidney Day states that the campaign started in 2006.
International Society of Nephrology (ISN) and International Federation of Kidney Foundations–World Kidney Alliance (IFKF-WKA)
The current World Kidney Day site describes the campaign as their joint initiative and publishes current campaign materials.
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.
4 fields not established in reviewed sources
How to Observe World Kidney Day
Read the current World Kidney Day campaign materials and reputable local kidney-health information.
If joining a screening or health event, understand who is providing it and how personal health information will be handled.
Do not post another person’s diagnosis, test results or medical story without consent.
For symptoms, test interpretation, risk assessment or treatment decisions, use a qualified health professional rather than campaign copy.
Use the organizer’s target-year page for current themes and downloadable materials.
World Kidney Day Facts
World Kidney Day began in 2006.
It is a joint initiative of ISN and IFKF-WKA.
It is observed on the second Thursday in March.
The 2026 date was March 12.
The campaign is an awareness initiative and does not provide individualized diagnosis or treatment.
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.
World Kidney Day — 2026 campaign (opens in a new tab)
Current Organizer Campaign
World Kidney Day — Frequently asked questions (opens in a new tab)
Organizer Authoritative Page
World Kidney Day — Who we are (opens in a new tab)
Organizer History
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 Kidney Day?
Second Thursday in March The documented recurrence rule is: Second Thursday in March.
Does World Kidney 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 Kidney Day an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: International Society of Nephrology and International Federation of Kidney Foundations–World Kidney Alliance 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 Kidney Day?
The reviewed sources identify International Society of Nephrology (ISN) and International Federation of Kidney Foundations–World Kidney Alliance (IFKF-WKA) as the proclaiming or establishing body. Current facilitation or coordination is recorded as International Society of Nephrology (ISN) and International Federation of Kidney Foundations–World Kidney Alliance (IFKF-WKA).
Is World Kidney Day international or country-specific?
The documented scope is international or global: International Society of Nephrology and International Federation of Kidney Foundations–World Kidney Alliance 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 2026-10-06.
When is World Kidney Day?
It is celebrated on the second Thursday in March.
When is World Kidney Day in 2027?
Using the second-Thursday rule, the 2027 date is March 11.
When did World Kidney Day begin?
The campaign says it started in 2006.
Who organizes World Kidney Day?
It is a joint initiative of the International Society of Nephrology and the International Federation of Kidney Foundations–World Kidney Alliance.
Can this guide tell me whether I have kidney disease?
No. Diagnosis, test interpretation and treatment decisions require qualified medical care.
Other observances on March 11
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World Plumbing Day
World Plumbing Council first-party material verifies March 11, an October 2009 WPC launch, the inaugural March 11, 2010 observance and continuing annual WPC stewardship.