Action Mesothelioma Day 2026: why asbestos awareness still matters in the UK

Action Mesothelioma Day (AMD) is an important date in the asbestos community calendar. It is a national campaign with regional events all over the UK hosted by local asbestos support groups and charities.

This Action Mesothelioma Day, Friday 3 July 2026, we stand together to remember and support those affected by mesothelioma. It is an opportunity to highlight the ongoing dangers of asbestos exposure and to advocate for better protections for future generations. 

In this blog, Georgia Pantazides, a solicitor in Leigh Day’s asbestos and industrial disease team, reflects on the significance of Action Mesothelioma Day 2026, and why awareness of asbestos-related disease remains as important as ever.

She explores the ongoing impact of mesothelioma in the UK, the continued presence of asbestos in public buildings, and the need for greater action to support those affected and protect future generations.

What is Action Mesothelioma Day?

Held annually on the first Friday in July, Action Mesothelioma Day is an opportunity for people across the country to come together to remember loved ones who have been lost to mesothelioma and to raise awareness of the continued dangers of asbestos.

Having been banned in the UK since 1999, asbestos is often thought of as being ‘a thing of the past’. It was once predicted that the number of annual mesothelioma cases would reach its peak in the early 2010s and then begin to decline shortly after. However, as of 2026, the UK continues to have the highest incidence rate for mesothelioma in the world with an estimated 2,700 people still diagnosed each year. A staggering 50,000 people have died from mesothelioma since 2004 when the charity Mesothelioma UK was set up. 

Mesothelioma is an entirely preventable terminal cancer which develops in the lining of the body’s organs, most commonly in the lining of the lungs. It is an aggressive cancer caused almost exclusively by asbestos exposure.

This Action Mesothelioma Day, Friday 3 July 2026, we’re reminded of all those who have tragically been lost to mesothelioma. It is an opportunity to grieve and mourn, and to show support to others who are currently living with this devastating disease. 

AMD is also an occasion for us to reflect on all that the asbestos community has achieved and to show appreciation to those who have, for decades, campaigned tirelessly to effect change. It is a chance for us to share stories of people not just existing with mesothelioma, but who are living full lives and inspiring others to do the same. 

Perhaps most importantly, Action Mesothelioma Day is a time for us to look forward as a community and ask ‘what’s next?’

• ‘What more can be done to improve the lives of those suffering with mesothelioma?’
• ‘What else can we do to support patients and their families?’
• ‘How can we protect future generations and prevent the same tragedy from befalling them?’

Why does Action Mesothelioma Day still matter in 2026?

Action Mesothelioma Day still matters in 2026 because asbestos remains present in many UK buildings, mesothelioma continues to affect thousands of people each year, and campaigners are still calling for better protection, research and accountability.

In recent years, AMD has highlighted the work of various campaigns such as the ongoing ‘Cape Must Pay’ campaign which calls for Altrad (the company formerly known as “Cape Asbestos”) to donate £10 million to help fund vital medical research into finding a cure for mesothelioma.

Altrad has previously said it recognises the devastating legacy of asbestos, and that it has paid out millions of pounds through its own compensation scheme.

This year, the continued importance of Action Mesothelioma Day has been made all too clear by the recent All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Occupational Safety and Health meeting which shone a light on the problem of asbestos in public buildings.

In April 2026, the APPG met with a group of campaigners, experts, medics and specialist lawyers to discuss some of the UK’s deficiencies in the management of asbestos. The statistics presented at the meeting are harrowing:

• More than 65 healthcare workers die each year from mesothelioma yet we still lack mandatory asbestos training for public sector workers.
• Over 80% of state schools are thought to still contain asbestos.
• Teachers are at a significantly higher risk of developing mesothelioma and the figures are increasing.
• Children are 5 times more likely to develop mesothelioma than adults.
• At the government’s current rates of building, it will take 350 years to get rid of asbestos in schools. 

These statistics are a stark reminder that the dangers of asbestos have not disappeared. Most of us will, at some point, spend time in buildings which contain asbestos. Yet despite its deadly consequences, less than 1% of all research funding is devoted to understanding mesothelioma. 

It is clear that we need to do more. 

What does Action Mesothelioma Day mean to us?

Action Mesothelioma Day is an opportunity for us to raise awareness of the danger that is still around us. It is a time for us to stand together and to demand change in the way that asbestos is managed and to advocate for better research and treatment for mesothelioma sufferers.

At Leigh Day, we are committed to supporting the work of Mesothelioma UK, the Asbestos Victims Support Group Forum UK, and the regional asbestos support groups. This AMD, we will be at events all over the country, showing our appreciation for the dedicated work that they do.

Together we seek to ensure that future generations are protected from suffering the same tragedies that far too many have already suffered, and are continuing to suffer, so that one day asbestos truly does become ‘a thing of the past’.