2026 World Sepsis Day: Invest in Sepsis – Save Lives

September 13, 2026

Sepsis is one of the world’s most urgent health challenges. It affects millions of people every year and is associated with 1 in 5 deaths worldwide. Yet sepsis remains under-recognized, under-prioritized, and underfunded.

We know what can save lives.

We can prevent infections. We can recognize sepsis earlier. We can strengthen healthcare systems. We can train healthcare professionals. We can develop better diagnostics and treatments. And we can make sure that everyone – wherever they live – has access to timely, quality sepsis care.

But none of this happens without investment.

On World Sepsis Day 2026, we are calling on governments, healthcare systems, researchers, funders, industry, healthcare professionals, communities, and individuals to Invest in Sepsis – Save Lives.

Theme for 2026: Invest in Sepsis – Save Lives

Invest in Sepsis – Save Lives | 2026 WSD Global Webinar

September 9, 2026 | 14:00–15:30 CEST | Free livestream on YouTube

What Does It Mean to Invest in Sepsis?

Investing in sepsis means investing in the systems, people, knowledge, and innovations that can prevent infections, detect sepsis earlier, provide timely treatment, and help survivors recover.

1. Invest in Prevention

Preventing infections means preventing sepsis.

Investment in vaccination, infection prevention and control, clean care, maternal and newborn health, antimicrobial stewardship and public awareness can reduce the risk of sepsis before it starts.

2. Invest in Early Recognition and Quality Care

Every minute matters when someone develops sepsis.

Healthcare systems need the right protocols, trained professionals, diagnostic tools and resources to recognize sepsis early and provide timely, evidence-based treatment — at every level of care.

3. Invest in Healthcare Professionals

People save lives.

Nurses, doctors, midwives, community health workers, paramedics and other healthcare professionals need the education, training, resources and support required to prevent, recognize and treat sepsis effectively.

4. Invest in Research and Innovation

We still need better ways to prevent, diagnose and treat sepsis.

Investment in research, diagnostics, vaccines, therapeutics, precision medicine, antimicrobial stewardship, rehabilitation and innovative technologies can transform the future of sepsis care.

5. Invest in Health Systems and Global Action

Sepsis cannot be tackled in isolation.

Investment in resilient health systems, surveillance, national sepsis policies, Universal Health Coverage and international cooperation is essential to ensure that effective sepsis prevention and care reach everyone, everywhere.

Every investment can become a life saved.

Invest in Sepsis. Save Lives.

Invest in the 2030 Global Agenda for Sepsis

In 2024, the Global Sepsis Alliance launched the 2030 Global Agenda for Sepsis — a global roadmap for reducing the burden of sepsis and accelerating action.

Its ambition is clear:

Prevent 12 million new cases of sepsis and avert 2 million avoidable deaths over five years.

Achieving this ambition requires more than awareness. It requires sustained investment in prevention, early recognition, quality care, healthcare professionals, research and innovation, and stronger health systems.

World Sepsis Day 2026 is a moment to turn that ambition into action.

Governments can invest.

Health systems can invest.

Researchers and innovators can invest.

Funders and industry can invest.

Communities can invest in awareness and prevention.

And together, we can save lives.

Learn more about the 2030 Global Agenda for Sepsis:

Why Is World Sepsis Day Important?

World Sepsis Day is held on September 13 every year, bringing people and organizations around the world together to raise awareness of sepsis and call for action to prevent avoidable deaths and disabilities.

Sepsis is a major global health challenge, affecting millions of people every year and contributing to approximately one in five deaths worldwide. Yet awareness remains dangerously low: depending on the country and level of education, only 7 to 50% of people are aware of sepsis.

Many infections that can lead to sepsis can be prevented through measures such as vaccination, infection prevention and control, and clean care. When sepsis does occur, early recognition, timely diagnosis, and appropriate treatment can save lives and reduce the risk of death and long-term disability.

But progress requires investment.

We need greater investment in prevention, early detection, healthcare workers, health systems, research and innovation, people and communities, and preparedness. Investment in sepsis is not only an investment in saving lives today — it is an investment in stronger health systems and progress towards the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

This World Sepsis Day, the message is clear: Invest in Sepsis. Save Lives.

Why Should You Participate in World Sepsis Day?

World Sepsis Day is an opportunity for people and organizations around the world to come together, raise awareness, and turn attention into action.

By participating, you help make sepsis more visible — to the public, media, healthcare professionals, policymakers, governments, funders, and decision-makers. You also show solidarity with the millions of people and families whose lives have been affected by sepsis, including those living with its long-term consequences.

In 2026, participation means helping make the investment case. Investment in prevention, early recognition and care, healthcare workers, health systems, research and innovation, people and communities, and preparedness can help prevent avoidable deaths and disabilities and strengthen health systems for everyone.

There are many ways to take part: organize or join an event, share reliable information and sepsis stories, engage your local media and decision-makers, educate your community, or support the global campaign online.

One of the easiest ways to show your support is to sign and share the World Sepsis Declaration. Encourage your colleagues, family, friends, members, partners, and networks to add their voice to the global call for action against sepsis.

Every voice helps raise awareness. Every action helps build momentum. Every investment can help save lives.

Invest in Sepsis. Save Lives.

Behind Every Statistic Is a Person

Every number has a story.

A person who survived sepsis.
A family who lost someone they loved.
A healthcare professional who fought to save a life.

Sepsis can change lives in a matter of hours – and its effects can last for months or years.

On World Sepsis Day, we give survivors, families, and healthcare professionals a platform to share their experiences, raise awareness, and help others recognize the importance of early action.

Share your Sepsis Story.

Your story could help save a life.

Updated Infographics, Posters, and Toolkits

In addition to the new infographics and posters, we have Fact Sheets, Quizzes, Brochures, Video Clips, Pocket Cards, WSD Wallpapers, Pink Picnic visuals, and other Event Materials, all for free and in several languages.

Sign the World Sepsis Declaration

The easiest way to show your support for World Sepsis Day is to sign the World Sepsis Declaration. Make your commitment to a world where fewer people die or suffer from sepsis. Join thousands of organizations, healthcare professionals, survivors, families, and supporters around the world who have already signed the World Sepsis Declaration. Signing the declaration also signs you up for WSD News – our email newsletter.

Practical Ideas and Inspiration for Your World Sepsis Day Events and Activities

2026 Photo Boards

Merch for World Sepsis Day

A hand-picked collection of high-quality WSD merchandise is available in our WSD Online Shop with worldwide shipping – t-shirts, sports jerseys, hoodies, pens, balloons, masks, lanyards, stickers, and much more…

Online Events / Social Media

• Embed the "What Is Sepsis? - sepsis explained in 3 minutes"-video on your website and/or share it on social media (English / Spanish / Portuguese / French / Italian / Turkish / German / Russian / Korean)

• Share one (or more) of our freshly-updated WSD Infographics on your Instagram or Facebook page, or put up a post mentioning @WorldSepsisDay

• Share our Sepsis Awareness Clips on X, Instagram, Facebook, your website, or wherever else you’d like. They can also be used at physical events

• Download, print, and play our Sepsis Quiz

• Post about or at World Sepsis Day, using the hashtags #WorldSepsisDay, #StopSepsis, or #SaveLives

• Add a pink banner or a button to your website or set up a landing page informing your visitors about WSD

• Participate in the photo challenge – see below

• Add ‘September 13 is World Sepsis Day – Stop Sepsis, Save Lives’ to your email signature

• Organize a chat, webinar, or AMA on your favorite platform

• Share the link to our toolkit section (worldsepsisday.org/toolkits) with your colleagues or friends, encouraging them to join the online campaign

Join Us on Social Media

Like and share our WSD posts on our social networks:

Share the activities that you plan to carry out within your personal or institutional social network – add the hashtag #WorldSepsisDay and/or #SepsisPrevention.

Events for Medical Professionals

• Set up sepsis awareness stalls with sepsis quizzes and sepsis information in the entrance area of your institution/hospital

• Download, print, and play our Sepsis Quiz

• Offer special educational sepsis training for staff around World Sepsis Day

• Share our Sepsis Awareness Clips on X, Instagram, Facebook, on your website, or wherever else you’d like. They can also be used at physical events.

• Participate in the photo challenge – see below

• Organize conferences, symposia, roundtable discussions, and other events

• Host a pink picnic – see below

• Change the wallpaper of the computers within your institution to one of our WSD Wallpapers (available in the toolkit section)

• Show the "What Is Sepsis? - sepsis explained in 3 minutes"-video at your event or embed it on your organization’s website (English / Spanish / Portuguese / French / Italian / Turkish / German / Russian / Korean)

Public Events

• Hand out WSD material (such as WSD Infographics, Pocket Cards, the WSD Flyer, or information leaflets) in busy public spaces like town squares, markets, railway or bus stations, and more

• Download, print, and play our Sepsis Quiz

• Set up small sepsis information stalls, use banners or balloons, and hand out (pink) candy/mints, or small giveaways

• Show the "What Is Sepsis? - sepsis explained in 3 minutes"-video at your event (English / Spanish / Portuguese / French / Italian / Turkish / German / Russian / Korean)

• Encourage people to participate in the photo challenge – see above

• Plan sports events – they are a great opportunity for people to watch or participate, even spontaneously – organize a sports event like a city marathon, a bicycle tour, a volleyball tournament, a sepsis 5k or team run, a Zumba event, or another sport activity – the possibilities are endless. Hand out information leaflets along the way. Use pink bibs or t-shirts to attract attention, and plan the route so lots of people see you, for example, through a town square, or similar.

• Organize a family afternoon, together with sepsis survivors, if possible. Set up stalls and decorate the area to attract people. Think about having some music or performers and something fun for the kids like face-painting or sepsis-related handicraft work.

• Organize a gala event or a special dinner – World Sepsis Day is a glamorous opportunity to raise awareness for sepsis in your network, including for fundraising. For example, check out the Sepsis Heroes Gala Event by the Sepsis Alliance.

Pink Picnics

• Set up a pink picnic. Pink Picnics are social events where pink is used to signify the relation to World Sepsis Day. You can include pink salads or cupcakes, BBQs, treats, beverages, plates, other table decor...and whatever you can think of. Decorate using pink balloons. Both the pink picnic, as well as event materials, are available in our toolkit section.

In Your Company / Institution

• Color your cafeteria/canteen pink, by using infographics, stickers, pocket cards, balloons, flyers, and whatever else you can think of

• Bake for your colleagues – why not raise awareness for sepsis among your colleagues by making muffins with pink frosting, or a pink cake? They will certainly talk about you and World Sepsis Day…make sure to also share leaflets, infographics, stickers, and other goodies with them as well

• Download, print, and play our Sepsis Quiz

• Share our Sepsis Awareness Clips with your colleagues or upload them to your organization’s social media accounts

• Show the "What Is Sepsis? - sepsis explained in 3 minutes" - video to your colleagues (English / Spanish / Portuguese / French / Italian / Turkish / German / Russian / Korean)

• Change the wallpaper of the computers within your institution to one of our WSD Wallpapers (available in our toolkit section)

• Encourage your colleagues to participate in the photo challenge – see above

Illuminate a Building

Light up a prominent building or landmark in pink to raise visibility for World Sepsis Day and show your support for the global call to Invest in Sepsis – Save Lives.

Promotional Material for World Sepsis Day 2026

Looking for materials to support your World Sepsis Day activities? Visit our Toolkit Section, where you will find a wide range of free resources to help you raise awareness, engage your community, and promote the message Invest in Sepsis. Save Lives.

If you cannot find what you are looking for, need a different format, or have an idea for additional materials, please contact us. We are always happy to hear your suggestions and explore how we can support your World Sepsis Day activities.

Media Coverage

Help amplify the call to Invest in Sepsis. Save Lives.

Use your network — including colleagues, friends, members, partners, supporters, and local organizations — to connect with journalists and media outlets that can help bring your World Sepsis Day activities and the sepsis message to a wider audience.

Contact your local media as early as possible and explain why sepsis matters in your community, what you are doing for World Sepsis Day, and why greater investment in sepsis prevention, awareness, research, and care can save lives.

If possible, offer journalists a local perspective, an expert spokesperson, or a sepsis survivor or family member who is willing to share their story.

And don’t forget to take plenty of high-quality photos and videos during your event. They can help you share your impact with the media and inspire others to take action.

Every story can help build awareness. Every voice can help drive investment.

Together, We Can Change the Future of Sepsis

Sepsis does not wait.

It can affect anyone, anywhere — and it can become life-threatening within hours.

But lives can be saved.

By investing in prevention.
By investing in people.
By investing in early recognition and quality care.
By investing in research and innovation.
By investing in stronger health systems.

World Sepsis Day is September 13.

This year, don’t just raise awareness.

Invest in Sepsis. Save Lives.

Join the global movement.

We wish you every success in preparing your World Sepsis Day activities, and thank you for your commitment to raising awareness, taking action, and helping drive investment in sepsis.

Together, we can make a difference. Invest in Sepsis. Save Lives.

If you could not find what you were looking for, please contact us – we are here to help.