World Down Syndrome Day 2026: Together Against Loneliness at the European Parliament
18 March 2026
On Wednesday, 25 March 2026, EDSA and EU for Trisomy 21 will co-host the World Down Syndrome Day 2026 celebration at the European Parliament under the title Together Against Loneliness. The event will focus on the 2026 World Down Syndrome Day theme of loneliness and belonging, bringing much-needed attention to an issue that deeply affects people with Down syndrome and their families.
Bringing together self-advocates, policymakers, researchers, and civil society representatives, the event will create space for lived experience, evidence, and dialogue at European level. At its heart is a simple but urgent message: people with Down syndrome must not only be included in society, but truly feel that they belong.
The day will begin with a coffee initiative led by Miriam Lexmann MEP, during which beneficiaries of Vivre & Grandir Asbl will join the European Parliament cafeteria staff in service.
In the afternoon, the formal conference will take place at the European Parliament and will be co-hosted by MEP Rosa Estaràs and MEP Alex Agius Saliba. You can find the program here: Programme_WDSD-2026_European-Parliament
The opening session will include remarks by Dinka Vukovic, President of EDSA, and opening remarks by the two co-hosting Members of the European Parliament. It will also feature a video presentation by Jérôme Trillard, self-advocate from France, reflecting on loneliness in connection with the 20th anniversary milestone of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
A key part of the programme will be the contribution of self-advocates speaking from lived experience. Ana Paula Kovacevic, self-advocate from Croatia representing EDSA, and Maria James, self-advocate from Malta representing EU for Trisomy 21, will share their perspectives in relation to loneliness and belonging. Maria James will speak in particular about supporting adults with Down syndrome as they grow older.
The programme will also include a contribution from Inclusion Europe on the loneliness experienced by people with intellectual disabilities and their families, followed by a presentation of data and findings by José Gutiérrez, Vice President of EDSA, on the impact of loneliness among people with Down syndrome and their families. The event will conclude with closing remarks by MEP Alex Agius Saliba and a Q&A session.
For EU for Trisomy 21, this event is an important opportunity to bring the voices of self-advocates into the heart of European policymaking. Loneliness is not just a personal feeling. It is closely connected to dignity, participation, support, and equal access to community life. Addressing it means building societies in which people with Down syndrome are seen, heard, supported, and genuinely connected.
On World Down Syndrome Day 2026, EDSA and EU for Trisomy 21 stand together for belonging, connection, and full participation for all.