Rare Disease Day 2026 is your chance to stand with the 3.5 million people in the UK living with a rare disease, and to take one small action that can make a big difference.

Since 2022, Medics for Rare Disease has invited healthcare professionals (HCPs), medical students and supporters to #ShowYourStripes by wearing stripy socks to spark conversations, raise awareness and show solidarity with the rare community.

In 2026, we’re going one step further.

Alongside dusting off your stripey socks, we’re launching #LearnYourStripes, a major push to deepen understanding of rare diseases across healthcare and beyond. This year, we’re asking HCPs not only to show their support, but to build their rare disease knowledge by completing our 5‑minute Rare Disease training video 🔗 https://staging.m4rd.org/rarediseaseday/

Why this matters

While there are thousands of individual rare diseases, people affected by them face strikingly similar challenges.

* 3.5 million people in the UK are living with a rare disease, as many as those living with cancer

* Patients wait an average of 5 years for a diagnosis, often being passed between specialists and undergoing unnecessary tests

* Despite this, there is no standardised rare disease education in UK medical school curricula or specialty training

* In a 2023 Medics for Rare Disease study, 73% of medical students surveyed could not correctly define a rare disease

Greater rare awareness in healthcare can shorten diagnostic journeys, reduce patient harm and improve experiences for people living with rare conditions.

How to get involved

In the week running up to Rare Disease Day (Saturday 28 February 2026), we’re inviting healthcare professionals and supporters to:

1. #ShowYourStripes

* Wear a pair of stripey socks at work or at home
* Share a photo on social media using #ShowYourStripes
* Tag @MedicsForRare to help spread the message

2. #LearnYourStripes

* Complete our 5‑minute Rare Disease training video 🔗 https://staging.m4rd.org/rarediseaseday/
* Encourage colleagues, teams and students to do the same
* For enquiries about in‑person training, email: hello@m4rd.org