Balance Awareness Week
September 13 - September 19
About Balance Awareness Week
Balance Awareness Week 2026 takes place from Sunday 13 September to Saturday 19 September 2026. The annual global campaign is led by the Vestibular Disorders Association (VeDA) and dedicated to raising awareness of vestibular disorders, the often invisible conditions that cause vertigo, dizziness, balance loss, and chronic imbalance for millions of people worldwide.
What is Balance Awareness Week?
Balance Awareness Week is an annual international awareness campaign coordinated by the Vestibular Disorders Association, a US-based non-profit that supports patients with conditions affecting the inner ear and central balance system. The week aims to increase public understanding of vestibular disorders, including Meniere’s disease, vestibular neuritis, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), and persistent postural-perceptual dizziness (PPPD), and to encourage earlier diagnosis and better access to specialist care.
When is Balance Awareness Week?
Balance Awareness Week 2026 runs from Sunday 13 September to Saturday 19 September 2026. The week takes place annually in mid-September, with VeDA confirming the dates each year and releasing a campaign theme alongside resources for patients, clinicians, and supporters.
Why Balance Awareness Week Matters
Vestibular disorders are surprisingly common but poorly understood. According to research summarised by VeDA and the US National Institutes of Health, approximately 35 percent of adults aged 40 and over experience some form of vestibular dysfunction, equating to around 69 million Americans. Many wait years for an accurate diagnosis, often being misdiagnosed with anxiety or migraine first. Vestibular disorders are also a leading cause of falls in older adults, and falls remain one of the most expensive single categories of injury in healthcare. Balance Awareness Week exists to make these invisible conditions more visible and to fund research and patient support that improves outcomes.
How to Get Involved in Balance Awareness Week
VeDA provides free downloadable resources, social media graphics, and ambassador packs for patients and supporters. Try one or several of the following:
- Take the dizziness quiz – VeDA hosts a free online questionnaire that helps people identify whether their symptoms could indicate a vestibular disorder. Sharing it can prompt friends and family to seek help.
- Wear teal or red – The campaign uses teal and red as its colours. Wearing them and tagging photos with the official hashtag is a simple way to show support.
- Become a VeDA Ambassador – Patients and clinicians can sign up to receive the official ambassador toolkit, which includes ready-made content for community fundraising and awareness work.
- Donate to research and support – VeDA funds clinician training, patient helpline support, and research grants. Donations directly support these programmes.
- Run a fall-prevention session – For care homes, GP surgeries, and community groups, the week is a good time to host a balance and falls-prevention class. Simple exercises significantly reduce fall risk in older adults.
- Talk to your audiologist or physiotherapist – Vestibular rehabilitation therapy is highly effective for many conditions but underused. The week is a prompt to ask whether it might help you.
- Share your story – Patients are encouraged to share their experience of living with vertigo or chronic imbalance. Personal stories are some of the campaign’s most powerful tools.
- Educate employers and schools – Vestibular disorders are often invisible to colleagues and teachers. Sharing VeDA’s accommodation guides helps create more supportive environments.
History of Balance Awareness Week
The Vestibular Disorders Association was founded in 1983 in Portland, Oregon, by Cynthia Ryan and a small group of patients and clinicians who saw an urgent need for better information and support for people living with chronic dizziness. From a small newsletter run from a kitchen table, VeDA grew into the world’s leading patient organisation for vestibular conditions.
VeDA launched Balance Awareness Week in the late 1990s as a focused September campaign, building on a year-round model of patient support. Over time the week has grown to include partners across the audiology, otolaryngology, and physiotherapy professions, including the American Academy of Audiology and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).
Recent campaigns have focused on the link between vestibular disorders and falls, the experience of life with an invisible illness, and the disparities in diagnosis and treatment for women, who are diagnosed with vestibular conditions more frequently than men. The week is now observed by patients, clinicians, and charities in more than 50 countries.
Noteworthy Facts About Balance Awareness Week
- Balance Awareness Week is led by the Vestibular Disorders Association (VeDA), a non-profit founded in Portland, Oregon, in 1983.
- An estimated 35 percent of US adults aged 40 and over have experienced some form of vestibular dysfunction.
- Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is the most common cause of vertigo and is treatable with simple repositioning manoeuvres.
- Vestibular disorders are a leading risk factor for falls in older adults, contributing to a major cost in healthcare worldwide.
- The campaign uses teal and red as its colours and is observed in more than 50 countries.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Balance Awareness Week?
Balance Awareness Week is an annual international campaign run by the Vestibular Disorders Association to raise awareness of vertigo, dizziness, and other vestibular disorders.
When is Balance Awareness Week in 2026?
Balance Awareness Week 2026 runs from Sunday 13 September to Saturday 19 September 2026.
Who organises Balance Awareness Week?
The week is organised by the Vestibular Disorders Association (VeDA), a non-profit based in Portland, Oregon, and supported by partners including the American Academy of Audiology and ASHA.
Spread the Word
Help raise awareness by sharing Balance Awareness Week with your friends, family, and followers. Use the hashtags #BalanceAwarenessWeek and #BAW2026 on social media. The more people who understand vestibular disorders, the easier it becomes for patients to get the right diagnosis and treatment.
Related Awareness Days
- World COPD Awareness Day – Another awareness day shedding light on a major but under-discussed health condition.
- National NonSpeaking/Nonverbal Awareness Day – A complementary September observance focused on inclusion of all voices.
- World Wellbeing Week – The June wellbeing week covering broader health and wellbeing themes.
Links
- Visit the official Balance Awareness Week page at VeDA
- Explore more awareness days at AwarenessDays.com
2026 Awareness Days Wall Planner
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