Cervical Screening Awareness Week
June 15 - June 21
About Cervical Screening Awareness Week
Cervical Screening Awareness Week is a UK-wide health campaign that takes place every June to encourage eligible people to attend their routine cervical screening appointments. In 2026 it runs from Monday, 15 June to Sunday, 21 June, and is led by gynaecological cancer charities working alongside the NHS.
What is Cervical Screening Awareness Week?
Cervical Screening Awareness Week is a national health campaign focused on the prevention and early detection of cervical cancer through regular screening. The campaign is supported by charities including Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust, The Eve Appeal, Macmillan Cancer Support, and Cancer Research UK, alongside NHS partners across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. It encourages people aged 25 to 64 with a cervix to book and attend their cervical screening appointment, also known as a smear test, when invited. The week also provides accessible information for those who feel anxious, embarrassed, or uncertain about the test.
When is Cervical Screening Awareness Week?
Cervical Screening Awareness Week 2026 runs from Monday, 15 June to Sunday, 21 June. The week is held annually in mid-June and is distinct from Cervical Cancer Prevention Week, which falls in January. Both campaigns share a common goal of reducing deaths from cervical cancer, but the June week focuses specifically on screening uptake.
Why Cervical Screening Awareness Week Matters
Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers, yet around two women in the UK still die from it every day. According to NHS England data, around 1 in 3 eligible people do not attend their cervical screening appointment, and uptake among younger people aged 25 to 29 has fallen below 70 per cent in recent years. Regular cervical screening can prevent up to 75 per cent of cervical cancers by detecting human papillomavirus, the cause of most cases, before any cancer develops. Cervical Screening Awareness Week addresses the practical and emotional barriers that stop people from booking appointments, including fear, past trauma, cultural concerns, and lack of accessible information for disabled people, trans men, and non-binary people.
How to Get Involved in Cervical Screening Awareness Week
Whether you are an individual, GP surgery, or workplace, there are many ways to support the campaign.
- Book your screening appointment – If you are between 25 and 64 and have a cervix, contact your GP surgery if you are due or overdue for screening, even if you have missed previous invitations.
- Share your story – Charities such as Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust collect personal stories that help others feel less alone and more confident about attending.
- Download free campaign resources – The Eve Appeal and Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust provide posters, social media graphics, and easy-read leaflets to display in workplaces, surgeries, and community centres.
- Talk openly about screening – Discuss the test with friends, family, and colleagues. Open conversations help normalise the experience and dismantle stigma.
- Support people with extra needs – Many GP surgeries offer longer appointments, smaller speculums, female practitioners, and trauma-informed approaches. Encourage people to ask for what they need.
- Promote LGBTQ+ inclusive screening – Trans men and non-binary people with a cervix are also eligible. Charities such as the LGBT Foundation publish guidance for inclusive practice.
- Fundraise for cervical cancer charities – Walks, bake sales, and online fundraisers during the week directly support research, helplines, and patient support services.
- Encourage HPV vaccination – The HPV vaccine, offered to children aged 12 to 13 in UK schools, has cut cervical cancer rates dramatically, and adults can still ask their GP about catch-up programmes.
History of Cervical Screening Awareness Week
The UK’s NHS Cervical Screening Programme was launched in 1988 after years of campaigning by clinicians and patient groups. Within a decade it had become one of the most successful population screening programmes in the world. By the 2000s, however, screening uptake had begun to fall, particularly among younger women, prompting charities and NHS bodies to mark a dedicated awareness week each June to coincide with national campaign efforts.
Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust, founded in 2000 by James Maxwell in memory of his wife Jo, who died of cervical cancer aged 40, has been a driving force behind the awareness week. Macmillan Cancer Support and The Eve Appeal, the only UK charity dedicated to all five gynaecological cancers, joined in promoting the week with shared resources for the public, employers, and primary care teams.
The campaign has evolved alongside changes in the screening test itself. Since 2019 in England, primary HPV testing has replaced cytology as the first stage of screening, meaning samples are now tested for high-risk HPV first and only examined for cell changes if HPV is found. Awareness Week communications have helped explain these changes to the public and emphasised that a positive HPV result is common and manageable, not a cause for alarm.
Noteworthy Facts About Cervical Screening Awareness Week
- The NHS Cervical Screening Programme prevents around 5,000 cervical cancer cases in the UK each year.
- Almost all cervical cancers are caused by infection with high-risk types of human papillomavirus, particularly HPV 16 and 18.
- The HPV vaccine, introduced in UK schools in 2008, has been linked to an 87 per cent reduction in cervical cancer rates among vaccinated cohorts in England.
- Cervical screening is now invitation-based every three years between ages 25 and 49, and every five years between 50 and 64 in England, Scotland, and Wales.
- Around 1 in 20 cervical screening tests show changes that need further investigation, but the vast majority of these never develop into cancer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Cervical Screening Awareness Week?
It is an annual UK campaign every June that encourages eligible people to attend cervical screening, raises awareness of cervical cancer prevention, and supports those affected by the disease.
When is Cervical Screening Awareness Week in 2026?
It runs from Monday, 15 June to Sunday, 21 June 2026.
Who is invited for cervical screening on the NHS?
Anyone with a cervix aged 25 to 64 and registered with a GP is invited for routine cervical screening. This includes women, trans men, and non-binary people who have not had a total hysterectomy.
Spread the Word
Help raise awareness and save lives by sharing Cervical Screening Awareness Week with your friends, family, and followers. Use the hashtags #CervicalScreeningAwarenessWeek and #SmearForSmear on social media, and consider booking your own appointment if you are overdue.
Related Awareness Days
- World Mental Health Day – Connects to the anxiety and emotional barriers many people face around cervical screening.
- International Day of Families – Highlights the family impact of cervical cancer and the value of preventive care.
- World No Tobacco Day – Smoking is a known co-factor for cervical cancer, making both campaigns natural partners.
Links
- Visit The Eve Appeal’s Cervical Screening Awareness Week page
- Explore more awareness days at AwarenessDays.com
2026 Health Awareness Calendar
Health and wellbeing awareness days throughout the year. Perfect for clinics, HR teams, and schools.
View Calendar →
