Liver Awareness Month 2026

When is Liver Awareness Month?

Liver Awareness Month runs for the whole of October. In 2026 it begins on Thursday, 1 October and continues through Saturday, 31 October. The observance is fixed to the month of October each year, so the dates never change, and it coincides with Liver Cancer Awareness Month throughout the same period.

How to Get Involved in Liver Awareness Month

There are many simple ways to support the cause and look after your own liver health throughout October:

• Take a liver risk quiz – The American Liver Foundation offers a free online quiz that helps you understand whether you may be at risk of liver disease or liver cancer, a quick first step towards a conversation with your doctor.
• For personal health questions, use Liver – American Liver Foundation. This calendar covers the awareness observance and campaign planning; it does not provide diagnosis or treatment advice.
• Try a liver-friendly meal plan – Swap processed and high-sugar foods for vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats to ease the load on your liver.
• Cut back on alcohol – Reducing or pausing alcohol intake for the month gives your liver a chance to recover and is a meaningful way to mark the occasion.
• Join a Liver Life Walk – The American Liver Foundation hosts signature walks that bring patients, families, and supporters together to raise funds and awareness.
• Share educational resources – Post verified facts and links from trusted liver health organisations on social media to help others recognise the risks and symptoms.
• Support a loved one – If someone you know is living with liver disease, use the month to learn more about their condition and offer practical, informed support.
• Donate or fundraise – Contribute to research and patient support services through a liver health charity, or organise your own small fundraiser.

Noteworthy Facts About Liver Awareness Month

• The liver is the largest solid internal organ in the human body and carries out more than 500 separate functions.
• National Liver Awareness Month was formally proclaimed by President Ronald Reagan in 1986 through Proclamation 5542.
• October also serves as Liver Cancer Awareness Month, so the two causes are often promoted side by side.
• The liver is one of the few organs capable of regenerating, which is why early lifestyle changes can have such a strong effect.

What is Liver Awareness Month?

Liver Awareness Month is an annual observance held every October that raises understanding of liver disease and promotes prevention, screening, and healthier living. In the United States it is led by the American Liver Foundation.

When is Liver Awareness Month in 2026?

It runs throughout the whole of October 2026, from Thursday, 1 October to Saturday, 31 October.

Who organises Liver Awareness Month?

The American Liver Foundation leads the observance in the United States, offering risk quizzes, meal plans, walks, and educational events. The month gained formal national recognition through a 1986 presidential proclamation.

Links

• Visit the American Liver Foundation website
• Explore more awareness days at AwarenessDays.com

History of Liver Awareness Month

The American Liver Foundation, established in 1976, has long championed the cause of liver health in the United States. The organisation’s advocacy helped bring national attention to liver disease at a time when conditions such as hepatitis and cirrhosis were poorly understood by the wider public.

The observance received formal recognition in 1986, when President Ronald Reagan issued Proclamation 5542 designating National Liver Awareness Month in support of the American Liver Foundation. That presidential proclamation helped cement October as the month for liver health education and gave campaigners a national platform to reach the public.

In the decades since, the campaign has grown alongside our scientific understanding of liver disease. The renaming of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease reflects a clearer picture of how metabolic health, diet, and the liver are connected. Today the American Liver Foundation runs the month under its “Think Liver Think Life” banner, combining risk screening, patient support groups, and political advocacy to keep liver health on the national agenda.

Related Awareness Days

• World Hepatitis Day – Marked on 28 July, this day highlights viral hepatitis, a leading cause of liver disease worldwide.
• World Blood Donor Day – Celebrates the donors whose blood supports patients, including those undergoing liver transplants and treatment.
• Diabetes Awareness Week – Diabetes is closely linked to fatty liver disease, making the two causes natural companions.