World Cancer Day Sydney 2026 brings people and stories to the centre of cancer care
World Cancer Day Sydney 2026 brought together a large and engaged audience from across the cancer community, as SPHERE's Cancer CAG and Sydney Cancer Partners hosted a powerful in-person event at NSW Parliament House on 4 February.
Held for the third consecutive year, the event aligned with the global World Cancer Day campaign theme for 2025–2027, United by Unique. This year’s focus, Your Story Will Change Minds, placed lived experience at the forefront, highlighting how personal stories can shape research priorities, influence policy and transform cancer care.
Clinicians, researchers, allied health professionals, consumers and community members gathered for a program that foregrounded equity, diversity and partnership across the cancer care continuum. One participant described the day as “a powerful gathering that highlighted the importance of equity, diversity and partnership in cancer care,” a sentiment echoed throughout the discussions.
The program opened with a keynote from Eric Yeung, President of Can Revive Inc and recipient of the 2025 Cancer Institute NSW Consumer Engagement Award. Drawing on lived experience, patient advocacy and culturally responsive support, his address set the tone for a day grounded in person-centred care and community voice.
A series of keynote presentations followed, offering perspectives from across research, clinical practice and system leadership. Deborah Bateson spoke about progress towards cervical cancer elimination and the importance of strengthening partnerships across the Indo-Pacific region. Cherry Koh highlighted approaches to improving Aboriginal participation in cancer clinical trials, while Reema Harrison explored how cancer care systems must adapt to reflect social diversity and complexity.
Regional perspectives were also front and centre, with Rob Zielinski discussing the role of decentralised trials in improving access to care. The keynote session concluded with Tracey O’Brien, who offered a future-focused view on improving outcomes for diverse patient populations through system-level leadership and collaboration.
The afternoon panel, Beyond One-Size-Fits-All: Making Person-Centred Cancer Care a Reality, brought these themes together in a lively and thought-provoking discussion. Chaired by Daniel Steffans, the panel featured Maree Toombs, Kirsten McCaffrey, Christine Whittall and Meera Agar. Together, they explored the realities of delivering truly individualised cancer care, from culturally safe practice and health literacy to consumer experience and palliative care.
Audience engagement was strong throughout the day, with questions and discussion reflecting a clear appetite for continued conversation and collaboration across disciplines and sectors.
Feedback following the event reflected a highly positive experience, with attendees valuing the opportunity to connect face-to-face, hear diverse perspectives and engage in meaningful dialogue about the future of cancer care. Many expressed strong support for the event to continue annually.
World Cancer Day Sydney 2026 reinforced the importance of bringing people, stories and partnerships to the centre of cancer care. By amplifying diverse voices and shared experiences, the event highlighted the collective commitment of the cancer community to work towards more equitable, inclusive and person-centred care for all.