Mandela Day 2026 in Liverpool

A citywide initiative led by Mandela8 in collaboration with Liverpool City Council and Liverpool BID Company.

Mandela8 are delighted to launch Mandela Day 2026 with Liverpool City Council and Liverpool Bid Company, which will see a range of activities take place across the city.

Are you planning to take part? When you’ve settled on an idea tell us about it by filling out this short form here and let us know if you need any help from us to make it happen! CLICK HERE FOR THE FORM.

Mandela Day, marked internationally on 18 July, celebrates the life and values of Nelson Mandela by encouraging people to take 67 minutes of action for social justice and community improvement, representing the 67 years Mandela dedicated to public service.

The Theme for Mandela Day 2026 is “It’s In Your Hands”.

Activities this year focus in two key areas:

1. Education and Literacy – Improving access to books, learning opportunities and mentoring and;

2. Active Citizenship – Encouraging volunteering and civic engagement to address poverty and inequality.

Activities can take place across Mandela Week (14–18 July 2026) rather than a single day if preferred!

“Mandela Day offers Liverpool a powerful opportunity to demonstrate how the values of Nelson Mandela remain relevant today. It is great to see schools, communities and civic institutions get involved every year. Mandela Day reminds us that everyone has the power to make a difference” Interim Chair Michelle Cox MBE

We are encouraging schools, local businesses, institutions and community and voluntary sector organisations and individuals across the city to get involved. This is a unique opportunity to demonstrate how Mandela’s values can be translated into practical action across Liverpool, continuing to support our annual campaign to encouraging people to celebrate our diversity and differences.

The Mandela Day brochure is full of ideas of the types of activities you can do during the week or on Mandela Day and the news articles below give you some ideas of the types of activities others have done in the past:

DOWNLOAD THE IDEAS TOOLKIT HERE

DOWNLOAD THE BANNERS BELOW TO SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT MANDELA DAY

TELL US ABOUT WHAT YOU PLAN TO DO!

Liverpool City Council’s Deputy Leader, Cllr Ruth Bennett said:

“Mandela Day is an opportunity for all of us to reflect on the values Nelson Mandela stood for and consider how we can make a positive difference in our communities. The theme, ‘It’s In Your Hands’, reminds us that tackling inequality and building a more inclusive city requires action from everyone.

Liverpool has a proud history of standing up for equality and social justice. Through our anti-racism work and partnerships across the city, we are committed to creating a place where everyone feels welcome, valued and able to thrive. I encourage residents, schools, businesses and community organisations to get involved and help make Mandela Day 2026 a success.”

Bill Addy, CEO, Liverpool Business Improvement District said:

“We are proud to, once again, be supporting Mandela Day. This truly is a moment for our city and communities to come together. The relevance of this day does not diminish. The focus on learning and active participation gets to heart of how we have the agency to shape our cities and work in harmony together, to create a place that is driven by equality and accessibility for all.”

Remember to use the hashtags below when promoting your activities on social media: #Itsinyourhands #Mandeladay2026