Over 200 young people help shape this year’s campaign as the Anti-Bullying Alliance calls on the nation to start conversations about bullying.
The Anti-Bullying Alliance has announced that Anti-Bullying Week 2026 will take place from Monday 16 to Friday 20 November with the theme: Break the Silence.
This year’s campaign will encourage children, young people and adults across the UK to start conversations about bullying, speak up, listen, and take action together.
The theme was developed in collaboration with the anti-bullying sector and shaped directly by the voices of more than 200 children and young people, many of whom spoke about the silence that can surround bullying and the barriers young people face in asking for help.
Organised by the Anti-Bullying Alliance, which is coordinated by leading children’s charity the National Children’s Bureau, Anti-Bullying Week has become one of the largest children’s wellbeing campaigns in the UK, reaching an estimated 8 million children and young people and over 80% of schools each year.
The campaign comes as bullying continues to affect huge numbers of children and young people. Research highlighted by the Anti-Bullying Alliance shows that more than one in five children report being bullied each year, with serious impacts on mental health, wellbeing, belonging and educational outcomes.
Evidence also shows that many children and young people still do not tell anyone when bullying happens to them.
This year’s campaign aims to challenge that silence.
In today’s world, bullying can happen in increasingly complex ways, including face to face, online, through group chats, social media and emerging technologies. Anti-Bullying Week 2026 will encourage open conversations about bullying and help create environments where children and young people feel safe to speak and are supported when they do.
Throughout the week, schools, organisations and communities across the country will take part in activities, lessons, assemblies and events designed to help prevent bullying and promote kindness, inclusion and belonging.
The campaign will once again be supported by ABA patrons, Manchester City and Portugal footballer Rúben Dias and stars of children’s TV Andy and the Odd Socks, alongside schools, charities, celebrities and organisations from across the Anti-Bullying Alliance network.
Odd Socks Day will return on Monday 16th November to kick off the week. Led by Anti-Bullying Alliance patron Andy Day and his band Andy and the Odd Socks, millions of children, teachers, parents, carers and workplaces will wear odd socks to celebrate what makes us all unique and stand together against bullying. There is no pressure to buy anything or wear a costume, just wear odd socks and join in.
As part of Anti-Bullying Week, free resources for schools, parents, carers and organisations will be released in the lead up to the week, including films, lesson plans, assemblies, activities and discussion tools.
Last year’s campaign saw:
- over 600,000 web views of Anti-Bullying Week content
- more than 168,000 downloads of campaign resources
- support pledged from 36 countries worldwide
- widespread social media engagement and national media coverage
Research from the Anti-Bullying Alliance’s stakeholder survey also found:
- 100% of young people surveyed said Anti-Bullying Week helps raise awareness of bullying
- 81.7% said it helps schools tackle bullying
- 95% of practitioners rated ABA’s free resources as excellent or good
Young people and schools involved in previous campaigns described Anti-Bullying Week as:
- “A great week for positive changes that desperately need to happen.”
- “Anti-Bullying Week helps people who are being bullied to come forward.”
Millions of children experience bullying every year, and many stay silent about it. This year’s theme, shaped by hundreds of young people and the anti-bullying sector, is about creating spaces where children feel safe to speak, heard when they do, and supported to know they are not alone. Every conversation about bullying matters.
Martha Boateng
Director of the Anti-Bullying Alliance
Odd Socks Day is one of my favourite days of the year because it shows children that being different is something to celebrate, not hide. Seeing millions of people pull on their odd socks and get involved is always incredibly special, and I hope this year’s campaign helps even more young people feel confident to talk openly about bullying.
Andy Day
Anti-Bullying Alliance patron
No young person should feel alone when facing bullying. Speaking up can make a huge difference. I’m proud to support Anti-Bullying Week again this year and encourage everyone to help break the silence around bullying.
Rúben Dias
Manchester City and Portugal footballer
Anti-Bullying Week regularly receives national media coverage and support from celebrities, influencers, football clubs and organisations across the UK and internationally. Previous supporters have included Victoria Beckham, Ant and Dec, Emma Willis, Craig David, Sir Mo Farah, Anne-Marie, Premier League football clubs and many more.
Anti-Bullying Week 2026 will take place from 16th to 20th November 2026.
Schools, organisations and individuals can sign up for updates and free resources at: https://anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk/get-involved-0/anti-bullying-email-newsletter