2026 in sight: a shared commitment to take action against cancer in a divided world

As we step into the new year, we do so with renewed confidence and an even stronger sense of collective purpose. In a world that too often feels divided by politics and different perspectives, cancer control stands out as an area that unites us. Overcoming cancer is a common cause.

This past year has shown that, even when trust in research and global solidarity has been seriously tested, we can prevail.

The UN high-level meeting on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health provided clear proof of this. Cancer and other NCDs account for 75% of deaths globally. Not only did countries reaffirm the importance of reducing this burden; there was also agreement on the solutions, and concrete commitments to move them forward.

The overwhelming support for UICC’s World Cancer Declaration 2025-2035 is another powerful sign of shared purpose. This ten-year vision with ambitious global targets could not come at a more important time. In a rapidly changing world, it offers a guiding star for what we can achieve together. The next step is to translate this vision into action at the national level.

Thanks to the remarkable dedication of UICC’s member organisations in every corner of the world, I am confident that the ambitious targets we have set are within reach. Meeting so many of you in Melbourne during the World Cancer Leaders’ Summit was a powerful reminder of the strength and diversity of our community.

In February, we continue the World Cancer Day campaign 2025–2027: ‘United by Unique’. Cancer touches millions of lives in countless ways, but it does not define the people behind the statistics. This campaign is a reminder that every story and every voice matters.

The Cancer Planners’ Forum in May will be another important milestone. We are once again bringing together for a second edition the inspiring individuals who shape national cancer plans around the world. Over the past year, despite global developmental aid cuts and political uncertainty, we have seen innovative approaches emerging across regions – evidence-based, practical, and rooted in local realities. This type of local leadership is precisely what is needed to improve cancer control in a sustainable and inclusive way.

In that same spirit of community-based ownership, we will continue working with our members and partners to advance priority areas in our new business plan 2026-2028: advancing people-centred care, strengthening health systems, improving access to medicines and diagnostics through the Access to Oncology Medicines (ATOM) Coalition, strengthening national capacity to address women’s cancers, and supporting advocates to drive efforts on lung cancer. These are areas we have identified as particularly critical and urgent, and where UICC and its members are uniquely positioned to play a meaningful role going forward.

I would like to thank each and every one of you in the UICC community for your tireless efforts throughout 2025, for keeping focus despite the turbulence in the world around us.

The challenges ahead are clear, but so are the solutions. We have our objectives – now it is time to put them into action with the same determination, optimism, and collective spirit that we have shown throughout the past year.