European Cancer Nursing Day
Supporting Life Beyond Cancer
Celebrate European Cancer Nursing Day (ECND)
May 18th
European Cancer Nursing Day (ECND), celebrated annually on May 18th, is a dedicated occasion to honor the invaluable contributions of cancer nurses across Europe. It highlights their pivotal role in providing comprehensive cancer care, advocating and driving advancements in cancer nursing.
ECND serves as a platform to raise awareness about the challenges and opportunities within the profession, while fostering collaboration among healthcare professionals, policymakers, and the public. It emphasizes the importance of empowering cancer nurses through education, innovation, and recognition to ensure the highest standards of value based cancer care.
This day is also a call to action to shape the future of cancer care, advocating for policies that support nurses' well-being, professional development, and contributions to research. By celebrating the expertise and dedication of cancer nurses, ECND inspires a collective commitment to better outcomes for all patients and their families across Europe.
Explore This Year's ECND26 Event
European Cancer Nursing Day Updates
European Cancer Nursing Day 2026 Toolkit
The European Cancer Nursing Day 2026 (ECND26) Toolkit will support cancer nurses, organisations, and partners in promoting European Cancer Nursing Day 2026, taking place under the theme “Supporting Life Beyond Cancer.”
The toolkit will include:
- ECND26 banners for digital and social media use
- ECND26 key messages to support consistent advocacy and communication
- ECND26 printable templates for local activities and events
All materials will be made available ahead of European Cancer Nursing Day 2026.
Please check back soon for updates and download links.
ECND26 Competition
The European Cancer Nursing Day (ECND) competition has previously provided a platform to celebrate the vital role cancer nurses play in enhancing patient outcomes, encouraging international collaboration, and driving innovation in care. By sharing their stories and initiatives, cancer nurses across Europe have inspired peers, demonstrated unwavering commitment, and contributed to shaping the future of cancer nursing across diverse settings.
Building on this strong foundation, a new ECND competition will be launched as part of European Cancer Nursing Day 2026. Further details, including the theme, eligibility criteria, and how to participate, will be announced in due course.
Stay tuned for updates on the ECND26 competition and how you can get involved.
Past European Cancer Nursing Day edition
#ECND25BeyondBorders
European Cancer Nursing Day 2025 brought cancer nurses across Europe together to highlight the impact of their work and to advocate for greater recognition of the cancer nursing profession. This year’s theme, Cancer Nursing Beyond Borders, emphasised the power of collaboration, innovation, and knowledge-sharing across healthcare systems to improve cancer care globally, showcasing how cancer nurses worked beyond geographical, professional, and systemic boundaries to deliver high-quality, patient-centred care.
Through the #ECND25BeyondBorders social media campaign, cancer nurses shared key messages, photos, and insights using the ECND25 communications toolkit, which included banners and visual templates designed to amplify their voices across digital platforms.
ECND25 activities also took place in Athens, Greece. On 16–17 May 2025, the EONS Working Groups and Board met for strategic discussions on advancing cancer nursing, hosted in collaboration with the Hellenic National Nurses Association. On 18 May 2025, European Cancer Nursing Day was marked online through the coordinated #ECND25BeyondBorders campaign.
