European Antibiotic Awareness Day (EAAD)
18 November All day
European Antibiotic Awareness Day (EAAD) in 2026 takes place on Wednesday, 18 November. Coordinated by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, the day highlights the critical health threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and the importance of using antibiotics responsibly.
In Ireland, the Health Service Executive (HSE) typically leads localized campaigns during this time, aligning with the World Health Organization’s World AMR Awareness Week (18–24 November). Campaigns focus on educating the public that antibiotics do not work for viruses like the common cold or flu, and encouraging healthcare workers to lead the change against resistant bacteria.