Cervical Screening Awareness Week
June 15 - June 21
Cervical Screening Awareness Week is a UK-wide health campaign that takes place every June to encourage eligible people to attend their routine cervical screening appointments. In 2026 it runs from Monday, 15 June to Sunday, 21 June, and is led by gynaecological cancer charities working alongside the NHS.
Cervical Screening Awareness Week is a national health campaign focused on the prevention and early detection of cervical cancer through regular screening. The campaign is supported by charities including Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust, The Eve Appeal, Macmillan Cancer Support, and Cancer Research UK, alongside NHS partners across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. It encourages people aged 25 to 64 with a cervix to book and attend their cervical screening appointment, also known as a smear test, when invited. The week also provides accessible information for those who feel anxious, embarrassed, or uncertain about the test.
Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers, yet around two women in the UK still die from it every day. According to NHS England data, around 1 in 3 eligible people do not attend their cervical screening appointment, and uptake among younger people aged 25 to 29 has fallen below 70 per cent in recent years. Regular cervical screening can prevent up to 75 per cent of cervical cancers by detecting human papillomavirus, the cause of most cases, before any cancer develops. Cervical Screening Awareness Week addresses the practical and emotional barriers that stop people from booking appointments, including fear, past trauma, cultural concerns, and lack of accessible information for disabled people, trans men, and non-binary people.
#SmearTest #WomensHealth #CervicalScreeningAwarenessWeek #CSAW26
Source: Cervical Screening Awareness Week 2026 | 15-21 June 2026