Trans History Week 2026 launches with new resources and community events

Trans History Week is returning this May, bringing a global focus to the often overlooked histories of transgender, non-binary and gender-diverse people, and why those stories still matter today.

Trans History Week will take place from 4 to 10 May 2026, with Trans+ History Day marked on 6 May. The week offers a programme of education, reflection and creative storytelling centred on trans and gender-diverse histories from around the world.

Launched in 2024, Trans History Week is a Trans+ led initiative designed to challenge historical erasure and improve public understanding of trans lives, contributions and resistance movements. Since its inception, the project has grown rapidly, gaining recognition across community, cultural and political spaces in the UK and beyond.

Why 6 May Matters

Trans+ History Day falls on 6 May, a date chosen for its historical significance. On this day in 1933, the Nazi regime raided and destroyed the Institut für Sexualwissenschaft in Berlin, the world’s first clinic dedicated to sexual and gender diversity. The destruction of its archives is widely regarded as one of the most significant losses of early trans and queer research.

By anchoring the week to this moment, organisers aim to highlight both the fragility of historical records and the long-standing resilience of trans communities in the face of persecution.

Education at the Core

At the heart of this year’s programme is a free, downloadable Trans+ History Week workbook, updated annually and designed for use in schools, community groups and self-led learning. The resource explores trans and gender-diverse histories across cultures and time periods, providing accessible entry points into stories that are often missing from mainstream education.

The workbook forms part of a wider push by organisers to make trans history visible, factual and widely accessible, particularly at a time when trans rights and identities are frequently politicised.

Platforming Trans+ Creatives

This year’s Trans History Week is supported by a creative partnership with QueerAF, commissioning work from 20 Trans+ creatives across writing, audio, visual art and digital storytelling. The collaboration aims to document history while also creating paid opportunities for trans artists and journalists to tell their own stories.

Organisers have described this approach as essential to ensuring trans history is not only preserved, but told by those with lived experience.

A Week of Reflection and Community

Alongside digital content, Trans History Week will include a mix of online and in-person events, discussions and workshops. While UK-based activity remains a core focus, the initiative continues to position itself as international in scope, reflecting the global nature of trans and gender-diverse histories.

As public debate around trans lives intensifies in many countries, supporters argue that historical literacy is a crucial counterweight to misinformation, grounding conversations in fact, context and humanity.

Trans History Week runs from 4 to 10 May 2026, with resources and updates available via the official Trans History Week website.