Trans+ History Week has returned for 2026 with a programme of national events, exhibitions and commissioned storytelling highlighting the long and often overlooked history of trans and gender‑diverse communities.
The awareness week runs from 4 - 10 May, anchored by Trans+ History Day on 6 May, which marks the anniversary of the 1933 Nazi raid on the Institute for Sexual Science in Berlin, the world’s first trans clinic.
The initiative, which is trans‑led and organised by Trans+ History Week CIC, aims to educate the public about the historic presence and contributions of trans, non‑binary, intersex and gender‑diverse people, while also investing in present‑day trans creatives. The organisation commissions new historical work and hosts community events intended to reflect on the past while shaping future narratives.
This year’s programme includes panel discussions, live podcast recordings, comedy showcases and social events across London, alongside new historical reporting produced in partnership with queer media platform QueerAF.
Running alongside the events is a national awareness campaign titled Reflections, featuring public installations and outdoor displays across the UK, including at Outernet London. The campaign uses water‑based imagery and soundscapes as a metaphor for resilience, continuity and reflection, emphasising that trans people “have always been here, and always will be”.
Organisers say Trans+ History Week 2026 comes at a time of increased public debate and political scrutiny around trans rights in the UK. Speaking about the importance of the project, Marty Davies, founder of Trans+ History Week and Trans+ History Day, said: “It’s really important for right now. Trans+ people do not usually see ourselves reflected in the media in positive ways, and we know that harms our mental health, and can lead to rollbacks on our rights, which we have been seeing both at home and around the world.
"We do need to see a great narrative shift. Trans people aren't just a trend, and we shouldn't just be seen as this new phenomenon which brings our existence into debate.
"Storytelling and our history are a great way to do it – storytelling is a key survival tool, and so I think that it's really important that we look to our history for that common story, that shows us we have always been here. Trans+ History Week has always been about telling that story, on our own terms, with our own voices.”
First launched in 2024, Trans+ History Week has raised more than £100,000 to support trans‑led work and has invested in more than 100 trans creatives, including writers, illustrators, performers and journalists.
Further events and resources will continue throughout the week, with organisers encouraging members of the public to engage by learning about trans history and amplifying trans voices through conversation and cultural participation.
More info HERE
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