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World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week takes place every year from 18 to 24 November and will be held for the 12th time in 2026. Aim is to raise global awareness of the threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and to promote coordinated action across human, animal and environmental health sectors. It engages the general public, healthcare professionals, and policymakers in efforts to combat AMR. In 2026 the theme for the global campaign is “One Health, one action: Prevent AMR now“
World Antimicrobial Resistance Week
18 – 24 November 2026
Antimicrobial resistance is a critical global health and socioeconomic challenge, affecting human and animal health, food production, and the environment. Drug-resistant pathogens threaten lives everywhere, yet greater public and stakeholder awareness is still needed.
The theme “One Health, one action: Prevent AMR now” was chosen to highlight that our world is more connected than ever, and that antimicrobial resistance is no longer a future challenge but a global threat. Bacterial AMR is already associated with more than 4.7 million deaths each year. The health of people, animals, plants and the environment is closely linked, and actions in one sector affect all the others.
This year’s campaign calls on governments, health professionals, veterinarians, environmental experts, farmers, researchers and communities to take on their shared responsibility and to turn commitments into concrete, coordinated action. Every individual and institution has a role to play in preserving the effectiveness of life-saving medicines. The campaign promotes responsible use of antimicrobials, stronger infection prevention, and cooperation across sectors under a One Health approach. It also supports the goals of the updated Global Action Plan on AMR 2026–2036, which aims to reduce AMR-associated deaths in humans, lower global antimicrobial use (particularly in agrifood systems), and minimise environmental pollution from resistant microbes and antimicrobial residues.
Throughout the week, countries around the world are hosting awareness campaigns, educational workshops, policy discussions, and community events. Hospitals and clinics are organizing public talks and antibiotic stewardship training sessions to promote safe prescribing practices.
By working together across sectors, we can prevent AMR now and protect the health of people, animals and the environment.
World Antimicrobial Resistance Week Theme 2026:
One Health, one action: Prevent AMR now
Facts about Antimicrobial resistance (AMR)
What are Antimicrobials?
Antimicrobials—including antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, and antiparasitics—are used to prevent and treat infections in humans, animals, and plants. Microorganisms that develop resistance to these drugs are often referred to as “superbugs.”
What is Antimicrobial resistance?
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) undermines the ability to prevent and treat a growing number of infections caused by bacteria, parasites, viruses, and fungi. AMR occurs when these microorganisms evolve over time and become resistant to medications, making infections more difficult to treat and raising the risk of disease spread, severe illness, and death. As a result, treatments become ineffective, allowing infections to persist and spread to others.
