Anti-Bullying Week 2026 will take place from 16 to 20 November. The event is organised by the Anti-Bullying Alliance (ABA) and is one of the UK's largest children's wellbeing campaigns, reaching an estimated eight million children and young people and over 80% of schools each year.

This year's theme was shaped by more than 200 children and young people, many of whom spoke about the silence that can surround bullying and the barriers to asking for help. With more than one in five children reporting being bullied each year and many never telling anyone, this year's campaign encourages everyone to start conversations, speak up, listen and take action.

The week begins on Monday 16 November with Odd Socks Day, led by ABA patron Andy Day and his band, Andy and the Odd Socks. Children, teachers, parents, carers and workplaces are invited to wear odd socks to celebrate what makes us all unique. Taking part simply entails wearing odd socks at school, work or home and sharing your photos, videos and artwork using #OddSocksDay and #AntiBullyingWeek. There is also a competition where a school who shares the best Odd Socks Day content will win a visit from Andy and the Odd Socks!

ABA has created a collection of free resources including lesson plans, activities, and discussion tools empowering young people to safely speak up and raise awareness about bullying, and a tool to help parents and carers have conversations with their children about bullying. Partner organisations Twinkl, Jigsaw Education Group, VotesforSchools, and BBC Teach have created a range of free materials and lessons especially for Anti-Bullying Week. ABA has also partnered with Taskmaster Education to provide a new resource on banter or bullying for secondary schools.

There are also a range of events taking place during the week:

• BBC Teach will host a live lesson for pupils aged seven to eleven on Monday 16 November at 11 am.
• VotesforSchools will hold live webinars for secondary and 16+ students at 1pm and primary students at 2pm on Wednesday 18 November.
• On Thursday 19 Novermber at 1pm, The Happy Confident Company will run a parents' webinar, and from 4pm to 5pm, ABA is hosting a practice-sharing event and will showcase impactful anti-bullying initiatives implemented over the past year by its programme schools.
• On Friday 20 November, from 9am until 12 noon, ABA is providing free CPD-certified Anti-Bullying Foundations training.